Cherokee Trace brought thousands to Piney Woods
By Van Craddock
Standing here, in the middle of the Gregg County town of White Oak, it's hard to imagine that thousands of weary travelers passed by year after year.
Sam Houston and other notables traveled this path called the Cherokee Trace, remembered today by several historical markers tracing the early-day path.
The 1967 state historical marker standing at U.S. 80 and White Oak Road reads:
"In 1821 near this site, Cherokee Indians blazed a trail from near Nacogdoches, Texas, to their home reservation at White River, Ark. They slashed trees, cleared path, planted 'Cherokee' roses, and established camps at springs. Used by Sam Houston, friend of the Cherokees, on his move to Texas, by David Crocket, other soldiers of the Texas Revolution, and thousands of immigrants."
But the story of the Cherokee Trace is a sad one because it is a story of betrayal and death.
To the Cherokees, forced from their Georgia homes in 1820 by the U.S. government, East Texas was the promised land. The area had plenty of rivers and lots of game.
To mark their way in the virgin East Texas pines, they cleared a crude trail by felling trees, removing underbrush and dragging buffalo hides behind their horses to press down the tall grass. Once that was done, they planted roses and honeysuckle all along the early thoroughfare.
Campgrounds and springs were established along the trace. There the Cherokees could rest and find nourishment on their long treks to distant trading centers.
But each day more American settlers moved into the area. The Cherokees began to fear they would lose their East Texas homes, just as they had lost their homes in Georgia.
However, the Native Americans had a friend in Texas President Sam Houston, a man who had actually lived among the Cherokees at one time. Houston assured the Indians his government would treat them fairly, promising them title to the Piney Woods land.
But the Texas Senate refused to ratify the treaty and, even worse, Houston went out of office in 1838. Mirabeau Lamar, a man who had no sympathy for the Cherokees, replaced him.
In short, Lamar thought Arkansas or Oklahoma - heck, anywhere but Texas - would be a good place for the Cherokees to live.
Cherokee Chief Bowles asked Lamar to let the Cherokees stay, but Lamar said no. In June 1839, Lamar ordered the Cherokees out of East Texas and sent in a large detachment of Texas militia to ensure the Indians were removed.
In what history calls the Battle of the Neches, the Texans attacked the Cherokees. Chief Bowles and dozens of Indians died in the fight. The Texas militia suffered only a handful of casualties.
The remaining Cherokees fled north into Oklahoma, past the roses, honeysuckle and springs.
The White Oak marker records the result:
"After June 1839, when Texas settlers drove the Cherokees out of the state, the Indians departed over this trail; others traveled it for years thereafter."