Cairo Connection

Early removal plans called for transporting Cherokee by boat to Indian Territory, and the first three detachments passed Cairo on steamships in the summer of 1838 as they descended the Ohio River. Low water levels and impassable shoals then prevented use of the water route, so the remaining detachments took the land route used by the Cannon detachment the year before. Those overland groups did not depart for several more months and faced tough winter conditions while traveling 50 miles north of Cairo. The final detachment came by water in 1839 and included Principal Chief John Ross and 200 Cherokee who had been imprisoned by Georgia authorities or were too sick to make the land journey. Leaders of the land detachments grew increasingly concerned for their people's well-being because of bad road conditions, impassable frozen river crossings, and a lack of supplies, and they finally connected with Ross at Cairo for guidance. After reaching the river confluence and learning of the situation, Ross took passage on a boat up the Mississippi River and, 50 miles upstream, arrived at the troubled crossing point at midnight. He found conditions better than expected, learned that one contingent had finally crossed and three more were preparing to do so, encouraged them to continue westward as soon as weather allowed, then returned downstream, boarded the Victoria, and proceeded to Indian Territory. At the time of Indian Removal, Cairo, founded in 1836 and known as the Mouth of the Ohio, was a small riverfront settlement.

Cairo, Illinois · United States