Fort Butler (Murphy, North Carolina) facts for kids

Fort Butler was a very important place during a sad time in American history called the Trail of Tears. This was when many Cherokee people were forced to leave their homes. The fort was built on a hill overlooking what is now Murphy, North Carolina, near the Hiwassee River. It was the main office for the U.S. Army's Eastern Division. This army group was in charge of making sure the Cherokee people left their lands.

Fort Butler was located along Hitchcock Street, close to Lakeside Street. Today, this area is a private neighborhood with homes. Down the hill from the fort, Cherokee Street follows an old path called the Unicoi Turnpike. The Cherokee people were marched along this path to Fort Cass and then further west to a place called Indian Territory.

What Was Fort Butler?

Building the Fort

Fort Butler was first called Camp Huntington. It was set up in July 1836 by General John E. Wool. He brought soldiers from Tennessee to the area. Their job was to keep order after a treaty called the Treaty of New Echota was signed. This treaty said the Cherokee had to give up their land, but many Cherokee leaders did not agree with it.

The camp was left empty after about a month. But then, in 1837, soldiers came back and used it again. They renamed it Fort Butler after a person named Benjamin Butler.

Why Was the Fort Important?

The fort was in a very important spot. It was where the Unicoi Turnpike crossed the Hiwassee River at a place called Christie Ford. It was also near the road that went up Valley River to the Cherokee "Valley Towns." This made it a key location for controlling the area.

The Forced Removal

Preparing for Removal

By early 1838, it was clear that most Cherokee people would not leave their homes willingly. A deadline in May passed, and the United States Army got ready to force them to move. Fort Butler was made much bigger. New buildings were added, like places for soldiers to sleep, offices for officers, shops, and kitchens.

General Abraham Eustis took command of Fort Butler in late May 1838. Soldiers who had just finished fighting in the Second Seminole War in Florida were sent to Fort Butler.

The Roundup Begins

The army began forcing Cherokee people to leave their homes in Georgia in late May. But there were reports that the prisoners were being treated badly. Because of this, General Winfield Scott, who was in charge of all the soldiers at Fort Cass, stopped the operations until early June.

Southwest North Carolina was an area where many Cherokee people lived. The army thought there might be strong resistance there. So, General Scott himself went to Fort Butler. He wanted to be there to lead the roundup of Cherokee people in that region. This began on June 12, 1838.

Passing Through Fort Butler

During the early summer of 1838, more than 3,000 Cherokee prisoners passed through Fort Butler. These people came from western North Carolina and northern Georgia. They were marched along the Unicoi Turnpike to bigger camps, like Fort Cass in Tennessee.

Most prisoners only stayed at Fort Butler for a few days. This was different from Fort Cass, where people were held for much longer. Some people did stay at Fort Butler for a few weeks, though.