only he accom-
plished by force. Genera] Winfield Scott was now appointed to that
duty with instructions to start the Indians for the West at the earliest
possible moment. For that purpose he was ordered to take command
of the troops already in the Cherokee country, together with addi-
tional reenforcements of infantry, cavalry, and artillery, with authority
to call upon the governors of the adjoining states for as many as 4,000
militia and volunteers. The whole force employed numbered about
7,000 men -regulars, militia, and volunteers. 3 The Indian- had already
been disarmed by General Wool.
On arriving in the Cherokee country Scott established headquarters
at the capital, New Echota, whence, on May 10, he issued a proclama-
tion to tin* ( Iherokee, warning them that the emigration must he com-
menced in haste and that before another moon had(43). From these, squads of troops were sent
to search out with rifle and bayonet every small cabin hidden away in
the coves or by tin 1 sides of mountain streams, to seize and bring in as
prisoners all the occupants, however or wherever they might be found.
Families at dinner were startled by the sudden gleam of bayonets in
the doorway and rose up to be driven with blows and oaths along the I
weary miles of trail that led to the stockade. Men were seized in
their fields or going along the road, women were taken from their
wheels and children from their play. In many cases, on turning for
one last look as they crossed the ridge, they saw their homes in flames.
fired by the lawless rabble that followed on the heels of the