Thousands Steamed By 1831-59, Two Cherokee Groups were Stranded Here

Thousands Steamed By 1831-59, Two Cherokee Groups were Stranded Here. . , Lewisburg , A trading post and steamboat landing was founded near here in 1825 by Major William Lewis, his son Stephen D. Lewis and Dr. Nimrod Manifee. The location gave them land and river access. A town grew up around the trading post and thrived until the railroad bypassed the town in 1875. , Indian Removal , The Indian Removal Act was signed into law by President Andrew Jackson on May 28, 1830. The Act laid the groundwork for the removal of the Choctaws, Muscogee (Creeks), Seminoles, Chickasaws, and Cherokees under government supervision. These tribal peoples were forced to travel across Arkansas from their eastern homes to Indian Territory (present-day Oklahoma). , As early as the spring of 1831, the U.S. government was preparing for removal of these tribes and steamboats were frequently seen in this area. Some carried supplies and others transported Indians from the various tribes to Indian Territory. Government officials traded with the Lewisburg trading post as they progressed overland or by steamboats, past Lewisburg, with the heaviest travel occurring during 1831-1839. , Stranded Cherokees , Two groups of Cherokees, who started out on steamboats, were stranded in the vicinity of Lewisburg in 1838. , On July 13, 1838, Lieutenant Robert Whiteley, traveling with about 724 Cherokees, became stuck on Bentley's Bar four miles below Lewisburg. They camped near Lewisburg until July 19, 1838, when enough wagons were obtained to carry them overland to Indian Territory. , On August 13, 1838, Captain Gustavus S. Drane traveling with 660 Cherokee ran aground one mile below Lewisburg. 400 Cherokee were unloaded on the south bankof the river to lighten the load on the steamboat but that did not help. Drane hired John Ellison to ferry the 400 Cherokee to the north side of the riverwhere the other 200 Cherokees were unloaded. The Cherokees camped near here until August 18, when wagons were obtained for overland travel to Indian Territory. , The removal experience was full of hardships such as these examples and the difficulties of removal went so far that in some cases lives were lost. , [Captions] , . Top: This 1833 sketch of the Arkansas River by Lieutenant Thomas Brown depicts Lewisburg and Bentley's Bar, a sand formation renowned for its reputation as a major obstacle to river traffic during periods of low water. , . Bottom left: John Ellison hired his ferry flat to the Cherokees at Lewisburg in 1838. , . Bottom right: River boats were the safest, fastest and most efficient means of transportation of the removal parties.