Established by James Houston in 1785, Houston's Station stood about 300 yards east on Little Nine Mile Creek. From here, in 1786, John Sevier led 160 horsemen against the Cherokee towns. In 1788, the Kirk family was massacred about three miles south; shortly thereafter, 31 men from the fort were killed in nearby Citico apple orchard by the Cherokee, whose later attack on the fort was repulsed by troops stationed there. The Great War Path was close by.