No!^ 77^' ^^^' ^^^ WAHNENAUHI MANUSCRIPT — KILPATRICK 207 



The graves of their kindred forsaken by them would be desecrated 

 by the hand of the White Man! The very air seemed filled with an 

 mider-cm"rent of inexpressible sadness and regret. 



They could almost hear the reproaches and wailings of the dear 

 dead they were leaving. 



How must these Chiefs decide for their people? No wonder it 

 seemed that Despair in its thickest blackness had settled down and 

 enfolded in gloom this assemblage of brave and true-hearted Patriots. 



But no time could they spend in regrets and forboding, although 

 their own hearts were torn with grief, throwing aside their private 

 troubles, they set themselves to the task of preparing the people for 

 the inevitable journey. A Delegation was appointed and authorized 

 to make arrangements with Major General Scott for SuppHes required 

 for the Removal. 



For convenience in protecting, providing for and distributing to, 

 so large a Body of people, they were divided into Companies, or. 

 Detachments, as they were called, each provided with a Captain, 

 whose duties were to attend to the necessities of all in his particular 

 Detachment. 



Some of the Cherokees, remained in their homes, and determined 

 not to leave. 



For these soldiers were sent, by Gorgia, and they were gathered 

 up and driven, at the point of the bayonet, into camp with the others, 

 they were not allowed to take any of their household stuff, but were 

 compelled to leave as they were, with only the clothes which they had 

 on. One old, very old man, asked the soldiers to aUow him time to 

 pray once more, with his family in the dear old home, before he left it 

 forever. The answer was, with a brutal oath, "No! no time for 

 prayers. Go!" at the same time giving him a rude push towards the 

 door.n 



In many instances, the families of settlers were at hand, and as 

 the Indians were evicted, the whites entered, taking fuU possession of 

 every thing left. 



It is useless to attempt to describe the long, wearisome passage of 

 these exiled Indians. 



The journey had but just begun when sickness attacked them. 



Many of the old people, already enfeebled by age, were unable to 

 endure the fatigue and hardships of the way, and sank unresistingly. 



Every camping place was strewn with the graves of the dead. 



Not one family was exempted from the tax of the Death-Angel. 

 It was estimated, on reaching their destination, that fully two-thirds 



•0 Wahnenauhl may have witnessed this scene. 



