The Little Miami River was an important route north from the Ohio River for Indians, frontiersmen, soldiers, and settlers, and its valley contains prehistoric Indian mounds and village sites throughout. In 1788 the river formed the boundary between two major survey districts, the Virginia Military Lands to the east and Symmes' Purchase between the Miamis. Ohio's first extensive railroad system followed the valley in the 1840s. In 1779 John Bowman's forces followed the east bank to Glady Run, then went north to the Indian village of Old Chillicothe. In 1780 and 1782 militia commanded by George Rogers Clark, and guided by Simon Kenton and Daniel Boone, crossed the river and camped two miles north of Caesar's Creek, then marched on villages near Springfield, Piqua, and Bellefontaine.