James Brenton ( 1740 – 1782 ) James Brenton ( 1740 – 1782 ) was an American Revolutionary War officer . He was killed by American Indians during the Battle of Blue Licks in Robertson County , Kentucky ( then Kentucky County , Virginia ) . Married Rebecca Scott ( 1740 - 1771 ) abt . 1763 in Frederick County , Virginia . Married Mary Woodfield ( 1750 – 1834 ) in 1772 , Westmoreland County , Pennsylvania . In 1768 , James traveled over the Allegheny Mountains to Westmoreland County ( now Washington County ) , Pennsylvania , where he settled near the Monongahela River , neighboring Redstone Old Fort ( now Brownsville , Fayette County , Pennsylvania ) . It ’ s likely that James and his brother William helped build Williams Cabin near Old Bedford Village , in Bedford County , Pennsylvania . In 1774 , Brenton was commissioned a Captain by Colonel Angus McDonald , who mustered roughly 400 men to take part in the Wakatomica Campaign of Dunmore ’ s War . The Shawnee settlements of Wakatomika ( present day Dresden , Muskingum County , Ohio ) as well as four other villages were burned . Three American Indian Chiefs were taken prisoner . In 1777 , he defended the frontier , serving as a First Lieutenant in the Virginia Rangers of Monongalia County . In 1779 , he was promoted to Captain , and then to Major by Patrick Henry . Later that year , James and his family relocated to Harrodsburg , Kentucky County , Virginia ( now Mercer County , Kentucky ) . They spent the winter in Harrodsburg , and in spring of 1780 settled on the south bank of Clarks Creek at the ford northeast of Danville ( now Boyle County , Kentucky ) . In 1782 , Brenton was commissioned a Major and made fifth in command of the Crawford Expedition , intended to put an end to Indian attacks on frontier settlers . James Brenton ( occasionally misspelled " Brinton " ) was one of four majors elected for the expedition . The other Majors included David Williamson , Thomas Gaddis , and John McClelland . According to Consul Willshire Butterfield , Major Brenton , " " was a man of much spirit – a soldier , brave and active . Judging of his merits by his subsequent conduct , he unquestionably commanded the esteem as well as the confidence of the volunteers . His coolness and bravery in the face of imminent danger were long after alluded to by his surviving comrades , in terms of the highest commendation " . " Major Brinton and Captain Bean were also scouts ; observing two savages , upon whom they immediately fired , though without effect . Brenton was wounded at the Battle of Sandusky and Daniel Leet subsequently took command of his division . The song , " Crawford ' s Defeat by the Indians " mentions Major Brenton : Shortly after returning from the Crawford Expedition , Brenton was mortally wounded at the Battle of Blue Licks on August 19 , 1782 . One of the last battles of the American Revolutionary War , Blue Licks took place near the Licking River , in what is now Robertson County , Kentucky ( but was then Kentucky County , Virginia ) . Approximately 50 Loyalists and 300 American Indians ambushed 182 frontier militia men . James ’ son , also named James , was in the party which buried the dead after the Battle of Blue Licks . According to family legend , James brought his father ' s body back to Harrodsburg for burial .