Montgomery-Lincoln-Madison County KyArchives Military Records.....Houghtelin, Ronald E March 22, 1782 Revwar - Rosters Kentucky Militia Lincoln County ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ky/kyfiles.html ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Ronald Houghtelin rone@ll.net January 17, 2006, 2:00 am Estills Defeat Near Mt Sterling Kentucky Inscriptions marker near battlefield of Estills Defeat Estills Defeat marker located inside the gate of A Smith Electrical Company NE of Mt Sterling, in Montgomery County Kentucky. Bronze marker mounted in a granit stone says: In honor of and to the memory of Captain James Estill and his gallant men who three fourths of a mile northwest of this spot on March 22 AD 1782 fought against the Wynandot Indians, the battle known as Estills Defeat. Killed in Battle: Captain James Estill, Adam Camerton, John South, Jonathan McMillan, John Colefoot, ---- McNeely, ---- Forbes Wounded in the Battle: William Irvine, David Cook, James Berry, Two boys at the Battlefield Samuel South (12) Peter Hacket (13) Others Engaged in the Battle Rev Joseph Proctor, William Cradebaugh, David Lynch, Henry Boyer, John Jameson, William Grime, Whitson George, Beal Kelly, James Anderson, ---- Johnson, Benjamin Dunnaway, Lt William Miller, Negro Monk Marker erected by the Colonel George Nicolas chapter NS DAR Daughters of the American Revolution Information of some of those in the battle of Estills Defeat Captain James Estill's home was Estills Station near Ricmond in Madison county, but he was living at Fort Logan and was a member of the newly created court of Lincoln County located at Fort Logan about a mile east of todays Stanford Kentucky. John South who was killed with James Estill was living near Fort Logan with his wife Rebecca South and their four children. John South is mentioned as John South in the Lincoln County Court records and these records were also called the Lincoln County Court Orders. This John South was appointed as a Deputy Surveyor to help locate a road from the Court House to Fort Boonesboro. Captain James Estill was the commander of the Lincoln County Militia and he was ordered to split his forces as he saw fit by order of the court, the month before the battle of Estills Defeat so we know his Company was under strength. After John South was killed with Captain Estill on March 22 1782, he was never mentioned in those Court House records again. This John South might have been the Ensign in Captain Robert Barnets Company who was also from Fort Logan. Fort Logan as the site of the Courthouse was also the centrial Station that maintained the prime Militia forces in the area at that time. When ever an Indian danger came up and there was a lot of disruption from the Indians from southern Ohio, those brave men from Fort Logan were called to come and help. The Wynandot Indians were very aggressive and known to be rather mean.They were in the area and attacked Estills Station by Richmond, killed a small girl at the gate and wounded Monk the negro. The Indians had attacked Strouds Station and were heading for Fort Boonesboro and moved on towards Mt Sterling when they realized Estill and his men were coming. Reports have said that atleast fifteen men were dispached from Fort Logan to intercept the band of Indian Warriors.The distance from Fort Logan is about 30 miles to Estills Station and about 12 more miles on to Boonesboro. I think the two Boys, Samuel South and Peter Hacket were sent from Boonesboro to fetch Captain James Estill at Fort Logan and bring help. I understand he was notified about March 19 1782. Captain James Estill gathered up all the available fighting men he could gather around Fort Logan and he answered the call. He gathered up other fighters from other little forts called stations. The two boys stayed with Estill and his fighters. The boys helped bury the dead after the battle. From the history Of Garrard County Kty: Boones Trace as early as 1776 there was a trace crossing Garrard County beginning at Boonesboro and ending at Fort Logan. (one mile east of todays Stanford Kentucky) This place was called Buffalo Springs. Young Samuel South who was at the battle site of Estills Defeat says he traveled this trace from Boonesboro to Fort Logan in 1782 and he knew the above streams by these names. This young Samuel South was the son of John South Senior of Boonesboro and lived at Otter Creek. This Samuel South became General Samuel South and was a General in the War of 1812 againt the British. When Estills men arrived at Estills Station, Monk the negro was wounded and the little girl was killed, Estill took off after the Wynandot Indians with new ferver and maybe some additional rage. I think some more fighters were picked up at Fort Boonesboro and they chased after the Indian Warriors. Captain James Estill caught up with the Wynandot Indians near Mt Sterling and The battlefield was coverd with blood of both Indians and Indian Fighters. I understand that much of the fighting was hand to hand fighting, including Tomahawks rifles, knives, fists, and a really brutal fight. I do not know how long the battle raged, but I know Captain Estill had been wounded in another battle a couple of months just prior to this battle. It is said he was fighting hand to hand with the chief of the Indian band and the chief was very tough and he got the better of Estill because of his prior injury. After the battle the Indians that were still standing went back to Ohio with out any more attacks. They had enough. I will mention the men from Fort Logan and others Forts as I know them McNeely was living near Fort Logan Forbes was from Logan David Cook was from Boonesboro or Logan William Irvin and Rev Joseph Proctor were from Logan Reuben Proctor was from Logan William Cradlebaugh was from Boonesboro The boys Samuel South and Peter Hacket came from Boonesboro The boy Samuel South and John South killed were first cousins David Lynch not known where he came from Henry Boyer came from Fort Logan John Jameson from Logan William Grimes from Logan Watson George not known where he came from Beal Kelly came from Logan James Anderson and ----Johnson were with Capt John Boyle near Fort Logan 1780 Benjamin Dunnaway not known where he came from Lt William Miller came from Fort Logan Negro Monk (Estills slave) from Logan or at Estills Station These are the men mentioned on the marker at Mt Sterling There may have been others. John South killed with Estill had a wife Rebecca and four small children living near Fort Logan. Mary, Henry, John, and William King South John South was also called John South the younger in records with his uncle John South Senior and his cousin John South Junior. John South was the son of Thomas South, who was killed in the summer of 1779 in Bowmans Defeat fighting Indians in southern Ohio with Col Bowman. John South was born about 1745 in Maryland and probably married Rebecca in Virginia about 1765. This John South fell with Captain Estill at Estills Defeat March 22 1782. His widow Rebecca South married Anthony Sandusky, a year later and they raised his children and her children at Pleasant Run called Sandusky Station. Anthony Sandusky was in the Lincoln County Court records with John South. Anthony was promoted to Ensign after Estills Defeat. He was not in Estills Defeat but he was in the Battle of Blue Licks. The Battle of Blue Licks is recorded as the final battle of the American Revolution. Sandusky Station was a small fort in Washington County Kentucky, now located in Marion County Kentucky. The Spring is still flowing with a concrete entrance and a lot of watercrest is still growing there. Inscribed on the bronze marker on the west side of the driveway of the Lester Smothers farm in Marion County Kentucky (June 2005) James and Jacob Sadowsky (later Sandusky) came from Virginia in 1774 with Hite's Surveying Party and helped layout Harrodstown. James chose the site at Pleasant Run Spring 150 feet southeast of here for settlement. Harrods men helped him erect 1776. He and Jacob moved 1785 to present Jessamine County. James brother Anthony Sandusky(sic) stayed at Pleasant Run. The family long identified with the area. end of marker inscription James Sandusky(sic) later moved to Bourbon County near Caine Ridge and started Sandusky Station there in Bourbon County Kentucky. Henry Wilson from near Fort Logan also moved near James Sandusky (sic) This is the summary of my visit to Kentucky in June 2005. I took the information from the bronze marker erected by the DAR and other historical markers and much data found in the local county libraries. From data over 25 years from several courthouse records, wills and much other information. Fayette County records by Cook Publications ------------ I will list just one of several Early Depositions about Estills Defeat Battle Ground. These Depositions concerning the land where the Battle of Estills Defeat was located and where Captain James Estill was killed. This is the Deposition of John South Senior taken 1804 located in Fayette County Kentucky Records. also can be found on the internet- Family Past http://www.family past.com/depositions_pt2.htm Depositions taken in 1804 pages 175 to pages 207 (32 depositions in 1804) about the place where Estills Defeat took place and this is the entire deposition of John South Senior who was the Uncle of John South killed in the Battle. This deposition of John South Senior was taken July 27 1804 by William O Rear, a single magistrate, at the Estill Battle Ground in Montgomery County Kentucky. John South Senior stated: I have known this creek from the fall of 1778 I knew it was called Calks creek for said Calk's spring and inprovement to Little Mountain, then Small Mountain Creek to the mouth of Sassafras and then called Hingston. Question by Leonard Bradley: How far is it from Estills battle ground to the mouth of what is called Sassafras and from there it was called Hingston ? John South Seniors answer: I suppose it is seven or eight miles from information, below here and down said Small Mountain Creek. Question by same: Does not this branch of the east side of Small Creek, on which Estill was found, run into Small Mountain Creek ? John South Seniors answer: Yes, from information of my son, this is the branch Estill was found dead on. The branch we are now at the mouth of. Question by the plaintive: Does not this and several other creeks and branches that get together between here and seven or eight miles below here make what is called Hingston ? John South Seniors answer: I suppose all the brances that comes into Small Mountain Creek and Sassafras above the forks help make Hingston. Question by same: When you heard Estill was killed, could not you, from the information you had, found the place ? John South Seniors answer: I could have found the place. Question by same: Was it generally known in this country, that Estill was killed on the ground where the battle was fought ? John South Seniors answer: I was so informed and I believe it is generally understood that he was killed on the ground where the battle was fought. Question by Leonard Bradley: From what Stations were the men collected to bury the dead after the battle ? John South Seniors answer: I believe from Strodes, McGees and Boonesbough End Of John South Seniors Deposition I was not there at the time of the battle and so all we have are any records that can be found. Errors have been made in History books by accident and some of these new facts are very close to the truth. I hope this information will be helpful and useful to those interested in The Battle of Estills Defeat on March 23 1782, with the Lincoln County Kentucky Militia from Fort Logan and the Wynandot Indians from Ohio If anyone has additional information or finds errors, please contact me. I revise my findings as I find new information. Ron Houghtelin - Owatonna, Minnesota - rone@ll.net File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ky/montgomery/military/revwar/rosters/houghtel153gmt.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/kyfiles/