[Potawatomi] Trail of Death

[Potawatomi] Trail of Death. . , The removal of the Potawatomi Indians from northern Indiana to Kansas took place Sept. - Nov. 1838. Nearly 900 Indians were rounded up by soldiers and marched at gun point for 61 days. So many died on the way and were buried by the roadside that it is called the Trail of Death., The First Week , Thursday 30th Aug. - Monday 3rd Sept. Twin Lakes, Plymouth Indiana. Gen. John Tipton captured Menominee's village, closed Father Petit's chapel, send squads of soldiers in all directions to bring in and enroll Indians. Preparation for journey. Loaded wagons. Put 3 chiefs in jail wagon: Menominee, Black Wolf and Pepinawa., Tuesday 4th Sept. 21 miles, camped at Chippeway (Tippecanoe River and Michigan Road) in Fulton County. Left at Twin Lakes Chief San-Ga-Na and family of 13 because sick. 20 Indians escaped and took 2 horses. Roads choked with dust. 286 horses, 26 wagons., Wednesday 5th Sept. 9 miles (through Rochester, a line of Indians a mile long, sympathetic white settlers gave them hoe-cakes to take on trip. Little boy - 6 year old Billy Ward - followed his Indian friends mile south of Rochester, wanting to go along, but his mother caught him and took him home), camped at Mud Creek. Water scarce. 51 persons too sick to travel, left at Chippeway. A child was born and a child died. Party of 3 Indians joined us., Thursday 6th Sept. - Sunday 9th Sept. 17 miles, Logansport, Ind, 49 of those left at Chippeway caught up. 4 children died. Mass conducted on Sunday by Father Petit. Physicians report 300 cases of sickness so medical hospital erected (at site of Memorial Hospital today)., These plaques are in memory of Ralph E. Miller (1930-1955) by his wife Jane, The 2nd Week , Monday 10th Sept. 10mi., followed Wabash River to Winnemac's old village. Left 21 sick behind. A child and a man died., Tuesday 11th Sept. 17mi., Pleasant Run, near where pretty prairie and Tyler Road meet. Forage for horses expensive., Wednesday 12th Sept. 15mi., Battle Ground, Ind. Forded Tippecanoe River. $5470 of dry goods, blankets, calicoes distributed to Indians. Very old mother of We-Wiss-Sa died, appeared to over 100., Thursday 13th Sept. 18mi., Sanford Cox and others rode out from Lafayette to see the Indians passing by, wrote sad description. Camped near LaGrange, Ind. Drs. Ritchie and son report 106 cases of sickness (probably malaria and typhoid)., Friday 14th Sept. 18mi., near Williamsport, Ind. Sick wagons getting crowded. 2 deaths this evening., Saturday 15th Sept. 10mi., camp by filthe stream near Indiana-Illinois state line. Young Indians allowed to go hunting. 2 small children died along the road., Sunday 16th Sep. 15mi., crossed state line at noon, camped at Danville, Ill. Left 7 persons in camp, 1 a woman about to give birth. Whole country afflicted with sickness. 4 whites died in town. Father Petit arrived, got chiefs out of jail wagon, baptized dying babies., The 3rd Week , Monday 17th - Wednesday 19th Sept. 6mi., Sandusky's Point, Illinois. Remained in camp due to illness. The sick left behind yesterday caught up, had new baby. 3 children and 2 adults died. A child was born. Dr. Jerolaman assisted by Dr. James Buell of Williamsport., Thursday 20th Sept. 10mi., Davis' Point most volunteers discharged, 16 retained. 3 deaths. Gen. Tipton left, Wm. Polke is now in charge., Friday 21st. Sept. 12mi., Sidney, Ill. Chief Muk-Kose and a child died., Saturday 22nd Sept. 16mi., Sidoris' Grove. Heavy rain, exceedingly cold. A wagoner discharged for drunkenness. 2 intoxicated Indians locked up., Sunday 23rd Sept. 15mi., Pyatt's Point on Sangamon River. Father Petit performed service before journey started. A child died early this morning. 29 sick persons left in camp., The 4th Week , Monday 24th - Tuesday 25th Sept. 15mi., Sangamon Crossing in Illinois. 2 children and 1 adult died. Indian men permitted to go hunting. Sick left in camp yesterday caught up., Wednesday 26th Sept. 14mi., Decatur, Ill. The physician is sick. A child died after dark., Thursday 27th Sept. 14mi., Long Point, Ill. Indian men procuring so much game that rations not needed, camp is full of venison., Friday 28th Sept. 18mi., crossed Sangamon River. Polke promised Indians tobacco after going through Springfield tomorrow if they present a good appearance. Chief I-O-Wek in charge of clean up. Forage is plentiful. 2 children died during the night., Saturday 29th Sept. 17mi., McCoy's Mills. Indians dressed up to pass through Springfield Ill. Camped at stream with little water., Sunday 30th Sept. 6mi., Island Grove. A child died. A dragoon soldier dismissed for intoxication., The 5th Week , Monday 1st Oct. 17mi., Jacksonville, Ill. A child fell from wagon and was crushed by wheels, will probably die. Late at night the camp was complimented by serenade from Jacksonville band., Tuesday 2nd Oct. 16mi. Marched into Jacksonville town square where presents of tobacco and pipes given to Indians by citizens. Band played and escorted Indians. Camped at Exeter., Wednesday 3rd - Thursday 4th Oct. 9mi., Naples, Ill. Spent 9 hours fording Illinois River. Able to wash clothes and make mocassins, 2 children died., Friday 5th Oct. 12mi., McKee's Creek. Subsistence: beef and flour. Had to hunt for water, found only in stagnant ponds., Saturday 6th Oct. 18mi., barren encampment we named Hobson's Choice. Beef and potatoes issued to Indians tonight. A child died this evening. Rain, cooler., Sunday 7th Oct. 12mi., Mill Creek in Illinois. A child died., The 6th Week , Monday 8th - Wednesday 10th Oct. 7mi., Quincy, Illinois. Steam ferry across river, entered Missouri. 3 children died. Permission granted to remain in camp each succeeding Sabbath for devotional services. (Attended mass at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Quincy.), Thursday 11th Oct. 13mi., pleasant spring near Palmyra, Mo. A woman died., Friday 12th Oct. 13mi., Lee's Creek. 2 or 3 Indians drunk and under guard., Saturday 13th - Sunday 14th Oct. 17mi., Clinton, Mo. Chiefs I-O-Wek and Ash-Kum arguing about Gen. Morgan's resigning. Judge Police appointed to conduct Indians on to Kansas. Windy and dusty., The 7th Week , Monday 15th Oct. 12 mi., Paris, Mo. Chiefs demanded Dr. Jerolaman be dismissed, so he was retained for officers only. Beef, corn, potatoes, hay distributed., Tuesday 16th Oct. 18 mi., Burkhart's Encampment. Water scarce. Health still improving., Wednesday 17th - Thursday 18th Oct. 13mi., Huntsville, Mo. Snow and rain. Remained in camp. Straw for beds., Friday 19th Oct. 1mi. Middle Chariton, Mo. Indians anxious to reach their destination., Saturday 20th - Sunday 21st oct. 11mi., Grand Chariton River near Keatsville (Keytesville), Mo. Worship services. Apples and cider given to Indians., The 8th Week , Monday 22nd - Tuesday 23rd Oct. 25mi., Thomas's Encampment. Crossed Grand River., Wednesday 24th Oct. 12mi., Carrollton, Mo. Distributed shoes to Indians. Intense cold on prairies. Talk is of troubles between Mormons and citizens of Upper Missouri., Thursday 25th Oct. Camped near Snowden's Farm. Town of Richmond's request for assistance against possible attack by Mormons was turned down., Friday 26th - Saturday 27th Oct. Ferried Missouri River at Lexiton, Mo. Much excitement over bloodshed, house burning, etc. 8mi. Little Schuy Creek., Sunday 28th Oct. Remained in camp. Ash-Kum and I-O-Wek disagree, made inquiries about annuities: Judge Police told what he knew. A child died tonight., The 9th Week , Monday 29th Oct. 10mi., Prairie Creek. Capt. Hull came with 23 Indians left at Logansport and Tippecanoe. Subsistence: flour, cornmeal, beef, pork, game of every kind., Tuesday 30th Oct. 14mi., Blue Ridge. Warm day, pleasant journey., Wednesday 31st Oct. 10mi., camped 2mi. south of Independence, Mo., Many Indians much intoxicated., Thursday 1st Nov. Indians were allowed 1 hours for religious exercise. 16mi., Blue River., Friday 2nd Nov. Lost trace, travelled 25mi. but are only 12mi. from last camp. Now at Oak Grove, North Fork of Blue River just across Kansas state line., Saturday 3rd Nov. Reached settlement of Wea Indians on Bull Creek and camped by Bulltown, Kansas., Sunday 4th Nov. Arrive at Pottawattomie Creek, end of our destination. 20mi. Indians greeted by other Indians. Mr. Davis, Indian Agent, absent., The 10th Week , Monday 5th Nov. Pe-Pish-Kay said "We have now arrived at our journey's end. The government must now be satisfied. We have been taken from homes affording us plenty, and brought to a desert - a wilderness - and are now to be scattered and left as the husbandman scatters his seed." Indians asked Police, their friend, to stay with them and he said he would. An old man died., Tuesday 6th Nov. Police left, promised to return. Sick Indian family left at Bulltown caught up, 2 had died., Wednesday 7th - Saturday 10th Nov. Police had paid off teamsters and officers., Total miles travelled: 618. Total deaths: 39. End of diary written by Jesse C. Douglas, Enrolling Agent, Scale of Distances , From Logansport to Quincy...339 miles , From Quincy to Independence....213 miles , From Independence to Pottawattomie Creek, Western Territory....66 miles , Trail of Death descendants today are Citizen Band of Potawatomie in Oklahoma and Prairie Band of Potawatomie in Kansas. They prefer the spelling: Potawatomie.