While the focus today on the "Trail
of Tears" is mainly focused on the route traveled and the
journey. For several years before the event of Removal the
Cherokee were confronted with their future.
Illegal stockades were being built
intended for housing the Cherokee people, built on Cherokee
lands. As more settlers moved into the area these forts were
built for the express purpose of housing the Cherokee before
their removal. As stories of the conditions of these stockades
(Forts) many Cherokee refused to report to the forts. Conditions
were unbelievably horrible. Manned by the "Georgia Guard" who
passed their days by tormenting and abusing the Cherokee. Food
intended for the captives was sold to settlers, what little the
Cherokee had brought with them was stolen and sold. Those
Cherokee that refused to report voluntarily to the forts the
Georgia Guard considered them renegades and they were hunted
down like animals, Fair game to the Guard and soldiers.
Many Cherokee and the aggressors
keep journals, wrote letters and told the stories of the
happenings. The reality of the horrors that took place became
fact! (Remember also that the Cherokee had slaves, many of these
slaves were on the "Trail of Tears" also with their Cherokee
Masters.)
Cherokee Removal Forts
Fort Armistead:
Originally built to keep out white
settlers from Cherokee Lands during the 1827 gold rush. Also
used during the Cherokee Removals of 1838.
Fort Buffington:
Six miles east of Canton, GA. - Fort Buffington, built in the
1830's by local militia. It was one of about 25 stockades in the
Cherokee Indian Nation used by Federal and State troops during
the Cherokee Removal in 1838
Fort Campbell:
Fort Cass:
(1835 - 1838) Built for Cherokee Removal.
Calhoun, Tenn.Fort
Cass was used as one of the eight removal forts in Tennessee. It
was on the south side of the Hiwassee, 0.5 miles east of U.S. 11
in Charleston. It was the principal Cherokee agency on the
Hiwassee and served as the primary emigration depot for the
removal. The site is on private property.
Fort Cedartown:
Cherokee were numerous enough that Fort Cedartown was built near
the center of town. This was only briefly used to house local
Cherokee prior to their removal
Fort Chastain:
Fort Cumming:
A Cherokee Removal Fort was located in LaFayette,
on the site of the present-day water plant (Big Spring). Captain
Samuel Farriss of the Georgia Guard was in charge and local
volunteers augmented members of his unit. The stockade was a
large enclosure of upright logs; the trenches where the logs
were placed can still be plainly seen. There was a rifle tower
in each corner after the manner of frontier forts, port holes
were formed by sawing flared notches in the logs before they
were put in the building. Strangely missing from detailed
physical description of the fort is any mention of the horrors
that occurred inside the walls.
Fort Dahlonega:
Also known as Fort Embry. Dahlonega meaning "Gold" in Cherokee. One
of the infamous Cherokee Removal Forts, the structure stood near
present-day downtown Dahlonega.
Camp (Fort) Gilmer:
Built in 1838 to garrison U.S. troops ordered to enforce the
removal from this region of the last Cherokee Indians under
terms of the New Echota treaty of 1833. The
temporary headquarters of Gen. Winfield Scott, under whose
command the removal was effected. The reluctant Indians were
brought here and guarded until the westward march began
Fort Hetzel (East
Ellijay):
Walking Stick, also
of Gilmer County, joined Ross in a failed attempt to abrogate
the Treaty of New Echota in 1836. By this time Fort Hetzel
was being expanded to house an estimated 1100 Cherokee from the
area. Fort Hetzel housed no less than 1100 Cherokee for
nearly 6 months with little food and no sanitation, many Native
Americans died. More died on the march, which began down the
Dahlonega to Tennessee Road roughly following Route 52 west of
Ellijay. Some letters seem to indicate that the road was
improved specifically for the forced march. Fort Hetzel was
operated until 1842 in what is now the chity of East Ellijay,
was abandoned March 24, 1842.
Fort Hoskins:
One of the first structures built after the lottery was
Fort Hoskins, not far from Chief Vann's House. This was one of
the infamous Cherokee Removal Forts. Housed here, then moved
further north to Rattlesnake Sprints before the forced march,
the Cherokee suffered horribly.
Fort Means
(Kingston):
Fort Marr:
1814 - unknown, the only remaining stockade fort
of 23 used for the Cherokee Removals in 1838. Originally a
settlers fort.
Fort New Echota (Fort Wool):
Built in
the town to house the Cherokee before moving west.
After Major Ridge and other members of the Treaty Party sign the
Treaty of New Echota, The Principal People hoped their leaders
would get it modified so they might stay on their ancestral
land. Even while a Cherokee delegation was in Washington
Governor George Gilmer of Georgia and Secretary of War Joel
Poinsett were plotting the invasion.
Local operations began on May 18,
1838, mostly carried out by Georgia Guard under the command of
Colonel William Lindsey. The first Cherokee round-up under
orders from United States General Winfield Scott started on May
25, 1838 with General Charles Floyd in charge of field
operations.
General Scott was
shocked during a trip to inspect Fort New Echota when he
overheard members of The Guard say that they would not be happy
until all Cherokee were dead. As a result, he issued meticulous
orders on conduct and allowed actions during the action. Troops
were to treat tribal members "with kindness and humanity, free
from every strain of violence." Each Cherokee was to receive
meat and flour or corn regardless of age. Scott's orders were
disobeyed by most troops that were not directly under his
control.
Fort Newnan (Talking
Rock Fort):
A
stockade encompassing about four acres erected at the Fort was
used beginning 26 May 1838 as an internment camp for several
hundred Cherokee Indians who were gathered and imprisoned by
White troops. In the spring of 1838 the tribe was rounded up,
along with other Cherokee and herded into Talking Rock Fort and
Fort Buffington (near Canton, Ga.)
Fort Red Clay:
1838, The Red
Clay State Historical Area is on Blue Springs
Road South of Cleveland. It is managed by the Tennessee
Department of Environment and Conservation. The Cherokee tribal
government met here between 1832 and 1838. Eleven general
councils were held here, with as many as 5,000 Cherokees
attending. This site is listed on the National Register of
Historic Places.
Fort Roam:
Fort Scudders:
Also called Fort Eaton
Fort Sixes:
Also known as Camp Hinar Sixes - Previously called Camp Hinar
Sixes. This was the first removal fort built in Gerogia. Built
in September 1830, shortly after the Congress passed the Indian
Removal Act of 1830. This camp was used to house members of the
infamous Georgia Guard
Other Locations
Ross's Landing:
Hamilton
County, Tenn.
The site of Ross's Landing is near the Market
Street bridge over the Tennessee River at Chattanooga.
Altogether some 2,000 Cherokees were held at this internment
camp, 970 of whom made up the 11th detachment, conducted
overland by Richard Taylor. Three large groups departed by water
from this point.
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