The Mt. Sterling advocate. (Mt. Sterling, Ky.) 1890-current, 1909-08-11
The Montgomery County fair
Association Has Named Our
New Fair Grounds 'fStill
Park" in Honor of Capt. Jas.
tstiIl, a Noted Indian Fighter
and Pioneer.

lucky we learn that VIM. Calk
grandfather of Price Calk) in
company with several others, ex-
plOred for the first time, part of
what is now Montgomery county,
in June, 1875, and built cabin at
a big spring, about one mile west
of Little Mountain, now called Mt.
Sterling, where Price Calk now
lives. Later, VIM. Calk gave his
deposition in a land suit, wherein
the battle of Little Mountain"
or "Estill's Defeat" as it is COM
monty called, was mentioned at
length, in connection with certain
bouAdry lines of the lands in dis
pute. The case was finally deter
mined by the Kentucky Court of
Appeals in 1881, and the opinion
of Chief Justice Robertson 18th,
j. j. Marshall, page 1922 fur
nishes interesting reading and
definitely locates number of the
important points of this famous
battle. Surveys, showing the To-
cality, are still in existence and
now in possession of Surveyor W.
A. DeHaven.
On March 10, 1882, the brave
and chivalrous Capt. Estill, with
a posse of men, left Estill Station
Fifteen miles south of Boonesbor-
ough and about four miles south
east of where Richmond now Isl
in pursuit of band of Indians.
On March 81, 1882, Estill and his
men twenty-five in number) pass
ed Calk's cabin (above referred toy
and camped near Little Mountain,
now Mt. Sterling. The following
day they pressed onward, going
down Hinkston Creek until the
present site of the Fair Grounds
was reached, when Capt. Estill
discovered the band of Indians
preparing a meal from the body
of a buffalo. Capt. Estill opened
fire and killed one of the Indians.
David Cook Zone of Estilfs mem
in his ardor, ran some distance in
advance of his comrades, and, see
ing an Indian halt, raised his gun
and fired; just at that instant a
second Indian passed in the line of
his fire and the one shot proved
fatal to both. So remarkable "A
, circumstance, witnessed by nearly
all the company, inspired high
degree OF enthusiasm and conf
dense. The Indians then endeav-
ored to retreat, under heavy fire,
indisposed to fight, until their
Chief fell wounded to the ground.
Though bleeding ana dying, he
sat upright, behind small bush,
ordered his braves to return and
fight like true warriors and di-
rected their future movements.
To the true son of the forest there
is no rallying cry like that of a
wounded leader and while life
lasted, his voice rang out in tones
of command that had never brook
ed disobedience. Fighting was
then begun in earnest. Each rifle
man singled out his man and fired
at no uncertain mark. Every
man to his man and each to his
tree" At this critical time in the
battle, Lieut.. VIM. Miller and six,
men were ordered by Capt. Estill
to gain. if possible, position to
the side or rear Of the Indians,
while he and the few remaining
would maintain as best they could,
their attitude in front This
movement, ri o h t ~ executed,
would certainly have won the day,
but Lieut.. Miller and his six men
became panic stricken and fled,
leaving Capt. Estill and his brave
followers to meet their fate, The
fight continued down Hinkston
Greek and upon what are now
known as the Ringo and Crooks
farms. During the thickest of
the fight, Adam Canerton. one of