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use the same language as if driving swine, and goad the people forward with the points of their bayonets. One man, on being pricked thus, and seeing his children thus abused, picked up a stone and struck a soldier. For this offense, however, he was hand cuffed, and punished on his arrival at the fort; and on leaving the fort, was again whipped a hundred lashes. Those taken to the fort at New Echota, it is said, were confined day and night in the open air, with scarcely clothes to cover them when lying on the naked ground.
Thursday May 31. Just before night a young lieutenant called and requested accommodation for two or three officers, and permission for a company of Cherokees to camp near. Though we are not in the habit of entertaining any white men, yet for the sake of the poor Cherokees, we resolved to accommodate the above officers.
A little before sunset the above company, of about two hundred Cherokees, were driven into our lane. The day had been rainy, and of course, all men, women and children were dripping wet with no change of clothing, and scarcely a blanket fit to cover them. As some of the women, when taken from their houses, had on their poorest dress. This of course was the amount of their clothing for a journey of eight hundred miles.
As soon as permission was obtained from the officers, we opened every door to these poor sufferers. Mothers brought their little babes to our fire, and stripped off their only covering to dry. Heart rending indeed, was the sight of those little captives. Their lips, blue and trembling with cold, seemed yet to force a smile of gratitude for this kind reception. We wept, and wept, and still weep at the thought of that affecting scene. Our prayer is, that these dear children
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