 |
| 1838-1839- The Trail of Tears... also called to some, the death march of the Cherokees. This is a difficult story to tell, and for most, an even more difficult one to hear. But never the less, one that must be told. |
 |
 |
| In 1830, the eastern Cherokee Indians wer eordered to leave their prosperous villages and rich farms in Georgia, to move to Indian Territory (Oklahoma) by 1837. This was done under the harsh terms of the Indian Removal act of 1830. A Cherokee leader, John Ross, whose father was Scotch, and his mother part Cherokee, fought a long and delaying battle in the courts, but a US Supreme court's decision which upheld the Cherokee's rights, was brushed aside by President ANdrew Jackson. The president supported Georgia's efforts to seize the Cherokee lands despite the fact that Ross had served in a loyal Cherokee regiment that had fought under Jackson against the Creek indians at the battle of Horshoe Bend in 1814. It was in 1838 that several regiments of the US army moved in and began rounding up the Cherokees. The helpless Indians were dragged from their homes and were prodded to leave without incident with bayonets and into stockades. Men, women and children were then herded like cattle into wagons and began their long journey along the trail westward. As the Indians left their homeland, they were brutally and viciously harrassed by Georgians who had coveted their farms. General Winfield Scott disliked this duty very much, but he commanded the troops which herded the Indians away from their homeland. He tried to assure the Indians they would be given more than enough horses, blankets and food for their trip, but government officials were either sorely inefficient, or purposely withheld the supplies, because as supplies ran out, the Cherokees were terribly victimized by traders along the way who charged outrageous amounts for food. The Cherokees had left for Indian Territory in fall, to avoid the blistering summer heat in the southwest, but did not complete their journey until late February, early March. The long punishing cold and damp weather took it's toll, and out of the more than 15,000 who first began the journey, 4,000 died and were buried in unmarked graves along the trail. A 600 mile journey from Georgia to Indian Territory became known as the Trail of Tears, where they cried for their losses. John Ross, who survived this brutal Trail, served as chief of the Cherokees from 1839 to 1866. He managed to help his people build a new and fairly prosperous life in Indian Territory. |
 |
 |
| I was told once that those who strive the hardest to learn about us as a nation, often are the ones who insult us the most. It is good that people want to learn of our culture and our beliefs, language and our ways. But never..ever make the mistake of thinking or believing that you know what we have endured. Many nations have suffered at great costs, with great loss of life. If you choose to learn of our people, then do so with an open mind and heart, not a belief that you already know. Guilt is for those who know no better. We do not thrive on other's "guilt". We thrive because we are a nation, a proud nation. Never forget. |