Author: Augustus O. Thomas II
Richard Rue was born in Kent County, Maryland, in 1760. His parents were Samuel Rue and Alshea VanSant. His mother died in 1761 and his father died in 1767, leaving Richard an orphan at age 7. He was taken in by his older sister, Mary, and her husband, Edward Holman. Richard became a life-long friend with his cousin, George Holman, Jr. Shortly thereafter Richard, Edward and George ventured to Kentucky by descending the Ohio River.

Rue volunteered to pursue a large Indian party that killed and took prisoners at Shawring Springs, Kentucky in May of 1777. In April, Indians besieged Fort Herodsburgh and a hard fought battle ensued. Richard was 17 years old and already in his second conflict.

General George Rogers Clark gathered 150 volunteers in late 1778, including Private Richard Rue, and descended the Ohio River to Illinois. For six days they crossed the countryside and waded streams up to their chins. Tired, hungry and cold, they surprised and captured the British at Kaskaskie without firing a shot, surprising them during a celebration in the fort. From here they marched and captured the British at Vincennes. General Clark’s aggressive actions secured the western territory during the Revolutionary War.

In 1779, Rue volunteered under Col. Bowman, with militia from Herodsburgh and Boonsbourgh, and marched against Indians at Old Chilicothe and Piquia on two occasions, and during the second attack they destroyed corn, burned villages, and scattered the Indians with the help of a field piece, before returning to the falls of the Ohio late in August 1780.

In 1781, Richard Rue, Henry Holman and George Holman were captured by Simon Girty and 13 Indian warriors. At Camp Waupacanatta each prisoner had to run the gauntlet. Henry finally escaped but was re-capture, and that evening he was bound to a stake and was burned to a crisp, and his scalp used to threaten the others. George was later released on the promise that he would get food supplies for the starving Indians. Richard was a prisoners, near Detroit, for three years before he made his escape. In his pension deposition he claimed five years and eleven months as a private soldier.

In 1784, Richard married Elizabeth Holman in Fayette County, Kentucky. He became proprietor of New Castle, Henry County, Kentucky, in 1801 by virtue of owning the most lots. He sold off the New Castle properties and moved to Wayne County, Indiana, in 1805. After this move he became an elected representative to the general assembly for Dearborn County, Indiana, beginning in 1810.

Pvt. Richard Rue died 12 Dec 1844, and is buried in the Elkhorn Cemetery, Wayne County, Indiana.