Essay on The Cherokee Removal through the Eyes of a Private Soldier

        The land of Indians is forsaken and forgotten now. In the South, the Cherokee had adapted according to the surrounding environment. Even in their sub-consciousness, they didn’t imagine that a silent deadly storm had its sight on them. They were drove out of their area without a mercy and forced to travel like a cattle. Throughout the journey, tears were shed but they weren’t noticed as some of their captors were apathetic while some couldn’t do anything. Their limbs and their emotions were bind by the orders given by higher ups. At the present, the Trail of Tears is not known, the name from the land is erased and the history is hidden from the new generation. Only a few know about the thousands of innocents that had died.

        Greed can ruin not only souls but waves upon waves of people. It was greed that burned the houses of Indians through the brigands. The destiny of Cherokees had already been captivated with a single act. Only one gold nugget was sold by an Indian boy and it was enough to turn gold-hungry attention to the land of Indians. Armed bandits had invaded the lands and tortured the innocent Cherokee with no knowledge these armed bandits were not the agents of government. They were after the area on which Cherokee were living. In 1838, the terrorizing journey of Cherokee out of their land had started to Oklahoma.

        Chief Junaluska was familiar with President Andrew Jackson as Chief had saved President in the battle of Horse Shoe. As the last attempt, Junaluska was sent as an envoy by Chief John Ross of the Cherokee to the President in order to save themselves and their land. Although Junaluska and President were acquainted, President showed a cold behavior and dismissed the pleadings of Junaluska. With that began the misery of Cherokee as General Winfield Scott’s 3000 volunteer soldiers and 4000 regulars were sent to drive the Cherokee out. On a rainy day in October, Indians were carried like goats. As the journey progress, more and more of the innocents died. In only a single night 22 had died to the exposure. Chief Ross’s wife had died as she had given her blanket to another sick child. With the coverage of 1000 miles, more than 5,000 Cherokee had died due to the harshness of puppets and greedy bandits.

        Unlike the soldiers, Chief Junaluska clearly mourned the misery and regretted his decision for saving the President. More than 5000 innocents were silenced only because they lived on a land on which the white people had set their eyes. Throughout their journey, tears and blood were shed. However, nothing was done for them. What turned out to be actions out of nothing but a white man’s greed destroyed the Cherokee. At the moment, countless are aware that the land on which they are living is stolen. Only a few people like John Burnett live to tell the stories about the Trail of Tears.