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Indians Get 2 Years To Sell Property, Leave Country

Government dispatched an army of 3,000 regulars under Gen. Wool, who was authorized to call on adjoining states for an additional 4,000 militia and with this army, Gen. Wool policed the nation. He was succeeded, in May, 1837, by Col. Lindsay, who remained in the territory and organized the removal forces.

Unscrupulous Whites Swindled Cherokees

The Indians were disarmed. Great disorder prevailed everywhere. White men were moving into the nation, and many of them were unscrupulous speculators who were over-anxious to seize the choice locations and the personal property of the dispossessed Indians. The Indians were in greater need of protection than were the whites. Even the treaty party who had promised protection by the Government was robbed and swindled by the unscrupulous whites. The Maj. Ridge, in a letter address to the President said:

“Unless given protection by the United States the Indians will carry nothing with them to their new home but the scars of the lashes on their backs.”

Col. Lindsay, superintendent of removal, died at Springplace in 1836. Col. Sanford, of McMinn County, a most excellent gentleman, was appointed to succeed him.

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…ville, had been engaged to tow the flat boats to head of shoals.

From Decatur to Tuscumbia, Ala., was by railroad. At this place steamboats with keels were provided for the remainder of the journey, since the expedition was forced up stream after reaching the Arkansas River.

The expedition was fraught with much hardships and great exposure and much suffering, however the Government furnished every convenience possible. Dr. Lilly-bridge, a skilled physician accompanied with medical remedies, accompanied the expedition and has left a diary of the trip.

On Mar. 27, the boats arrived at Fort Smith, Ark. The larger part of the company went on shore while the others went on to Fort Coffe, the end of the journey.

13,000 Still Unmoved At 2-Year Time Limit

The time given the Indians to remove expired May 23, 1838, but 13,000 remained in possession of their homes. The Ross following stood firm and opposed removal to the last. Chief Ross remained in Washington during the winter of 1837-38, hoping to influence Congress to agree to a modified or a more liberal treaty with the legal officials of the Cherokee Nation.

President Jackson, as was convinced that forcible removal was the only way to proceed, ordered Gen. Scott, on the 10th of April, 1838, to take command of the troops already despatched to the Cherokee country and assume full direction of affairs in that quarter. Scott reached the Cherokee Agency at Charleston, on the Hiwassee River, May 8, 1838, and on May 10, he issued an address to the Cherokees, as follows:

“Maj.-Gen. Scott, of the United States Army, sends to the Cherokee people remaining in North Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee and Alabama, this —

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Plea for Orderly Migration Issued

“Cherokees: The President of the United States has sent me, with a powerful army, to cause you, in obedience to the treaty of 1835, to join that part of your people who are already established in prosperity on the other side of the Mississippi. Unhappily, the two years which was allowed for the purpose you have suffered to pass without following and without making any preparation to follow, as by the time this solemn address shall reach your distant settlements the emigration must be commenced in haste, but, I hope, without disorder. I have no power, by granting further delay, to correct the errors you have committed. The full moon in May is already on the wane, and before another shall have passed away every Cherokee man, woman and child in those states must be in motion to join their brethren in the far West.

My friends: This is no sudden determination on the part of the President, whom you and I must now obey. By the treaty, the emigration was to have been completed on or before the 23d of this month, and the President has constantly kept you warned, during the two years allowed, through all his officers and agents in this country, that the treaty would be enforced.”

General Scott Warns Of Rebellion Costs

“I am come to carry out that determination. My troops already occupy many positions in the country that you are to abandon, and thousands and thousands are approaching from every quarter, to render assistance and escape alike hopeless. All those troops, regular and militia, are your friends. Recognize them and confide in them as such. Obey them when they tell you that you can remain no longer in this country. Soldiers are as kind-hearted as they are brave, and the desire of everyone of us is to execute our painful duty in mercy. We are commanded by the President to act toward you in that spirit and such is also the wish of the whole people of America.

“Chiefs, headmen and warriors: Will you, then by resistance, compel us to resort to arms? God forbid. God will who, by flight, seek to hide yourselves in mountains and forests, and then oblige us to hunt you down? Remember that, in pursuit, it may be impossible for the discreet and humane among you, or among us, to prevent a general war and carnage. Think of this, my Cherokee brethren! I am an old warrior and have been present at many scenes of slaughter; but spare me, I beseech you, the horror of witnessing the destruction of the Cherokees!

Kindness, Food, Clothes Promised for Journey

“Do not, I invite you, even wait for close approach of troops, but make such preparations for emigration as you can and hasten to this place, to Ross’s Landing, or to Gunter’s Landing, where you will be received in kindness by officers selected for the purpose. You will find food for all and clothing for the destitute at either of those places, and thence, at your ease and comfort, be transported to your new homes, according to the terms of the treaty.

“This is the address of a warrior to warriors. May his entreaties be kindly received, and may the God of both prosper the Americans and Cherokees and preserve them long in peace and friendship with each other.

“WINFIELD SCOTT.”

Before the work was begun, Gen. Scott issued the following orders to the troops. The address and the orders were distributed together.

Utmost Care Urged Upon Troops on Trek

“Headquarters, Eastern Division Cherokee Agency, May 17, 1838.

“Considering the number and temper of the mass to be removed, together with the extent and fastnesses of the country occupied, it will readily occur that simple indiscretions, acts of harshness, and cruelty on the part of our troops may lead, step by step, to impatience and exasperation, and, in the end, to general war and carnage — a result, in the case of these particular Indians, utterly abhorrent to the generous sympathies of the whole American people. Every possible kindness, compatible with the necessity of removal must, therefore, be shown by the troops and if, in the ranks, a despicable individual should be found capable of inflicting wanton injury or insult on any Cherokee man, woman or child, it is hereby made the special duty of the nearest good officer or man instantly to interpose and to seize and consign the guilty wretch to the utmost penalty of the law, the major-general is fully persuaded that this injunction will not be neglected by the brave men under his command, who can not be otherwise than jealous of their own homes and that of their country.