DUANE
Duane's take
The way the official marker tells it, here's the story of Fort Griffin on the Little River — and it's one worth knowing. Now, a place that goes by three names has already lived a complicated life before you even start askin' questions. This site on Little River was called Fort Griffin.
It was called Fort Smith. Some folks just called it Little River Fort. Three names for one picket fort — make of that what you will.
In November of 1836, a man named Geo. B. Erath rode out here with twenty Texas Rangers and put that fort up.
A picket fort, rough and ready, built for one hard purpose: protection against Indians. Twenty Rangers and a November deadline. You don't dawdle when that's your assignment.
Now here's where the story takes a turn. By the time the Santa Fe Expedition came rolling through — and they camped right here, June 24th through the 29th of 1841 — the military had already walked away from it. Abandoned as a military post, the marker says, before those expedition men ever pitched their tents on the grounds.
But abandoned by the army does not mean forgotten by the people. Settlers kept coming back to this place for years — using it as a place of defense against the Indians long after the Rangers were gone and the army had moved on. Three names, two different kinds of users, and one stubborn little fort on the Little River that refused to stop being useful.
That's Fort Griffin — whichever name you choose to call it.
What the marker says
Site of a picket fort on Little River commonly called Fort Griffin; also known as Fort Smith and Little River Fort. Erected by Geo. B. Erath and 20 Texas Rangers in November, 1836 as a protection against Indians. Abandoned as a military post before the Santa Fe Expedition camped here, June 24-29, 1841 but used by settlers many years as a place of defense against the Indians.