Pulaski in Giles County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)
Trail of Tears
Bell and Benge Removal Routes
Photographed By Don Morfe, April 24, 2014
1. Trail of Tears Marker
Inscription.
Trail of Tears. Bell and Benge Removal Routes. The 1830 Indian Removal Act mandated the removal of all American Indian Tribes East of the Mississippi River to lands in the West. Pulaski, Tennessee is where the Bell and Benge routes crossed in 1838. Benge's route left Fort Payne, AL on September 29, 1838 with 60 wagons, 600 horses and about 1132 Cherokee. Benge traveled north through Ardmore, crossing the Elk River at Elkton to Pulaski, where it crossed Richland Creek and then proceeded northwest through Campbellsville, Mt. Pleasant to Reynoldsburg, up and crossed the state line into Kentucky. They arrived in Indian Territory on January 17, 1839. Bell's detachment was composed of about 660 Cherokee led by Cherokee John Bell, a signer of the New Echota Treaty. The Bell detachment opted for a more direct route to Indian Territory through southern Tennessee. The group was also led by a military escort, Lt. Edward Deas. The detachment with 56 wagons and 318 horses headed south from present day Charleston, TN on October 11, 1838 toward present day Chattanooga, TN. The detachment traveled through Jasper, up Battle Creek to Monteagle Mountain. After crossing Monteagle they traveled through Winchester, Fayetteville, Pulaski, Lawrenceburg, and on to Memphis. The route follows the general alignment US Highway 64.
The 1830 Indian Removal Act mandated the removal of all American Indian Tribes East of the Mississippi River to lands in the West. Pulaski, Tennessee is where the Bell and Benge routes crossed in 1838. Benge's route left Fort Payne, AL on September 29, 1838 with 60 wagons, 600 horses and about 1132 Cherokee. Benge traveled north through Ardmore, crossing the Elk River at Elkton to Pulaski, where it crossed Richland Creek and then proceeded northwest through Campbellsville, Mt. Pleasant to Reynoldsburg, up and crossed the state line into Kentucky. They arrived in Indian Territory on January 17, 1839. Bell's detachment was composed of about 660 Cherokee led by Cherokee John Bell, a signer of the New Echota Treaty. The Bell detachment opted for a more direct route to Indian Territory through southern Tennessee. The group was also led by a military escort, Lt. Edward Deas. The detachment with 56 wagons and 318 horses headed south from present day Charleston, TN on October 11, 1838 toward present day Chattanooga, TN. The detachment traveled through Jasper, up Battle Creek to Monteagle Mountain. After crossing Monteagle they traveled through Winchester, Fayetteville, Pulaski, Lawrenceburg, and on to Memphis. The route follows the general alignment US Highway 64.
Erected by Woodmen of the World Life
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Insurance Society-"with you through life" and the Trail of Remembrance Mortorcycle Ride.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Native Americans. In addition, it is included in the Trail of Tears series list. A significant historical month for this entry is January 1833.
Location. 35° 11.736′ N, 87° 1.752′ W. Marker is in Pulaski, Tennessee, in Giles County. Marker is at the intersection of East College Street and S. Rhodes Street on East College Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Pulaski TN 38478, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on July 8, 2014, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. This page has been viewed 862 times since then and 69 times this year. Last updated on March 16, 2015, by J. Makali Bruton of Accra, Ghana. Photos:1, 2. submitted on July 8, 2014, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
