Trail of Tears – Fast Facts
More than 15,000 Cherokee men, women, and children were driven West according to Andrew Jackson’s orders, and their lands given to the white man, in May 1838
The Cherokees were arrested, dragged from their homes, and forced into the stockades before the journey
An army of 4000 regulars, and 3000 volunteer soldiers under command of General Winfield Scott, marched the Cherokee Indians into Oklahoma and onto the reservation.
645 wagons started toward the west
Many did not have blankets and many of them had been driven from home barefooted
On November the 17th there was a terrific sleet and snow storm with freezing temperatures
Arrived on March the 26th, 1839
4,000 men, women, and children died on the 800 mile journey