Muster roll of John Benge detachment, September 28, 1838

Approximately 7,000 federal and state troops were deployed in the Cherokee Nation to forcibly remove the remaining Cherokee from their home. In June 1838, three detachments of Cherokee departed for Indian Territory under military escort. The suffering of these detachments alarmed the soldiers, who suspended emigration until the fall. Cherokee leaders were granted permission to oversee their own removal and organized the remaining Cherokee into 12 detachments of about 1,000 people each.

Each detachment was led by a Cherokee leader. This detachment of about 1,100 Cherokee departed from Fort Payne, Alabama in October 1838 and disbanded in Indian Territory in January 1839. Though some in the detachment were poor, others were wealthy enough to own slaves. There were 33 deaths along the way, most likely caused by measles or whooping cough. Three births were recorded. This detachment travelled overland through northern Missouri and Arkansas. Their 768-mile trip took 106 days to complete.

From the exhibition: After Removal: Rebuilding the Cherokee Nation, August 25, 2017 - January 21, 2018. Curated by Dr. Duane King & Dr. Natalie Panther, 2017.