Trail of Tears
Posted by: 
snfromky
N 35° 03.399 W 085° 18.630
16S E 654071 N 3880630
The Trail of Tears started here at Ross's Landing in Chattanooga, TN.
Waymark Code: WMFB1
Location: Tennessee, United States
Date Posted: 06/20/2006
Views: 43
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 Cherokees were placed in stockades in Tennessee and Alabama until their removal. Roughly 3,000 were sent by boat down the Tennessee River and the rest were marched overland in the fall and winter of 1838-39. This forced removal under harsh conditions resulted in the deaths of about 4,000 Cherokees.
In late June 1838 a party of 1070 poorly equipped Indians was marched overland from Ross' Landing at Chattanooga, TN. to Waterloo, AL because of low water in the upper Tennessee River. Following the general route of present-day U.S. 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".
Marker Name: Trail of Tears
Marker Location: City
Type of Marker: Other
Marker Number: None
Group(s) Responsible for placing Marker:
Alabama-Tennessee Trail of Tears Corridor Committee and Trail of Tears Commemorative Motorcycle Ride
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Visit Instructions:
At minimum, your visit must consist of a picture of the marker itself or anything referenced on the marker plus additional information you may have learned about the waymark topic. (You and your GPS receiver do not need to be in the picture, but can.)