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Cherokee National Forest, Tennessee, USA

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Cherokee National Forest, Tennessee, USA

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Cherokee National Forest, Tennessee, USA

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The Trail of Tears: They Knew it Was Wrong (10)
This documentary is one of the literacy responses to the Trail of Tears. The documentary explores how the forced moving of the Cherokee Nation to "Indian Territory" was unethical and wrong.
It talks about how before the the removal, they were a nation that was bound by their own laws and legal system. They were autonomous, although the white Americans did not believe so.
It discusses how the white Americans gained power at the expense of a minority group and the problematic affects of that as well.

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Spiritwind Wood's, And The Heavens Cried (7)

This poem is one of the literary responses to the trail of tears. It explores how the Native culture was centered around nature, and yet they were forced to endure this traumatizing event in their sacred land.  The natural world reflects their sorrow. With their tears comes rain, and with their deaths come harsh weather.

“started to rain / teardrops of blood
across the land, lost in their vision of doubt, buried in their pain.”

The poem also describes how throughout the whole journey, the natural world was there for them.

“Guided by the Spirit wind, we held
our pride / something they couldn’t take away.”

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After the Trail of Tears (1), political response

This book explores the affects of the Trail of Tears on the Cherokee Nation. It explores how they attempted to rebuild their nation. Before the forced removal, the tribe was considered one of the "5 white tribes" because they were more "civilized." They even had their own constitution, modeled after the U.S. Constitution.
After they resettled, they attempted to govern under their own laws and rebuild what they once had. But, the U.S civil war complicated their efforts and it ultimately lead to their giving up of the fight.

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S.T Cross, Choctaw Removal of 1832 (6)

Cross was an assistant agent to the removal of the Choctaw nation. His perspective is important because although he was on the side of the aggressor, his journal details the same horrors that the victims endured.
Here is three days of their journey:
"Novr. 12th  – Arrived at Rock Roe on White River at 12 o’clock landed Indians and baggage from the Henry Hill, and Archimedies – two deaths by Cholera reported to Major Langham Asst. Supt. &c.

Novr. 13th – Issued rations to Indians for three days ending 15th. two deaths by Cholera – detailed 13 wagons for my detachment also an order from Langham to call into Service two U.S. Wagons to transport the sick with cholera &c. until we met the ponies belonging to the Indians making 15 teams in service to transport the baggage – sick &c.

Novr. 14th – Organized the party for the march, and at 2 o’clock p.m. left Rock Roe with the detachment travelled four miles and encamped the road, the road very bad three deaths reported (by Cholera).

Novr. 15th – Left camp early in the morning travelled 10 miles on the road being bad in the Prarie – encamped at night at Au Grue this morning the two U.S. teams came up and took in the sick, at least a part, one death reported."

Over the course of three days, there were at least 6 deaths reported in their camp. This death rate, multiplied by the thousands of traveling parties, is responsible for the countless Native deaths.

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Jobe Alexander, Cherokee Tribe (4).

Jobe was a full-blood Cherokee born in the Cherokee Nation, in 1854. This was just after the Trail of Tears had ended. His father was one of the people forced west, and he tells his story.
The father talks about how each group was rounded up, and how some of their original houses in Georgia are still standing to this day. He recounts a rebellion:
"The last group that was rounded up revolted; the leader gave the signal to revolt and turned on the guards and took their guns away and murdered the guards and the made for hideaways in the mountains. That is why Indians are back in North Carolina, Tennessee, and Georgia. They were never found or hunted much"

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Castle Town Office, Main Street, Castle, Okfuskee, OK, USA

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Castle Town Office, Main Street, Castle, Okfuskee, OK, USA;

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Castle Town Office, Main Street, Castle, Okfuskee, OK, USA;

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Mary Hill, of the Muskogee Tribe, recounts the story of her grandmother, one of those forced to make the journey west (4). Their story has been passed down to each generation in their family.
She described how when the wagons first arrived at their homes, no one understood why they were there.
"The command for removal came swiftly upon us. There was the time that we noticed that several overloaded wagons were passing our home, yet we did not grasp the meaning."
She then goes on to explain that the meaning became clear quickly, and how they swiftly left.
"We were to be taken away and leave our homes to never return. This was just the beginning of much weeping and heartaches."

She explains the horrible days and nights, with many people growing sick and dying. She explains a song that the Muskogee Natives sang to brighten their spirits.
Translated, the songs meant "we are going to our homes and land; there is One who is above and ever watches over us; He will care for us"

The Natives creating songs out of their experience was a common occurance.

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Supreme Court of the United States, First Street Northeast, Washington, DC, USA

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Supreme Court of the United States, First Street Northeast, Washington, DC, USA

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Supreme Court of the United States, First Street Northeast, Washington, DC, USA

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Cherokee Nation vs. the State of Georgia, 1831. (2)

This is one of the attempts that Natives made to fight back against their oppression. The Cherokees argued that since they were an independent nation and were exempt from the laws that forced their removal.
Chief Justice John Marshall declared thats the Cherokee were not independent, and that they were dependent on the United States. Therefore, this made them have no standing before the jury and they lacked jurisdiction to be exempt from the law.

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John G. Burnett was a friend of many Cherokee. He met and befriended them during his extensive hunting trips. Eventually, he would stay at their camp and hunt with them during the day and sleep by their fire at night. Burnett eventually became a member of the US Army.
In 1838, he was sent as an interpreter to assist with the removal of Native Americans from the Smoky Mountain country. In a letter to his children, he detailed the lawlessness that occurred (9):
"...in May, 1838, and witnessed the execution of the most brutal order in the History of American Warfare. I saw the helpless Cherokees arrested and dragged from their homes, and driven at the bayonet point into the stockades. And in the chill of a drizzling rain on an October morning I saw them loaded like cattle or sheep into six hundred and forty-five wagons and started toward the west."

"They had to sleep in the wagons and on the ground without fire. And I have known as many as twenty-two of them to die in one night of pneumonia due to ill treatment, cold, and exposure."

His journal recounts the horrors that the Natives each day. The end of their trip is described as:
"The long painful journey to the west ended March 26th, 1839, with four-thousand silent graves reaching from the foothills of the Smoky Mountains to what is known as Indian territory in the West. And covetousness on the part of the white race was the cause of all that the Cherokees had to suffer."

As someone who was leading and in charge of their removal, Burnett was still aware that it was wrong. Yet, he was unable to take action.

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“Hinaushi pisali, Bok Chito onali, yayali.” (3)

This is the song sung by the Choctaw Nation in Mississippi in remembrance of those who were forced to travel west. It translates to "I saw a trail to the big river and then I cried"

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From the journal of B.B Cannon (6):

"Decr. 27th, 1837.

Buried Alsey Timberlake, Daughter of Chas Timberlake, Marched at 8
o’c. A. M., halted at Mr. Beans, in the Cherokee nation west, at
½ past 2 o’c. P. M., encamped and issued corn & fodder, Fresh
pork & some beef.  12 miles to day.

Decr. 28th, 1837.

The Party refused to go further, but at the same time pledged
themselves to remain together until the remuster was made by the
proper officer, for whom I immediately sent an express to Fort
Gibson, they alleged at the same time that the refusal was in
consequence of the sickness now prevailing and that only.

Doct. Reynolds Disbursing agent for the Party dismissed the wagons
from further service, Buried another child of Chas Timberlakes, and
one which was born (untimely) [p. 16] yesterday of which no other
account than this is taken, Jesse Half Breeds wife had a child last
night, issued Pork, corn meal and flour, corn & fodder for to
day."

He describes the death of more children, and how the party had attempted to rebel by refusing to keep walking. This is one of the examples of the many failed attempts that the Natives made to stop their forced relocation.

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From the Journal of B.B Cannon, conductor of a Party of Emigrating Cherokee Indians (6):

"Oct. 20th, 1837.

Marched at 6 ½ o’c. A.M., ascended the Cumberland mountain,
halted at Mr. Flemings, ¾ past 3 o’c. P.M., encamped and issued
corn & fodder, corn meal & Bacon, 14 ½ miles to day.

Oct. 21st, 1837.

Marched at 7 ½ o’c. A.M., descended the mountain, halted at
Collins river, 4 1/r o’c. P.M., encamped and issued corn &
fodder, the Indians appear fatigued this evening.  13 miles
today—road extremely rough."

On his expedition, B.B also mentioned injuries that were sustained, how they had to go 12 miles without water, burying children whom had passed, and walking through extreme weather. This was on top of the average 13 miles a day they walked.

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Painted by Robert Lindneux (11) captures the experience that the Native Americans went through. This response has been memorialized as one of the most famous works about the Trail of Tears.