MOONEY] ARRIVAL IN INDIAN TERRITORY 1839 133 



and women at Tahlequah the author 1'ouikI that tlie lapse of over lialf a 

 cciitiirv liad not sufficed to wipe out the inenioi-y of the miseries of 

 that halt beside the frozen river, with hundreds of sick and dying 

 25enned up in wagons or stretched upon the ground, with only a blanket 

 ovei'liead to keep out the January l)last. The crossing was made at 

 last in two divisions, at Cape tiirardeau and at Green's ferry, a siiort 

 distance below, whence the march was on through Missouri to Indian 

 Territory, the later detachniiMits making a northerly circuit by Spring- 

 field, because those who had gone before had killed oil' all the game 

 along the direct route. At last their destination was reached. They 

 had started in October, 1838, and it was now March, 18Hfl, the journey 

 having occupied nearh' six months of the hardest part of the year.' 



It is diiBcult to arrive at any accurate statement of the number of 

 Cherokee who died as the result of the Removal. According to the 

 official figures those who removi'd under the direction of Ross lost over 

 1.600 on the journey.- The proportionate mortality among those 

 previously removed under military supervision was probably greater, 

 as it was their suti'ering that led to the proposition of the Cherokee 

 national officers to take charge of the emigration. Hundreds died in 

 the stockades and the waiting camps, chiefly In' reason of the rations 

 furnished, which were of flour and other pi'ovisions to which they were 

 unaccustomed and which they did not know how to prepare properly. 

 Hundreds of others died soon after their arrival in Indian territory, 

 from sickness and exposure on the joui'ney. Altogether it is asserted, 

 probably with reason, that over 4,000 Cherokee died as the direct 

 result of the removal. 



On their arrival in Indian Territory the emigrants at once set about 

 building houses and planting crops, the government having agreed 

 under the treaty to fui-nish them with rations for one year after arrival. 

 They were welcomed by their kindred, the "Arkansas Cherokee" — 

 hereafter to be known for distinction as the "Old Settlers" — who 

 held the country under previous treaties in 1828 and 1833. These. 

 how(>ver, being already regularly organized under a government and 

 chiefs of theii- own, were by no means disposed to bo swallowed by 

 the goveriuuental authority of the newcomers. Jealousies developed 

 in which the minority or treaty paily of the emigrants, headed l)y 

 Ridge, took sides with the Old Settlers against the Ross or national 

 party, which outnimibcred both the others nearly three to one. 



While these diliVreni'CS wen; at their height the Nation was thrown 

 into a fever of excitement by the news that Major Ridge, his son John 

 Kidge. and Elias Bf)udinot— all leaders of the treaty party — had been 

 killctl t)y adherents of the national party, immediateh' after the close 



' Author's personal information, as Ijeforo cited. 



2 As quoted in Koyce. ClUTokoe Nation, Fiftli Ann. Rep. Bureau of EtlinoloKy. p. 292. 1888, the disburs- 

 ing agent inalies the number unaccounted for 1.428; the receiving auiiit, who took charge of them 

 on their arrival, makes it l,Ho. 



