Trail of Tears Bell Removal Route - near Lawrenceburg, TN
Posted by: 
YoSam.
N 35° 13.240 W 087° 13.841
16S E 479005 N 3897539
A motorcycle ride along the original trail provided the impetus to create this marker.
Waymark Code: WMWPGK
Location: Tennessee, United States
Date Posted: 09/27/2017
Views: 2
County of marker: Lawrence County
Location of marker: US-64 & Pulaski Hwy., E. of Lawrenceburg
Marker erected by: Woodman of the World & The Trail of Tears Remembrance Motorcycle Ride
Marker text:
TRAIL OF TEARS
BELL REMOVAL ROUTE
The Indian Removal Act of 1830 mandated the removal of all American Indian tribes east of the Mississippi River to lands in the west.
The Trail of Tears National Historic Trail commemorates the removal of the Cherokee and the paths that 17 Cherokee detachments followed westward.
Bell’s Route of the Trail of Tears was one of the 17 detachments to remove the Cherokee west. John Bell was appointed to lead this detachment of 650 to 700 Cherokee by Chief John Ross. They had a military escort, Lt. Edward Deas.
A letter written by Lt. Deas reported: we have pursued the direct road through Fayetteville and Pulaski leading to Memphis, part of which we found very rough, but our rate of traveling has averaged between 10 – 12 miles a day. From vouchers of Edward Deas it is possible to determine that the Bell’s detachment traveled a route which approximates the alignment of present day Hwy 64 through middle and west Tennessee.
This marker was made possible by Woodmen of the World Life Insurance Society -
"With you through Life" and the Trail of Tears Remembrance Motorcycle ride.