An Overland Journey to the West

(October - December 1837)
by B. B. Cannon, Conductor

Note from transcriber. I have transcribed this exactly as written.. Notice he uses Caps whenever he wishes (g).. Next Installment will begin with Nov. 1st.. gets more interesting and more names are mentioned.. more sickness starts setting in. I have read and been told, that the bacon was actually more fat-back.. Indians were use to a more lean and vegetable diet.  And clean running water.  Cherokees were very accustomed to water many times a day, bathing, healing as well as drinking.  Most of the emigrants left with very little or no personal belongings. Few clothes and some with no shoes. (his word and spelling is left intact)

Journal kept by B. B. Cannon, Conductor of a party of Emigrating Cherokee Indians, put in his charge at the Cherokee Agency East, by Gen. N. Smith, Superintendent of Cherokee Removals, on the 13th day of October, 1837.

Oct. 13, 1837
Sent waggons to the Indian encampment and commenced loading in the evening.
Oct. 14, 1837
Completed loading the waggons and crossed the Highwassie river at Calhoun, encamped at 5:00 P.M.
Oct. 15, 1837
Marched the party at 8 O'C A.M. halted and encamped at Spring Creek at 11:O'C A.M. where Genl. Smith mustered the party, which consumed the remainder of the day.  5 miles today.
Oct. 16, 1837
Marched at 8 O'C A.M., halted and encamped at Kelly's ferry on the Tennessee river at 4 O'C P.M. Issued corn and fodder, corn meal & bacon. 14 miles today.
Oct. 17, 1837
Commenced ferrying the Tennessee river at 8 O'C A.M., after having been detained until the sun dispelled the fog - every thing being in readiness to commence at day light.  completed ferrying at 4 O'C P.M. and reached little Richland creek at 8 O'C P.M. where the party had been directed to halt and encamp.  Issued corn & fodder.  7 miles today.
Oct. 18, 1837
Marched at 71/2 O'C A.M. One of the provision waggons oversat, detained a half hour.  No damage done.  Ascended Wallens ridge, (the ascent 2 miles) halted at Ragsdale's 1 1/2 O'C P.M. encamped and issued corn and fodder - corn meal & bacon.  10 miles further to water, all wearied getting up the mountain.  5 miles today.
Oct. 19, 1837
Marched at 7 1/2 O'CA.M. descended from the mountain, halted at 2 O'C P.M. at Sequachee river near Mr. Springs.  Issued corn & fodder.  11 1/2 miles today.
Oct. 20, 1837
Marched at 6 O'C A.M. ascended the Cumberland Mountain, halted at M. Flemings, 3/4 past 3 O'C P.M. encamped and issued corn & fodder, corn meal & Bacon.  14 1/2 miles today.
Oct. 21, 1837
Marched at 7 1/2 O'C A.M. descended the mountain, halted at Collins river, 4 1/4 O'C P.M. encamped and issued corn & fodder, the Indians appear fatigued this evening.  13 miles today - road extremely rough.
Oct. 22, 1837
Marched at 8 O'C A.M. passed through McMinnville, halted at Mr. Booths 1/2 past 12 O'C M encamped and issued corn & fodder, corn meal & Bacon, Sugar and coffee to the Waggoners and Interpreters.  No water for 12 miles ahead.  Procured a quantity of corn meal and bacon today.  7 1/2 miles today. ( I would like to remark here that all supplies, both of forage and subsistance, were purchased contracted for on the way west by a contracting agent, and paid for on my request by Doct. Reynolds, the Disbursing Agent for the Party.)
Oct. 23rd 1837
Marched at 6 1/2 O'C A.M. Capt. Prigmore badly hurt by a waggon horse attempting to run away.  Halted at Stones river near Woodbury  - 1/2 past 4 O'C P.M. encamped and issued corn & fodder.  20 miles today.
Oct. 24th 1837
Marched at 7 1/2 O'C A.M. halted at Mr. Yearwoods 4 O'C P.M. rained last night and today.  Issued corn & fodder, corn meal and bacon. 15 miles today.
Oct. 25th 1837
Marched at 8 O'C A.M. buried Andrew's child at 1/2 past 9 O'C A.M. passed through Murfreesborough, halted at Overall's creek, 4 O'C P.M. encamped and issued corn and fodder.  14 miles today.
Oct. 26th 1837
Marched at 8 O'C A.M. passed through tree turnpike Gates, halted at Mr. Harris 3 O'C P.M. encamped ant issued corn and fodder, corn meal and bacon.  16 1/2 miles today.
Oct. 27th 1837
Marched at 7 1/2 O'C A.M. passed through two Turnpike gates, and crossed the Cumberland river on the Nashville toll bridge at Nashville, halted at Mr. Putnams 1/2 past 3 O'C P.M. encamped and issued corn and fodder.  Isaac Walker and emigrant belonging to the Party, over took us - Mr. L. A. Kincannon, contracting agent, left us and returned home, having on the way, near McMinnville, signified his intentions, verbally, to do so, assigning as the reason the delicate situation of his health.  - 13 miles today.
Oct. 28th 1837
Rested for the purpose of washing clothes, repairing waggons, and shoeing horses - Reese, Starr and others of the emigrants visited Genl. Jackson who was at Nashville.  Issued corn & fodder, corn meal and bacon.  Assigned Mr. E. S. Curry to supply the place of Mr. Kincannon.
Oct. 29th 1837
Marched at 8 1/2 O'C A. M. halted at Long creek 1/2 past 2 O'C P.M. encamped and issued corn and fodder - 13 1/2 miles today.
Oct. 30th 1837
Marched at 7 1/2 O'C A.M., halted at Little red river 1/2 past 5 O'C P.M. encamped and issued corn & fodder, corn meal & Bacon.  18 1/2 miles today.
Oct. 31st 1837
Marched at 8 O'C A.M. halted at Graves, Ken (tucky) 3 O'C P.M. issued corn & fodder.  16 miles today. 

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Thanks to Jackie Smith for transcribing this information, to share with others searching for their Native American Heritage.  If you have information you would like to share with others, please just drop us a line.

Source: National Archives, Office of Indian Affairs, "Cherokee Emigration"  C-553 - "Special File 249" Transcribed and edited by:  E. Raymond Evans Published in the Cherokee Journals " The Removal of the Cherokees".

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