My GGGGrandfather was a Confederate and joined the NC 62nd Infantry which was assigned to defend Cumberland Gap. In the July 1863 skirmish, his left arm was shot off. Unable to to load his gun, he returned to Watauga County NC and became a 'carrying man' (postman with rural route). Thanks for the history and wonderful old photos. Researching the old photos must have taken a lot of your time but outcome was well worth it. Great video. Blessings...

If I was a teacher I would want you to come to my class and go over our history with your pictures and knowledge. Reading a book is one thing. Seeing it and hearing it from a person is so much more interesting. Thanks for these videos. So much knowledge that is slowly being lost.

I love our heritage ❤❤❤❤ Thank you Mr. Laws...have a blessed day my hillbilly neighbor !!!

Donnie you have a gift for explaning history. If kids in school had you for a teacher They would be looking forward to your class.

Thank you, Donnie, for making history interesting and for keeping it's people and places alive. God 🙏 🙏 🙏 bless.

All the hours you put in making these history lessons are so very appreciated. Thank you and I can't wait till the next story.

I love being connected to this history and really enjoyed this video! Thanks Donnie 😎👍

Been through there a month ago to show my grandson on our way to the Outer Banks from Iowa. We went through the tunnel twice. We pulled over at a lookout & a local man was showing it to some friends. We got to talking & guess who's name came up? "DONNY LAWS!" "YES!" We both love listening to your videos 😊.

I grew up and live about 1 mile from Daniel Boone's birthplace and homestead in PA. His story is remarkable when you think of the reality of cutting a trail through wilderness. A cut on your skin could cause sepsis. Animal predation. Poisonous plants and insects. Keeping dry, Creating shelters from the elements, cooking food, etc. He couldn't send scouts ahead to set up camp in advance of his arrival.

My wife always tells me I should have been a history teacher. People don't know our history well enough to understand what our ancestors went through to entrust us to keep this country. Americans just want to be left alone to do what we love. That's what the Founder's wanted. Not the bloated overreaching goobermint in Washington DC. I spent many hours underground in Pulaski, Wayne, and Carter counties, caving. Always wanted a little piece of Kentucky to call my own. Love it there. Thanks for the history lessons Donnie.

Thank you Donnie for another enjoyable history lesson. It's a pity that you wasn't my history teacher back when I was growing up,you take all your viewers on a journey in the past like no other story teller can do . Have a blessed weekend my friend ,already looking forward to your wild life video on Monday. Many thanks to you. God bless you.

Hello from Vermont! You truly have one of the very best channels on KZfaq. 👍🏻❤️🇺🇸

I love history, especially American. I can only imagine what the settlers of this land and others would think of our modern world. I enjoyed this lesson on the Gap very much.

I miss the old road I live on from a gravel road to a paved one now was only a trail according to my grandparents I wish that's all it was now but it's not to be. That was a really good wake up video thank you

Love these historical videos as my ancestors settled in Eastern Ky.,like so many others here.💗

Thank you Mr. Donnie, I love knowing my history and heritage. Please keep sharing because I don’t believe they teach this in school anymore. God Bless🙏

Awesome Donnie. History is great. Your narration is excellent.

Thank you Mr Laws for another great educational video

so beautiful, thank you Donnie, I love the history and countryside

I LOVE the history ones. Thank you for this one. In case interested, Corbin, KY, is having their annual Powwow this weekend. Have a great day and weekend. God bless.

Best piece of history I've seen in a very long time,it's brings home just how tough it must have been at the time..for such a short documentary, it hit hard..wow..thankyou very much....from Ireland 🇮🇪 👍 👏

Mr. Laws, I can’t begin to tell you how much I’ve enjoyed this wonderful video. Thank you so much, God bless.

Thanks for sharing these stories and the history with us Donnie. This is my favorite way to relax after a days work , I make myself some supper and listen to your newest video while I have a bite to eat. This really means a lot to me , thanks again sir. 👋👋

Back in school, history bored me. Donnie, you should have been a teacher. All your postings on history have yet to loose my attention!! Believe me, that's a high compliment! God bless!

One of the greatest historians and story tellers in the country. Thank you Donnie!

You do a great job on our history. Donnie thank you very much, always enjoyable. Thanks again God bless.

I love these stories so much. Thanks Donnie.

Makes me wonder if one of my great grandfathers didn't take this road. He and his family walked from Philadelphia to Southern VA. His youngest son (my line) was taken by the Shawnee in a raid on their Grist mill

This was a fantastic video I like learning about Daniel Boone and all his travels and all the other great adventurers it was amazing to see one tiny little past running into a huge Thruway I learned a lot through this video I love learning about the history of how our country became what it is today have a good day and keep up with these wonderful videos till next time stay safe

Wonderful history lesson. Thanks so much for sharing Donnie!

I appreciate all your videos.i would love to go back in time to see what it was like back then.thank u sir.god bless u and your family

I love the history videos the best! You narrate them so well. The music is amazing too. Thank you for reminding us how very fortunate we are to live in a country where our ancestors forged the way and sacrificed so much. This country was built on sacrifice, hard work and dedication. God bless you Mr. Donnie.

Thank you, Donnie, for all the effort and work you put into this video. I love history and so enjoyed your presentation.

Thank you for sharing this history with us Mr.Laws. I really enjoy the wonderful photos. God bless you, my friend

An outstanding history with archival photos Donnie....such deep history ...one can only just try to imagine and think through the hardships and sacrifices made....my my..... Have a Great weekend and Thank you for the video Brother.

I have always enjoyed traveling in Kentucky. Such a beautiful State. Loved hearing the history. Thank you Donnie!❤

Donnie' thank you for sharing the History of Cumberland Gap with us.I enjoyed it very much.God Bless you all.

Awesome video. Thomas and Nathaniel Hart along with John and Robert Whitledge that all traveled with Boone were all grandparents of mine. I've been wanting to travel their route from the gap to Boonesborough ky.

Another great job brother Donnie sharing this valuable history with us. Blessings to you in Jesus name.

This was one of the best Documentaries I've seen in a long time. I love this part of the country. Keep up the good work!

Thanks for another great taste of history, brother Donnie! I always enjoy all of your presentations. Col. Daniel Boone, by the way, is my 8th cousin, 7 times removed. Shabbat Shalom, brother, and shavua tov (have a great week)! G-d bless you and yours!

I love listening and learning new things. You are fantastic at telling them.

Hi Donnie, thank you for another wonderful video. History certainly is fascinating ❤ sad that so many souls are buried under that road. Love from Scotland in the UK xx

Absolutely love this as always Donnie! An amazing and rich part of our good ole Appalachian heritage. God bless you my awesome mountain brother!

Thank you, Donnie. I can see my Grandaddies parents working their way through these areas in my mind when I'm listening to your very tender narration. You connect me to a home that I barely know but am drawn to more and more, every single day. I can't thank you enough. ❤

Hello from KY love your channel ❤️.What a wonderful history lesson Donnie.I love history.Have a great weekend

You have such a gift💜 and you've created such a beautiful community here. What an honor to be part of it.

From a big city Northerner .... very nice work, I always enjoy your historical videos. Thanks for all the work.

To be perfectly honest I never cared for history while in school but I learn so much from you and enjoy it. Take care! 😊🙏🏼❤️🍁🌻🍂

Excellent! Johnny and Junes song was in my head during your narration! Made my morning, thank you! I’m going there someday to see that and clinch mountain and the Carter Fold. I’m a descendant of Strode who built Strode Station.

❤ Thanks for this insightful gem! I live in Virginia on the "Trail of The Lonesome Pine" and appreciate your presentations featuring our part of the world.

Hi Donnie, I have got to learn more about the Cumberland gap and the wilderness trail. Thank you for sharing this video. It is amazing to think of the sacrifices that our ancestors made settling this country.

Wow! I absolutely love this history lesson Mr Laws! My oh my, I give all those pioneers and settlers a lot of credit! They saw their dreams ahead & they went after them! Blessings always! ❤️✝️

Thank you, very interesting. Although the early settlers endured much hardship, it must have been a great adventure for them exploring into a new unknown land. I can understand the Indians fighting back, they must have foreseen their land being taken away from them bit by bit

Great video Mr. Donnie I love hearing all the history. Take care and God bless ♥️

Thank you so much Donnie for all your countless hours of research that you put in to tell our history of our Appalachia country! Have a blessed day and safe labor day weekend!

Had my history teachers taught the way you do, I would have paid closer attention...like your telling us a story as we sit around the fire! Now I know the importance of Cumberland Gap and all the lost lives along there. I love learning here, thank you Mr. Donnie!!!

Thanks again Donnie, this video, for me just extends some of the Ohio history that I have been brought up with. I am from Darke Co. OH. where Fort Greenville now known as just Greenville is located. Tecumseh and Blue Jacket just 2 of the more known named Indians had visited and signed a treaty there. But so many of the smaller forts in that area like Loramie, Recovery, Jefferson, Shawnee and Wayne (just a few of them). I love our history even though only about 300 yrs. are the extent of it. I have since moved into N. KY. for the last 11 years and find it amazing how the history from 90 miles north of here influences this local history as well. I really enjoy all of your content and look forward every time you put something new out. Keep them coming my friend...

Hi, Donnie..That was a great video. I really enjoyed it. The pictures were great, too. I live in Oregon now. I am a student of history, and have learned a lot about who and what was behind the Civil War as well as the wars to follow. Believe me, it's not what you learn in school. Much more complicated and dark. I am curious to know what you know from experience or from hearing about it, the history of cryptids in Kentucky. We have Bigfoot and Dogman here, and from what I am hearing, they are pretty much all over this country now.

I went through Cumberland Gap last month and my thoughts were on the early days of settlers and what they must have endured. Thank you for the history lessons.

Great historical narration, Donnie. I'll take a ride to the first historical fort marker near Sycamore Shoals S.P. in Elizabethton, TN. after which, on Roan Mountain S.P. TN to stretch my legs on a trail. Thank you so very much, and all of us viewers look forward to the next video

There are some fine historic photos shared in this video. Thank you.

That was a great history lesson. Really loved it. Thanks for sharing, Donnie,Blessings,❤.

That was amazing, Donnie. So interesting to know this history. You should be a history teacher in the schools. Everyone should know this. 💞

I really enjoyed your video, thank you! What a great history lesson. Have a good holiday weekend and God bless you and your family.

Very, very well done sir. Thank you for putting it out for the world to see. I wish every student were required to learn more about the gap. This video would be an excellent place for them to begin. Many famous people traveled through the gap. Even the British “ hair buyer” general was transported back through the gap upon capture. The park has reconstructed the gap trail. You can actually take a short walk and stand in the old gap that so many traveled through.

Have you heard of Estill's Defeat near Mt. Sterling, Kentucky? My ancestor Adam Caperton was killed in a battle with the Indians during that skirmish. Wyandots raided a pioneer fort as a result were being pursued by Captain Estill's militia. At some point in the pursuit the Wyandots stood and fought ultimately driving Estill's militia from the field of battle. Estill also died in that battle.

Wow this is so wonderful 😊 thank you so much for this wonderful video.i love you so very much dear friend..

This was incredible Donnie. The amount of effort put into this video is very impressive. Thanks for the content every week and sharing Appalachian history with us all.

Thanks Donnie for another great history lesson and the time it took for you to put this together. I would someday like to take the old Wilderness Road / Trail. Since I watched Fess Parker as Daniel Boone as a kid I've been looking in to the life of the real man. Did you know that since exploring was in his blood that he and his party came to Florida and walked from St. Augustine to Pensacola? A good video was made by Two Egg TV I believe its called "Daniel Boone Walk Across Florida ". Have a great Labor Day weekend friend.

Thank you for all your time in doing these videos ❤❤❤

Amazing history sharing Donnie...I know much of it from school and a great love for history and like you said there is so much history that goes so deep... Absolutely appreciate you sharing today's adventures into the old history. Have a blessed weekend my friend...May the Lord bless and keep you😇🇺🇸😊🙏

Thank you for sharing with us. It is always very interesting. I truely enjoy learning more about our real history. God bless you and your family sir..🙏❤🙏❤🙏

Mr. Laws thank you for sharing the rich history of this beautiful land. Our nation has forgotten how the early settlers had to work and strive for every inch for our country's existence. This is where it all started for my family many, many moons ago. My hat is off to you Sir.

I remember sitting out on my mammaw's porch and I could see that mountain range...I miss her so much.😢

My late husband's family was with Daniel Boone when he broke the wilderness trail. He always wanted to see it but cancer took him. I love your stories, you keep me company when I'm working.

Fascinating story Mr. Donnie. Thank you.

I wish this was taught at school. So much amazing history is lost. I love this

This is real history that must never be forgotten. Thabk you for the awesome history lesson.

Thank you Donnie for a great history lesson. Keep up the good work!

I've been through the Cumberland Gap a couple of times----it's magical and beautiful for sure. Great video, Donnie! The "main" road right through the Ohio Village I live in, Route 68, Runs all through South to North, was originally one of the Buffalo Trails, then Shawnee used it as a road too. I really resonate with your history lesson this morning . Thank you.

Like I have said before, I’ve learned more History on your channel Donnie than I ever did in school. This was a fantastic video. I admire what the pioneers and our ancestors accomplished! Hardworking people with the characteristics of explorers, adventurers,so brave. I Love history . Donnie thank you!.✌️❤️💫

Thank you so much for these wonderful history videos Donnie! I always learn so very much from them! When I was a child, the number one show on TV was Daniel Boone. I spent many a night dreaming of hunting, fishing and fighting the bad guys with Daniel and Mingo and the Cumberland Gap was a wonderland to me! (But not to my very City of Atlanta-raised Momma who didn't understand why a girl would want to go hunting!) I did eventually start hunting and fishing, but because of my Momma's illness, I stayed in the Georgia mountains, close to home. Now, you have made it a wonderland for me once again! Are the old roads that paved the original gap trail still completely open? Sounds like a road trip to me! I can't wait! I also hate interstate highways! Would really love to see where they were, even though I know it has changed. Just so you know, I go to the Cherokee pow wows when I get a chance. Years ago, my old Cherokee elder, who was a storyteller at these events, once told a story about Boone and the Kentucky land deal that he made with the Cherokee. This elder, who spoke Cherokee from birth, tried that chief's name a few times, shook his head and said 'even MY elders aren't sure how to say this name! So we just gonna call him the 'Wise Chief' alright?" to peels of laughter from his audience, both visitors and Natives! At least you got it spelled out! No shame there my friend!

Thanks Donnie. I discovered your videos doing a bit of research before my stay at the Olde Mill Inn, then I hiked the Gap, and then the 3-State Mt. the next day. I had read about Daniel Boone in my childhood, and done some exploring as I drove down US11 the day before. It is a magical, historic place . . . that your videos help folks appreciate. Key point that might help folks appreciate is the best, settleable, farmable land near the Atlantic Coast and navigable lands along the rivers (in PA, DE, VA, etc, etc.) . . . had already been claimed by the families that came to America in the late 1600's and early 1700's. Newcomers and not-1st-born sons who wanted their own land -- good farming land in valley's -- had to go West. Kaintuck was the first of many, many western migrations that built this country (and forced natives off).

Awesome history Donnie thanks buddy 🙏🏻🇺🇸👍

As a kid you couldn't tie me to a chair and force me to watch something like this. Now at 38 I could sit in my chair for hours and watch these kinds of videos. Times were definitely a lot tougher back then. But boy was life simple. Great videos Donnie keep em up.

Thanks Donnie,another great History lesson 😊. JO JO IN VT 💞

Very interesting video. Thank you.

Thank you for a great lesson on the opening of the Cumberland Gap and beyond....

Donnie Another great history lesson. U do an amazing job telling are history history God bless Keep it up

Went through Cudjo’s cave with my big brother back in the mid 60’s and bought souvenirs at that shop. Wow. Miss those times. Thanks Donnie!😊

Awesome story!! Thank you !! I learned a little. You and your wife have a wonderfully blessed weekend! 😊

Love these stories Donnie! Keep em coming. Go Vols!!!

Wow that was so interesting. I presume it is where we get the saying "being on the warpath" from. I am not up on American history, not very up on my own, but I found it fascinating. The picture of the war clubs surprised me as due to the American film industry, I believed they only had bow and arrows. I look forward to another history video from you. Thanks Donnie.

From Ireland via New York harbor my 5 th great grandfather came and settled in Virginia which is now Kentucky I LOVE MY HOME STATE

Sure wish you could of been my history teacher back in 1977. My history teacher put me to sleep 😉

Thanks for another interesting video Donnie, I always enjoy your stories x

This is a wonderful history of Kaintuckee. I loved every minute of it.

Hello Donnie and family 👪 yes I bet that wilderness road definitely can tell a story about earlier history of your country really enjoyed watching and listening to your channel all the best and God bless Andrew south wales uk 👍 👌 😀 🇬🇧

Thank you for including my relatives! I have an ancestor a few generations back who was Shawnee, and our history is often forgotten.