In 1838, between August and November, this road carried Cherokee people who were forced from their homelands, walking with horses and wagons in a removal so painful that the trail became known for their cries and for the many who died along the way. The detachments included Hair Conrad and Daniel Colston with 36 wagons and 729 people; Elijah Hicks with 43 wagons and 858 people; Rev. Jesse Bushyhead with 48 wagons and 950 people; Situwakee and Evan Jones with 62 wagons and 1,250 people; Capt. Old Fields with 49 wagons and 983 people; Moses Daniel and George Still with 52 wagons and 1,035 people; Chuwaluka and James D. Wofford with 58 wagons and 1,150 people; George Hicks with 56 wagons and 1,118 people; and Peter Hildebrand with 88 wagons and 1,766 people.