Nestled in the hills of Rockcastle County is a place the locals have come to call “The Ridge.” It’s home to brambling briars, the occasional black bear, and around forty-five people. Oh, and it also served as a safe haven for Daniel Boone, as well as grounds for a lesser known Civil War battle.
Legend has it that while making his journey across Appalachia, Boone took refuge from the elements and native hostility near the Madison, Jackson, and Rockcastle County line . Though history books never mention exactly where he stayed, locals are convinced that Boone sought shelter in a cave on The Ridge. Not only that, but many claim there is a carving in a nearby rock of Boone’s footprint, with “D.B.” initialed underneath.
Nearly a hundred years later, The Ridge served as a battleground for a long-forgotten skirmish between the states. Stories say that the Union was holding territory on the upper end of the ridge top, and the Confederacy was advancing from the lower end. Once the two troops met in the middle, the battle began. There was a long, wooden bridge connecting one high point to another, and amidst the fighting, it was burned to the ground. The Confederacy prevailed, and began its march to Richmond. From that day forward, the area was dubbed “Burnt Bridge,” thus giving way to its current name, Burnt Ridge Road.
These Hallowed Hills 