Jeremiah Austill,soldier, was born in Pendleton District, S.C., in 1794, son of Evan and Lethee/Lethea (Files) Austill. When but nineteen years of age, he was one of a party of three men headed by Capt. Samuel Dale, known as the "Daniel Boone of Alabama", in the famous "Canoe Fight" upon the Alabama River near Claiborne, Nov 12, 1813. In this struggle, three white men, rowed by a negro named Caesar, boldly assailed a war canoe of the Creeks, manned by seven warriors in full trappings in mid-stream, and killed all of them without loss or injury to themselves, except Austill, who was struck on the head with a war club and received a scalp wound. At this time also he was the bearer of night dispatches of warning between the forts and stockades along the hostile Creek country, often making forty miles through the trackless forests by night. He once rode from Fort Madison to Fort Carney and thence to Mount Vernon in a single night, through impenetrable darkness and blinding storm. He was married, in 1838, to Margaret, daughter of Capt. John Eades, who came to Alabama with his family from Georgia in 1812. They (Jeremiah & Margaret) had four children. Their son, Hurieosco, born in Mobile, Feb. 16, 1841, was graduated at the University of Alabama in 1861; was appointed lieutenant of the 1st Alabama Artillery, and served in the Confederate Army during the Civil War. He was admitted to the bar in 1868, and served in the house of representatives and senate of the state legislature. In 1874 he was elected Chancellor of the Southern Division of Alabama. He was married, Dec. 24, 1874, to Aurora R., daughter of Dr. Robert Ervin, of Wilcox Co., Alabama. They have six children. Major Jeremiah Austill enjoyed the respect and high confidence of all classes in his state. He died Dec 8, 1881.
--- Copy of an article of uncertain origin.
Per yet another source, the names of the men involved in the "Battle of the Canoes" were: Col. Samuel Dale, Capt. (Major) Jeremiah Austill, James Smith, William Oliver, and a Negro, known only as Caesar.
The following link is taken from the Rural Southwest Alabama website & has a link to Google Maps for directions/GPS: http://www.ruralswalabama.org/attractions/gravesite-of-major-jeremiah-austill/
According to newspaper articles the correct date of his death is 8 Dec 1879. Also the 1880 mortality schedule shows his death as Dec 1879
--- Copy of an article of uncertain origin.
Per yet another source, the names of the men involved in the "Battle of the Canoes" were: Col. Samuel Dale, Capt. (Major) Jeremiah Austill, James Smith, William Oliver, and a Negro, known only as Caesar.
The following link is taken from the Rural Southwest Alabama website & has a link to Google Maps for directions/GPS: http://www.ruralswalabama.org/attractions/gravesite-of-major-jeremiah-austill/
According to newspaper articles the correct date of his death is 8 Dec 1879. Also the 1880 mortality schedule shows his death as Dec 1879
Jeremiah Austill,soldier, was born in Pendleton District, S.C., in 1794, son of Evan and Lethee/Lethea (Files) Austill. When but nineteen years of age, he was one of a party of three men headed by Capt. Samuel Dale, known as the "Daniel Boone of Alabama", in the famous "Canoe Fight" upon the Alabama River near Claiborne, Nov 12, 1813. In this struggle, three white men, rowed by a negro named Caesar, boldly assailed a war canoe of the Creeks, manned by seven warriors in full trappings in mid-stream, and killed all of them without loss or injury to themselves, except Austill, who was struck on the head with a war club and received a scalp wound. At this time also he was the bearer of night dispatches of warning between the forts and stockades along the hostile Creek country, often making forty miles through the trackless forests by night. He once rode from Fort Madison to Fort Carney and thence to Mount Vernon in a single night, through impenetrable darkness and blinding storm. He was married, in 1838, to Margaret, daughter of Capt. John Eades, who came to Alabama with his family from Georgia in 1812. They (Jeremiah & Margaret) had four children. Their son, Hurieosco, born in Mobile, Feb. 16, 1841, was graduated at the University of Alabama in 1861; was appointed lieutenant of the 1st Alabama Artillery, and served in the Confederate Army during the Civil War. He was admitted to the bar in 1868, and served in the house of representatives and senate of the state legislature. In 1874 he was elected Chancellor of the Southern Division of Alabama. He was married, Dec. 24, 1874, to Aurora R., daughter of Dr. Robert Ervin, of Wilcox Co., Alabama. They have six children. Major Jeremiah Austill enjoyed the respect and high confidence of all classes in his state. He died Dec 8, 1881.
--- Copy of an article of uncertain origin.
Per yet another source, the names of the men involved in the "Battle of the Canoes" were: Col. Samuel Dale, Capt. (Major) Jeremiah Austill, James Smith, William Oliver, and a Negro, known only as Caesar.
The following link is taken from the Rural Southwest Alabama website & has a link to Google Maps for directions/GPS: http://www.ruralswalabama.org/attractions/gravesite-of-major-jeremiah-austill/
According to newspaper articles the correct date of his death is 8 Dec 1879. Also the 1880 mortality schedule shows his death as Dec 1879
--- Copy of an article of uncertain origin.
Per yet another source, the names of the men involved in the "Battle of the Canoes" were: Col. Samuel Dale, Capt. (Major) Jeremiah Austill, James Smith, William Oliver, and a Negro, known only as Caesar.
The following link is taken from the Rural Southwest Alabama website & has a link to Google Maps for directions/GPS: http://www.ruralswalabama.org/attractions/gravesite-of-major-jeremiah-austill/
According to newspaper articles the correct date of his death is 8 Dec 1879. Also the 1880 mortality schedule shows his death as Dec 1879
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