Cairo Connection

Cairo Connection. Land and Water Routes. Early removal plans called for transporting Cherokee by boat to Indian Territory. The first three detachments passed by here on steamships in the summer of 1838 as they descended the Ohio River. With low water levels and impassable shoals preventing use of the water route, the remaining detachments took the land route that the Cannon detachment used the year before. The overland groups did not depart for several more months and faced tough winter conditions while traveling just 50 miles north of here. The final detachment came on the water route in 1839 and included Principal Chief John Ross and 200 Cherokee previously imprisoned by Georgia authorities or too sick to make the land journey., Desperate Letters, Several leaders of the land detachments had a growing concern for the well-being of their people due to bad road conditions, and impassable, frozen river crossing, and a lack of supplies. They were desperately trying to reach Principal Chief John Ross for guidance and finally connected with him at Cairo., Frozen Rivers, After arriving at the river confluence and learning of the situation faced by the Cherokee traveling overland, Ross took passage on a boat heading up the Mississippi River. Fifty miles upstream, he arrived at the troubled crossing point at midnight. What he found was better than expected., Reassured and Resupplied, Ross learned that despite the elements, one contingent finally crossed and three more were making preparations. He encouraged them to continue their journey westward as soon as weather allowed. He then returned downstream, boarded the Victoria, and proceeded to Indian Territory., They Passed This Way, This painting shows Cairo in 1848, just 10 years after Cherokee detachments came through on steamboats and flatboats. The town, known as the "Mouth of the Ohio" and founded in 1836, was just a small riverfront settlement at the time of Indian Removal.