Cherokee removal: the Trail of Tears forced relocation (1838–1840)

The 1838 forced removal of the Cherokee Nation to Indian Territory followed the Treaty of New Echota. General Winfield Scott oversaw the round-up beginning in May 1838, leading to summer internment camps plagued by disease. Overland detachments departed in autumn 1838, arriving in Indian Territory in early 1839, where Tahlequah later became the capital.

Episodes

Background and detail

Background. The Cherokee removal was the last forced relocation east of the Mississippi, driven by the 1828 gold discovery in Georgia. The Treaty of New Echota, ratified in 1836 despite Cherokee opposition, provided a grace period until May 1838 for voluntary removal. When this deadline passed, the U.S. government and state militias forcibly relocated the remaining Cherokees.

Round-up and Internment. General Winfield Scott received orders from President Van Buren in May 1838 to relocate the Cherokees. Scott issued Order No. 25 on May 17, 1838, instructing troops to show kindness. The round-up began in Georgia on May 26, 1838, followed by operations in Tennessee, North Carolina, and Alabama. Cherokees were herded into internment camps for the summer.

Overland March. In winter 1838, the Cherokee began a 1,000-mile march with scant clothing. Multiple detachments departed in October 1838 from various camps, including Fort Payne and Gunstocker Creek. These groups arrived in Indian Territory in January and February 1839, suffering significant deaths from disease and exposure during the journey.

People involved

Sources

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