Imagine soldiers with guns entering your home and forcing you to leave.
They give you no time to gather your favourite belongings. There isn't even time to
pack food,clothing,and blankets necessary for survival.This is what happened to the Cherokee
in 1838 when the u.s. government began the removal process.
Within twenty-five days,16,000 Cherokee were taken to collection centers.
They were housed in cramped army stockades while they waited to be sent to
Indian Territory.There were no roofs to protect them from the sun.
The Cherokee is usual diet consisted of fresh fruits and vegetables. In the stockades , however,food and water were in short supply. Thieves stole government supply wagons intended
for the Cherokee. The Cherokee were fed bacon and rotten corn. Sanitation was poor. Soon, many
people became ill and died. Although a ''doctor'' was assigned to each camp,many of these doctors had no real medical training and did little to help the sick.