TIP #484 ATTACK AT ESTILL'S STATION Estill's Station was located in Montgomery County KY. Captain John A Crawford raised the first crop of corn there in 1780. He had been hired to clear land and cultivate a few acres of corn and in return he would receive 100 acres of choice land. He, along with a slave, cleared four acres and planted corn and received his acreage. In 1782, the county was the scene of a struggle between the white settlers and the Indians. This battle is known as "Estill's Defeat". Twenty-five Wyandots invaded Estill's Station in May of that year which was on the south side of the Kentucky River. One white man was killed, a Negro prisoner was taken, the cattle killed. The Wyandots then retreated back into the timber. Captain Estill gathered together 25 men and pursued the Wyandots seeking vengeance. They met at the Hinkston fork of the Licking River. The Indians had just crossed the creek, narrow at that point, and were slowly and calmly climbing a hill on the opposite side. Estill ordered his men to begin firing. The Chief was wounded severely and the Indians started to run. The Chief told them to hold their ground and fight, and they turned and began fire on Estill's band of men. Estill had already formed his men in a line, ready to fight and sought the limited protection of trees and bushes along the river bank. The size of the enemies were equal at 25 men each. The fight continued for an hour and white men and Indian fell. It was reported that nearly 1/4th of both sides lie dead. Captain Estill determined that nothing would be gained by continuing to fight in this manner. He looked around and saw that there was no way of going forward across the creek. Then he saw a valley running from the creek toward the rear of the enemy's line. He decided to take six of his men by this valley and come up behind the Indians. He would stay with the remaining men to give the Indian fire and distract them. The six men moved slowly off under the command of a Lieutenant Miller but somehow Lt Miller didn't understand or have the ability to do what was expected of him. He and his men didn't go quickly enough. The Indians, realizing that not as many men were firing back at them, ordered his braves to charge across the creek. The remaining white men, including Estill were charged with great force. Captain Estill and eight of his men were killed; the Indians lost ½ of their men. The battle lasted two hours. The last attack took place on Easter Monday, 1 April 1793. The Indians took Morgan's Station on Slate Creek, about seven miles east of Mount Sterling. In this battle, 19 white prisoners were taken, all women and children. The station was totally unprepared for the attack and was apparently not well guarded. One old man and a woman were killed and when the white settlers started fleeing, several more were killed or taken prisoner. It was only after the Treaty of Greenville was signed in 1795 that these latter prisoners were re-united with their family. References: "History of Kentucky" by Lewis Collins, originally produced in the First Edition of his works known as the Historical Sketches of Kentucky, published in Mayesville in 1847. http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Ranch/5417/GenReports/stations.htm Shows a list of all the forts and stations with a map which is clickable for enlargement. The Greenville Treaty text: http://www.bluemud.org/article/11215 (c) Copyright 1 Apr 2004, Sandra K. Gorin, All Rights Reserved Colonel Sandi Gorin SCKY Links: http://www.public.asu.edu/~moore/Gorin.html SCKY surname registry sites: http://www.rootsweb.com/~kyclinto/reg.html http://www.rootsweb.com/~kyclinto/forms/SCKYreg.html Gorin Publishing: http://ggpublishing.tripod.com/