Red Clayh is not far from where i live...
it was a village with good houses, stores etc..
Cherokees lived quiet lives there before they were forceablly moved from there own homes and lands...
One reason that so many died is that instead of going due west into OK...about 700 miles...they were forced to go in a horseshoe ...far north into Il and MO in the dead of winter...and then back south...
Red Clay
“One reason that so many died is that instead of going due west into OK...about 700 miles...they were forced to go in a horseshoe ...far north into Il and MO in the dead of winter...and then back south...”
Exactly. My grgruncle, John Adair “Jack” Bell led the wagon train. He had scouted back and forth for years to the new territory (other Cherokee voluntarily removed in the early 1820’s and settled in No. Arkansas.) He gained the respect of the Army and with a Lt. Deas was allowed to move his people on the Army roads south of the typical trail. Also, they were the last group and the usual routes were devestated with the traffic and drought, so he knew they’d never make it. They were ‘late’ because the Chief Ross faction of the tribe were trying to assassinate all who signed the removal treaty. Ross’s brother signed it, but he gave him amnesty and killed one of my grgruncles, David Bell and many others including Major Ridge, his son John and Elias Boudinot (who took his benefactors name).
Probably to avoid the Ozark Mountains. Just a guess.