Thomas Bullitt facts for kids

Thomas Bullitt (1730 – February 1778) was an important military officer and explorer from Virginia in the early days of the United States. He played a key role in several wars and helped open up new lands in the American West.

Thomas was born in 1730 in Prince William County, Virginia. His parents were Benjamin and Sarah (Harrison) Bullitt. From a young age, he joined the local militia, which was like a volunteer army. He also became very interested in exploring and developing the lands to the west. By 1754, he was a Captain in the county's militia. He took part in many efforts to protect western Virginia and Pennsylvania from the French.

French and Indian War: A Young Officer's Battles

Captain Bullitt led some of his soldiers with Colonel George Washington in 1754. This expedition ended in a defeat at the Battle of Fort Necessity. The next year, he marched again against Fort Duquesne. This time, he was with the Braddock Expedition. They also lost the Battle of Monongahela on July 9, 1755.

The third attempt in 1758 started poorly but ended well. Bullitt led a militia company in the Forbes Expedition. In September, he was part of a large group of soldiers led by Major James Grant (general). Grant did not listen to advice about fighting in the wilderness. His group was ambushed by the French and their Native American allies on September 21, 1758. They suffered heavy losses, and Grant was captured. Bullitt escaped into the woods. But he quickly gathered the militia and fought back against their pursuers. He then led more than half of the original group back to their main army. The French had to leave their fort in November.

On May 22, 1759, French and Native American troops defeated a group of 100 Virginians. Captain Thomas Bullitt was in command. This happened on the Forbes Road near Fort Ligonier. Bullitt and his troops were taking supplies from Bedford to Fort Ligonier when they were attacked. They had over 40 casualties and lost many supplies. General John Stanwix held an investigation into Captain Bullitt's actions. The court decided that Captain Bullitt "behaved like a good Officer." They said he did everything he could to fight the enemy and save the supplies.

After the War: Exploring and Building

After the war, Bullitt remained interested in the frontier. He started to buy land, hoping its value would increase. He also invested in developing new areas. Many of his militia soldiers received land grants in what became Bath County, Virginia. Bullitt bought land there too. He built an Inn at Hot Springs, Virginia in 1766. Over the next few years, famous guests like Thomas Jefferson and George Washington stayed there.

During the war, Andrew Lewis (soldier) and Thomas Bullitt had explored parts of this area. They heard stories from Native Americans and colonists about the healing powers of the springs. In 1764, Captain Thomas Bullitt received a land grant of 300 acres. This land included seven hot and warm springs. After getting the land, Captain Bullitt moved his militia company and their families there. They cleared the land. Within two years, an 18-room wooden hotel was built. In 1766, "The Homestead" opened. It was named to honor the people who built the resort and bathhouses. The Omni Homestead Resort, as it is known today, was run by Thomas Bullitt's family after he died. They ran it until 1832. Then, it was sold to Dr. Thomas Goode (physician). He also bought the Healing Springs, Virginia and Warm Springs, Virginia resorts.

Bullitt also continued his military service. When the war ended in 1763, he became the Adjutant General of the state militia. This was a high-ranking officer who helped manage the army. He held this job into the early days of the Revolutionary War.

Surveying Kentucky: Mapping New Lands

By 1773, Virginia was still looking for land to give out as grants and rewards. The colony was also dealing with rules from the Royal Proclamation of 1763. Settlers were moving west into Kentucky even without official permission. To bring some order, Governor Dunmore allowed Captain Bullitt to organize a group. Their job was to survey northern and eastern Kentucky.

Bullitt gathered about 40 men. They started from the Kanawha River Valley. They generally followed the south side of the Ohio River. He made some side trips. He went as far north as Chillicothe to talk with Chief Cornstalk of the Shawnee Tribe. By July, his group reached the Falls of the Ohio. Bullitt planned a town site there. This site later became Louisville, Kentucky.

Bullitt and his men tried to keep peace with the Native Americans. But they did lose one work party in an attack. This trip was also one reason for Native American complaints. These complaints led to Lord Dunmore's War the next year. As a reward for his service on this trip and in the French and Indian War, Bullitt received 1,240 acres (5.0 km2) of land. He chose a spot he thought was best for early development. Today, this spot is in downtown Charleston, West Virginia.

The Revolutionary War: Fighting for Freedom

Bullitt was still the Adjutant General for the Virginia militia. As the American Revolutionary War was about to begin, he strongly supported the American rebels. When Governor Dunmore made his last stand in 1775, Captain Bullitt was part of the forces that gathered for the Battle of Great Bridge. He was in charge of building defenses for Colonel William Woodford. Bullitt's quickly built defenses helped the Americans win a huge victory on December 9, 1775. Dunmore retreated to Norfolk, Virginia. But he was forced to leave there too when Bullitt started building siege trenches. By the end of December, Virginia had no British forces on its land. Bullitt was promoted to Colonel.

Thomas Bullitt was elected several times to the House of Delegates. This was the legislature of the new Virginia government. But he usually did not attend their meetings. He made an exception in November and December 1777. He helped George Rogers Clark promote his plans for a western military campaign. The delegates made Clark a Lieutenant Colonel. They allowed him to defend the western frontiers. A second, secret set of orders allowed him to invade the Illinois Country. Only Bullitt, Patrick Henry, Thomas Jefferson, George Mason, and George Wythe knew about these secret orders.

Death and Legacy

Bullitt died at his home in Fauquier County, Virginia, in February 1778. He was 48 years old. His will, or last wishes, was dated September 17, 1775. It was officially approved by a court on February 23, 1778. In his will, he left 400 acres of land and money for support to his daughter, Sarah Elizabeth Brounaunt. He left most of his other property to his brother, Cuthbert Bullitt.