The RAMSHA meeting began with a business session in the historic Kinnett Tavern in Falmouth, KY.  
Before lunch, we had a chance to take pictures, to greet old friends, and meet new members of our family.  
This picture is very special to me.  It shows the descendants of the Lail family, including Mrs. Margaret Murphy.
Mrs. Murphy wrote the book, "The Karsners of Kentucky".  This book gives the history of Eveleas Lail Karsner Dunlap,
and was the inspiration for Bonnie Strassell to develop a presentation about our ancestor.
Mrs. Murphy is in the front row with a hat. At 92 years young, she is writing another book!
Mrs. Murphy's son is directly behind her, and a cousin is on her right.
Keith Morris is in the middle of the back row. Vicki and Brenda are in the front row on the right.
Bonnie, in costume, is next to Keith wearing what Eva Lail might have worn.

After a great lunch, we began a walking tour of Falmouth.  Of interest to all was the Historical Marker shown.

Jon Hagee and Bonnie Strassell posed for some pictures in front of a very old home in Falmouth.

A very short distance from the home (above) is the site of Col. Byrd's landing.
Notice the very steep downhill walk.  
The "landing" is where Col. Byrd and his troops began their overland march to Ruddell's Fort.

After visiting the site of Col. Byrd's landing, we began a caravan in our separate cars along the same route believed to
be where Col. Byrd marched on his way to Ruddell's and Martin's Stations.  I think we drove about 25 miles along
some of the roughest territory and roads I've ever seen.  Keep in mind that the prisoners from Ruddell's and Martin's Stations
were forced to march this same route on their way to Ohio, Detroit, and on to Canada.
Below, we stopped to see the Buffalo Trace (made by buffalo herds years before).  This is part of the
actual trail that our ancestors had to walk after their capture.  These pictures don't even begin to show
how steep the trail was.  Those prisoners who could not keep up were killed.
We were told by Don Lee that this same trail was also very active during the Civil War.

After another 10 miles or so in our (greatly appreciated) air conditioned cars, we came to the site of Col. Byrd's
Crossing of the Licking River.  We walked for what seemed to be another 1/2 mile just to get there from where
we parked our cars.  This ol' boy was looking for snakes, Indians, and whatever other dangers might present themselves!

The actual site of the crossing.  It is said that a cannon is still in the River here.

 

After driving for another 10-15 miles, we reached the site of where Ruddell's Fort was located.  
Nothing is left of it now because the British and Indians put it to the torch.

The monument dedicated to Ruddell's Fort.

I didn't bother going to the vault where some of the massacred victims are interred because I've been there
twice before.  With a long drive ahead of me to go home, I decided to leave a bit earlier than the others.
As I was leaving the property, I took one final picture of the overall area of Ruddell's Fort.
You can see the site of the monument where all the cars are parked in the distant background.