When you look at the Creek Nation and the territorial plains, none of it is in North Carolina. Here’s a map showing the various land cessions and their respective dates. By the time of the forced deportations beginning in 1836-1837, only one part of Creek land remained, which was along the Alabama-Georgia line, defined in the last session of 1827.

By 1832, the Creek Nation’s sovereignty was essentially dissolved. Their lands became part of Alabama, which extended its jurisdiction over these Creek lands. The land was subdivided, and Creek citizens were allotted half sections. Heads of Creek households received allotments, covering large sections of the best land within that area. Here’s a map of some reservations in Chambers County, showing how dense they were.

The plan from the federal government and the state of Alabama was for these allotments to be sold individually, and for Creek citizens to voluntarily move west. However, any unwanted lands were open for settlement, leading to a rush by whites, corruption, speculation, and pressure on the Creek people. Many were pushed off, cheated out of their allotments, and caught in the land boom, especially in Alabama’s cotton lands. This caused tremendous turmoil, particularly among the lower Creeks in the Chattahoochee River area.

Conflicts escalated between white settlers and the Creek Nation, leading to individual and community-scale conflicts, including theft, imprisonment, and murder. Tensions peaked in early 1836 when a group of hunters from the lower towns was ambushed and killed by Georgians. This sparked reprisal attacks and what became known as the Second Creek War in the spring of 1836. This conflict led to the federal government making Creek removal compulsory.

The U.S. Army forcibly deported Creek people classified as hostiles, many carried in chains. This conflict also pushed many Creeks into neighboring territories, including the Cherokee Nation. Refugees fled to avoid the violence, with many lower Creeks moving into Seminole country in Florida and others into the Cherokee Nation.

The influx of Creek refugees into the Cherokee Nation caused hysteria among Anglo-Americans, fearing a broader Indian uprising. This fear drove U.S. military expeditions into Cherokee country, such as confiscating guns in the summer of 1836. Despite the hysteria, many Creek refugees sought refuge in Cherokee areas, particularly in regions where they had relatives.

By 1837, the U.S. military began actively collecting Creek refugees hiding in the Cherokee Nation. Edward Deas was tasked with this operation, involving state militia from Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, and North Carolina. The military aimed to arrest, provide clothing and food, and eventually deport these refugees.

The capture of Creeks at Red Clay is well-documented, with eyewitness accounts describing the miserable conditions of the refugees. Henry Clouder of the Moravian mission noted the armed guards and the plight of the Creek refugees, who were captured, secured, and dragged off like galley slaves.

The Creek refugees were taken on a harrowing journey from Gunners Landing, passing through various points until reaching Fort Gibson. Despite numerous escape attempts and hardships, the group eventually arrived at the Creek Nation’s new territory in Indian Territory. The entire trip from Gunners Landing to Fort Gibson was completed between May 16 and June 4, 1837.

Many Creek citizens remained in the Cherokee Nation, fleeing the war’s evils and seeking refuge among the Cherokees. A letter from Creek refugees in August 1837 petitioned the Cherokee Council for permission to stay, expressing their willingness to obey Cherokee laws and integrate into their society.

The Cherokee Council resolved to admit the Creek refugees until the Treaty of New Echota could be overturned or until forced deportation occurred. Several hundred Creeks traveled with the Cherokees on the Trail of Tears, and many Muskogee people integrated into the Cherokee Nation in the west. The Cherokee Council later passed a law admitting these Creeks to citizenship, allowing them to live with the Cherokee people.

This history illustrates the complexities of removal, highlighting the twists and turns faced by various groups during this tragic period. The forced deportations, internal conflicts, and the struggle for survival show the multifaceted nature of this historical event.

Thank you very much.