Trail of Tears Historical Background

As part of The Indian Removal Act of 1830, eleven Cherokee detachments left their homelands during the fall of 1838 and set out toward Indian Territory, walking and riding along a land route, that is now referred to as the Northern Route of the Trail of Tears. Part of this route included a nearly 100 km (60 miles) trek across Southern Illinois, also known as the Golconda - Cape Girardeau route.

Elijah Hicks' was the first detachment to depart and reach Indian Territory, on January 4, 1839. The last detachment to arrive was Peter Hildebrand’s on March 25, 1839.

Historians report that all groups were on the trail more than the anticipated 80 days and that actual travel times ranged from 93 to 139 days.

"Southern Illinois has the most original Trail segments remaining of any of the states the Cherokee traveled through"

Jack Baker, National Trail of Tears Association

Timeline

1835

Treaty of New Echota signed. Entire Cherokee population given two years to migrate voluntarily, at the end of which they will be forcibly removed.

1838
Removal of the Cherokee Nation Begins

16,000 Cherokee still remain on the eastern lands

February - over 15,000 Cherokees led by Chief John Ross, sign a petition to Congress in protest of the New Echota Treaty.

May - Major General Winfield Scott orders round up of Cherokee. Southeast suffers worst drought in recorded history.

June - General Scott's first attempt in removing the Cherokee resulted in many deaths. Traveling during one of the hottest and driest summers of the century, three detachments of Cherokees, totaling about 2,300, traveled by river to Indian Territory. Heavy losses suffered. Further removal halted on account of drought and "sickly season."

July - Cherokee leaders petition General Scott to send no further summer detachments but to await cooler weather. Scott allows the Cherokee council to conduct the removal of more than 11,000 Cherokees still in the east. John Ross to supervise. The parties would have about a thousand people in each and would travel by land. Most began their trip in Tennessee. Thirteen detachments directed by John Ross depart Tennessee between August & December, 1838.

1839

January 4 - Elijah Hick's detachment is first to arrive in Indian Territory, after 126 days of travel.

March 24 - The detachments conducted by Richard Taylor and Peter Hildebrand are the last to arrive in Indian Territory, traveling 185 and 154 days respectively.