Greenville in Bond County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

The Defense of Hill's Fort

Photographed by Jason Voigt

1. The Defense of Hill's Fort Marker

Inscription. In honor of those brave pioneers who sought refuge & fought valiantly against the attacking Native Americans near Hill's Fort on the foggy morning of September 9, 1814. After being alerted to the hostile presence, 13 men left the fort to scout. They rode into an ambush less than a half mile from the fort: four men lost their lives & three were wounded.

Members of the Scouting Party

Pvt. John Boucher*, Pvt. William Burgess*, Pvt. William Grotts**, Pvt. Thomas Higgins*, Ensign John Journey8*, Pvt. Joseph Lindley, Sgt. Robert Linn**, Pvt. Fields Pruitt, Pvt. Joseph Joseph Pruitt & Solomon Pruitt, William Pruitt**, William Pursley, & Isham Reavis

Left Defending the Fort

Pvt. Hiram Arthur, Pvt. Azor Gregg, Pvt. Titus Gregg, Polly Cox Family, Sam Davis, William Hill family, John Hopton family, John Lindley, Samuel Lindley Family, Simon Lindley family, Jacob Pruitt, Isham Reavis family, William Roberts, David White family, & William Pursley's wife, Lydia, & family Benjamin Henson was the first to warn of the hostile presence, but then left the fort. The heroine of the day was Lydia Pursley who grabbed a nearby horse

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& gun, inspiring others to help as she rode out to the aid of Tom Higgins.

*Wounded in battle
**Killed in battle

Erected by USD1812 (Kaskaskia Chapter), Illinois Society of the War of 1812 and the Illinois War of 1812 Bicentennial Commission.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Forts and Castles • Indigenous Peoples and Communities • War of 1812. A significant historical date for this entry is September 9, 1814.

Location. 38° 52.354′ N, 89° 22.529′ W. Marker is in Greenville, Illinois, in Bond County. It can be reached from Museum Avenue 0.6 miles east of Illinois Route 127. Marker is on the grounds of the American Farm Heritage Museum. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1395 Museum Ave, Greenville IL 62246, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Greater St. Louis.

It is also in the American Midwest

and in the Corn Belt.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture

and also the Northwest Territory.

Photographed by Jason Voigt, September 9, 2023

2. The Defense of Hill's Fort Marker

Marker is underneath the sign.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Hill's Fort (within shouting distance of this marker); De La Vergne Steam Engine (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Vandalia Railroad Depot (approx. 2.2 miles away); Third Street Jail (approx. 2.4 miles away); State Bank of Hoiles & Sons (approx. 2.4 miles away); Ronald Reagan (approx. 2.4 miles away); Bulkley-Buie Store (approx. 2.4 miles away); Bond County Civil War Memorial (approx. 2.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Greenville.

Also see . . . Hill's Fort Society. Contains history and information about the Fort, from the federal non-profit historic group's website. (Submitted on September 9, 2023, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois.)

Credits. This page was last revised on September 9, 2023. It was originally submitted on September 9, 2023, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois. This page has been viewed 309 times since then and 50 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 9, 2023, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois.