KY:Historical Society - Historical Marker Database

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Battle of Mt. Sterling
(Marker Number: 177)

County: Montgomery
Location: Mt. Sterling, Courthouse lawn, US 60

Description: On March 22, 1863, about 300 Confederate cavalrymen under Colonel R. S. Cluke captured this city, taking 438 prisoners, 222 wagon loads of military stores, 500 mules, and 1000 stand of arms. Confederate losses: 8 killed, 13 wounded. Union losses: 4 killed, 10 wounded.

(Subjects: Civil War | Mt. Sterling)

Battle-June 8, 1864
(Marker Number: 628)

County: Montgomery
Location: Mt. Sterling, US 460

Description: Early this day CSA forces under Gen. John H. Morgan on his tragic last raid attacked Union camp here under Capt. Edward Barlow. CSA took 380 prisoners and material. $59,000 taken from Farmers' Bank. Leaving a force here under Col. H. L. Giltner, Morgan moved west with 2nd Brigade. Next morning CSA driven out. Joined by Morgan, took Lexington next day. See map.

(Subjects: Civil War | Lexington | Morgan, John Hunt | Mt. Sterling)

Battle-June 9, 1864
(Marker Number: 629)

County: Montgomery
Location: Mt. Sterling, W. on US 60

Description: CSA took Mt. Sterling on previous day. Early on 9th US forces under General S. G. Burbridge attacked CSA under Col. R. M. Martin camped on Camargo Pike. Col. H. L. Giltner brought CSA force from Levee Road, but both driven through city. CSA counterattacked, but was repulsed. Heavy loss on both sides. Morgan joined them and took Lexington next day. See map other side.

(Subjects: Burbridge, Stephen G. | Civil War | Lexington | Morgan, John Hunt | Mt. Sterling)

Civil War Robbery
(Marker Number: 1331)

County: Montgomery
Location: Main & Bank Sts., Mt. Sterling

Description: In this building is the Farmers Bank vault, which was robbed of $60,000 as "Morgan's Raiders" were on their last raid through Kentucky. Later the night of June 8, 1864, several of Morgan's men went to the house of J. O. Miller, cashier, and took the vault key from him. The money was never recovered. It was believed it went to Confederate cause. See over.

(Reverse) Bank Sues - In 1866, a civil suit was filed in Anderson Co. by Farmers Bank against Lt. J. F. Witherspoon. The bank was awarded a judgment of $59,057.33 for damages. On appeal, Witherspoon found not liable. Court of Appeals said that under laws of war robbery was not unlawful. Furthermore, there was no proof Witherspoon more guilty than any other in Morgan's command. Over.

(Subjects: Civil War | Morgan, John Hunt | Morgan's Raiders)

Courthouse Burned
(Marker Number: 586)

County: Montgomery
Location: Mt. Sterling, Courthouse lawn, US 60

Description: Twenty-two Kentucky courthouses were burned during Civil War, nineteen in last fifteen months: twelve by Confederates, eight by guerrillas, two by Union accident. See map on reverse side. Dec. 2, 1863, CSA cavalry burned courthouse at Mt. Sterling to stop its use as a USA garrison. Clerk's records, in rear, saved. Circuit court records destroyed.

(Subjects: Civil War | Courthouses Burned)

Estill's Defeat
(Marker Number: 153)

County: Montgomery
Location: Mt. Sterling, US 60

Description: Here on March 22, 1782, in Battle of Little Mountain, Captain James Estill and 7 of his force of 25 pioneers were killed in desperate hand-to-hand fighting with a band of 25 marauding Wyandots.

(Subjects: Indians | Wyandot Indians)

Gen. John Bell Hood Home
(Marker Number: 112)

County: Montgomery
Location: 4 mi. W. of Mt. Sterling, US 60

Description: Home of Hood family, 1835-1857. From here John Bell Hood (1831-1879) went to West Point, 1849. Resigned commission in 1861, joined Confederate Army, served with Texas Brigade throughout war. Hood wounded at Gettysburg; lost leg at Chickamauga.

(Subjects: Civil War)

Little Mountain Indian Mound
(Marker Number: 2290)

County: Montgomery
Location: Corner of Queen & Locust Streets, Mt. Sterling

Description: On this site stood the massive Little Mountain Indian Mound, from which Mount Sterling derived its name. Constructed by the Adena Indian culture about 2000 years ago, the circular mound stood 25 feet in height and 125 feet in diameter and was located along the Warrior’s Trace.

(Reverse) It was a prominent landmark used by William Calk and Enoch Smith to survey land claims in 1775. James Estill and his men camped here on March 21, 1782, the night before the battle of Estill’s Defeat. In 1845, the city removed the mound & extraordinary artifacts of copper, marble, stone, and shell were recovered during the excavation.

(Subjects: Indians | Mt. Sterling)

Montgomery County, 1797
(Marker Number: 1216)

County: Montgomery
Location: Mt. Sterling, Courthouse lawn, US 60

Description: Named for General Richard Montgomery, Revolutionary War officer. Born in Ireland, 1738. An advocate of colonial freedom, he commanded continental forces in the north, capturing first British colors in war, Fort St. Johns, 1775. Killed in Quebec attack, December 31, 1775. Original county taken from Clark; included area of 2 present counties and parts of 8 others.

(Subjects: Revolutionary War)

Morgan's Station - 6 Miles
(Marker Number: 115)

County: Montgomery
Location: 2 mi. E. of Mt. Sterling

Description: Settled in 1789. Attacked by Indians April 1, 1793. 19 women and children captured while men worked in fields. One woman hid in spring house and gave the alarm. 12 of the prisoners were massacred.

(Subjects: Forts and Stations | Indians)

The Gaitskill Mound
(Marker Number: 1655)

County: Montgomery
Location: Northern Bypass, KY 686

Description: Indian Mound attributed to Adena people, who inhabited Ohio Valley ca. 800 B.C. to A.D. 700. They began cultivating simple crops, bringing about a mixed hunting and farming economy. Central to Adena life were rituals involving cremation and mound building. Engraved stone tablets found here indicate mound to be Adena. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, 1975.

(Subjects: Indians | National Register of Historic Places)