Lot
921 
From Steam Boat Tennessee (Mississippi, Ohio and Cumberland Rivers), bold and complete blue circle with negative "Steam Boat" in center on 1848 folded letter from Grand Saline, C N (Cherokee Nation) to Jonesboro, E, Tenn., postmarked blue "Nashville, Te. Feb 9" cds with blue "10" in cog rate marking and "Steam" straightline, letter twice mentions John Ross, Chief of the Cherokee Nation (referred to as "Dr. Ross") and "Park Hill" (Park Hill was for many years the center of culture among the Cherokee, taking its name from Park Hill Mission established in 1839. It was the home of many important Cherokee leaders, including John Ross after their removal from the southeastern U.S.), some light staining of little consequence, Very Fine, Illustrated in Milgram.Milgram No. 1356 Estimate $1,500 - 2,000.
AN OUTSTANDING EXAMPLE OF THIS STEAMBOAT MARKING AND ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT USAGES OF ALL OF THE INDIAN TERRITORIES.
This historic item mentions John Ross (referred to as "Dr. Ross"), who was the Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation from 1828 to 1866. Ross led the nation through such tumultuous events as forced removal to Indian Territory and the American Civil War. Under orders from President Martin Van Buren, General Winfield Scott and 7,000 Federal troops forced removal of Cherokee who did not emigrate to the Indian Territory by 1838. This forced removal came to be known as the "Trail of Tears".
The "Trail of Tears" was the forcible removal of members of the Cherokee, Muscogee, Seminole, Chickasaw, and Choctaw nations from their ancestral homelands in the Southeastern United States to newly designated Indian Territory, west of the Mississippi River after the passage of the Indian Removal Act in 1830. The Cherokee removal in 1838 was the last forced removal east of the Mississippi and was brought on by the discovery of gold near Dahlonega, Georgia in 1828. The relocated peoples suffered from exposure, disease, and starvation while en route to their newly designated Indian reserve. Thousands died from disease before reaching their destinations or shortly after.
In 1811 George C. Sibley's expedition was guided from Fort Osage, Missouri to the Great Salt Plains by a local Osage Indian. Sibley and his followers are said to be the first white men to visit the plains, which they would later name the Grand Saline. From that day, settlers from Texas, Kansas, and the Indian nations made trips to the plains to extract the salt.
The saline was a very important geographical landmark, animals flocked to the area for the salt, making for excellent hunting. It became apparent that any tribe that controlled the Salt Plains would have to contend with intrusions by other tribes. Fierce battles raged over the use of this valuable resource.
We would like to thank Mr. Joe Crosby for historical research and background regarding John Ross and the Cherokee Nation.
Current Opening Bid: $750