Chattanooga Trail of Tears
N 35° 03.398 W 085° 18.634
16S E 654064 N 3880628
Located on the river front in Ross's Landing Park in Chatanooga, TN
Waymark Code: WM231R
Location: Tennessee, United States
Date Posted: 08/27/2007
Views: 119
In May 1838 soldiers, under the command of Gen. Winfield Scott, began rounding up Cherokee Indians in this area who had refused to move to Indian Territory (Oklahoma). About 15,000 Cherokee were placed in stockades in Tennessee and Alabama until their removal and the rest were marched overland in the fall and winter of 1838-39. This forced removal under harsh conditions resulted in the death of about 4,000 Cherokees.
In late June 1838 a party of 1,070 poorly equipped Indians was marched overland from Ross's Landing at Chattanooga, TN, to Waterloo, AL because of low water in the upper Tennessee River. Following the general route of present-day US Hwy 72 they camped at Bolivar, Bellefonte, and Woodville (Jackson County, AL). About 300 escaped along the way, and on June 26, the remainder refused to proceed from Bellefonte. The local militia, under the command of Army Capt. G.S. Drane, was called out to get the group started and escort it to Waterloo. Arriving in miserable condition on July 10, 1838, the Cherokees were placed on boats to continue their journey West.
The "Trail of Tears", which resulted from the Indian Removal Act passed by U.S. Congress in 1830, is one of the darkest chapters in American history.
This historical marker will forever mark the beginning of this "Trail of Tears"
This Marker was made possible from the proceeds of the "Trail of Tears Commemorative Motorcycle Ride".