On May 29, 1778, Dick Pointer's quick thinking and actions were crucial in protecting the settlers at Fort Donnally during a Shawnee Indian attack as part of the Revolutionary War. Pointer was one of the first to hear the alarm and helped defend the fort alongside Philip Hammond under extreme pressure. His actions likely saved many lives that day.

Despite his heroism, the enslaved Pointer was denied his freedom for years. It wasn’t until 1801 that he was purchased and freed. This stone monument was dedicated in Lewisburg to honor him in 1976 during the nation's Bicentennial.