The Arkansas Times and Advocate reported on July 9:
“Emigrating Cherokees – A party of 720 Cherokee Indians, under charge of Lieut. Whiteley, U. S. A. arrived here on Saturday last, on the S. B. Smelter, on their way to the West, and encamped on the north bank of the river, about half a mile above town, the water being too low for that boat to proceed, where they are now waiting for conveyance to Fort Gibson. ”
After switching to a lighter-draft steamboat, the Tecumseh, in order to navigate the drought-reduced Arkansas west of the state capital, the party proceeded on July 12 as far as Lewisburg (modern-day Morrilton) where they grounded on Benson’s Bar. On July 20, Whiteley procured 23 wagons and continued toward Indian Territory, leaving 80 sick Cherokees behind.
He wrote in his journal the next day:
“Procured more wagons and started the balance, much sickness & increasing, three, four, & five deaths per day. Diseases, measles & flux – caused by the use of green peaches & corn.”
The Whiteley Detachment continued moving west, covering from 7 to 16 miles each day as the blistering Arkansas heat continued to take its toll of the sickly Cherokees. The party would have traveled the nominated road segment on July 25 or 26;
Whiteley’s journal entry for the 25th says:
“Started the party before sunrise & encamped for the night at Piney.”
While there, Josiah Giles and Dr. Robert Hodsden lodged at “Moreland’s on Piney Creek,” most likely Jeremiah Moreland who owned 240 acres in Section 21, Township 9 North, Range 22 West, which the road segment traversed. The detachment entered the Indian Territory on August 4, having traveled 1,554 miles, and Whiteley turned them over to an agent there on the 5th.
His last journal entry reads:
“Turned over the detachment to Mr. C. Nan as directed by Captain Stephenson and found the party in following size:
602 Indians present.
65 Indians left the party, and went into the Nation after crossing the line.
70 deaths on the journey.” Trail of Tears – Whitely Detachments
Whitely Detachment
On June 13, 1838, a party of 875 Cherokees left Chattanooga, Tennessee, under Lt. R.H.K. Whiteley, who was assisted by five assistant conductors, two doctors, three interpreters and a hospital orderly. Traveling by water, the group entered the Arkansas River via the White River cutoff on July 4, then proceeded to Little Rock.
The Arkansas Times and Advocate reported on July 9:
“Emigrating Cherokees – A party of 720 Cherokee Indians, under charge of Lieut. Whiteley, U. S. A. arrived here on Saturday last, on the S. B. Smelter, on their way to the West, and encamped on the north bank of the river, about half a mile above town, the water being too low for that boat to proceed, where they are now waiting for conveyance to Fort Gibson. ”
After switching to a lighter-draft steamboat, the Tecumseh, in order to navigate the drought-reduced Arkansas west of the state capital, the party proceeded on July 12 as far as Lewisburg (modern-day Morrilton) where they grounded on Benson’s Bar. On July 20, Whiteley procured 23 wagons and continued toward Indian Territory, leaving 80 sick Cherokees behind.
He wrote in his journal the next day:
“Procured more wagons and started the balance, much sickness & increasing, three, four, & five deaths per day. Diseases, measles & flux – caused by the use of green peaches & corn.”
The Whiteley Detachment continued moving west, covering from 7 to 16 miles each day as the blistering Arkansas heat continued to take its toll of the sickly Cherokees. The party would have traveled the nominated road segment on July 25 or 26;
Whiteley’s journal entry for the 25th says:
“Started the party before sunrise & encamped for the night at Piney.”
While there, Josiah Giles and Dr. Robert Hodsden lodged at “Moreland’s on Piney Creek,” most likely Jeremiah Moreland who owned 240 acres in Section 21, Township 9 North, Range 22 West, which the road segment traversed. The detachment entered the Indian Territory on August 4, having traveled 1,554 miles, and Whiteley turned them over to an agent there on the 5th.
His last journal entry reads:
“Turned over the detachment to Mr. C. Nan as directed by Captain Stephenson and found the party in following size:
602 Indians present.
65 Indians left the party, and went into the Nation after crossing the line.
70 deaths on the journey.”
The Arkansas Times and Advocate reported on July 9:
“Emigrating Cherokees – A party of 720 Cherokee Indians, under charge of Lieut. Whiteley, U. S. A. arrived here on Saturday last, on the S. B. Smelter, on their way to the West, and encamped on the north bank of the river, about half a mile above town, the water being too low for that boat to proceed, where they are now waiting for conveyance to Fort Gibson. ”
After switching to a lighter-draft steamboat, the Tecumseh, in order to navigate the drought-reduced Arkansas west of the state capital, the party proceeded on July 12 as far as Lewisburg (modern-day Morrilton) where they grounded on Benson’s Bar. On July 20, Whiteley procured 23 wagons and continued toward Indian Territory, leaving 80 sick Cherokees behind.
He wrote in his journal the next day:
“Procured more wagons and started the balance, much sickness & increasing, three, four, & five deaths per day. Diseases, measles & flux – caused by the use of green peaches & corn.”
The Whiteley Detachment continued moving west, covering from 7 to 16 miles each day as the blistering Arkansas heat continued to take its toll of the sickly Cherokees. The party would have traveled the nominated road segment on July 25 or 26;
Whiteley’s journal entry for the 25th says:
“Started the party before sunrise & encamped for the night at Piney.”
While there, Josiah Giles and Dr. Robert Hodsden lodged at “Moreland’s on Piney Creek,” most likely Jeremiah Moreland who owned 240 acres in Section 21, Township 9 North, Range 22 West, which the road segment traversed. The detachment entered the Indian Territory on August 4, having traveled 1,554 miles, and Whiteley turned them over to an agent there on the 5th.
His last journal entry reads:
“Turned over the detachment to Mr. C. Nan as directed by Captain Stephenson and found the party in following size:
602 Indians present.
65 Indians left the party, and went into the Nation after crossing the line.
70 deaths on the journey.” 