Near Birchwood in Meigs County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)
"To Learn and not Forget"
Photographed By Lee Hattabaugh, January 2, 2011
1. "To Learn and not Forget" Marker
Inscription.
"To Learn and not Forget". . In the spring of 1838, American military forces evicted the Cherokee Nation from its homeland. Nearly 16,000 women, men, and children - including nearly five hundred Muskogee Creek Indians, and slaves belonging to Cherokee owners -- were forced from their houses and fields and marched to Gunter's Landing in Alabama, Ross's Landing and the area around Charleston, Tennessee. From these points they departed for the land designated by the United States as Indian Territory.
"Nearly two-thirds of those driven from their lands followed routes that crossed the Tennessee River here at Blythe Ferry.", Picture caption , Traces of the route taken by the Cherokee remain across Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia, and Arkansas.
In the spring of 1838, American military forces evicted the Cherokee Nation from its homeland. Nearly 16,000 women, men, and children - including nearly five hundred Muskogee Creek Indians, and slaves belonging to Cherokee owners -- were forced from their houses and fields and marched to Gunter's Landing in Alabama, Ross's Landing and the area around Charleston, Tennessee. From these points they departed for the land designated by the United States as Indian Territory.
"Nearly two-thirds of those driven from their lands followed routes that crossed the Tennessee River here at Blythe Ferry."
Picture caption Traces of the route taken by the Cherokee remain across Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia, and Arkansas.
Location. 35° 24.423′ N, 85° 0.383′ W. Marker is near Birchwood, Tennessee, in Meigs County. Marker can be reached from Blythe Ferry Road, 2 miles north of Hiwassee Highway (Tennessee Highway 60), on the right when traveling north. Marker is located at the Cherokee Removal
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on January 6, 2011, by Lee Hattabaugh of Capshaw, Alabama. This page has been viewed 576 times since then and 29 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on January 6, 2011, by Lee Hattabaugh of Capshaw, Alabama. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.