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==Eyewitness Account==

==Eyewitness Account==

The events that took place during the forced removal of the Cherokee were not just considered immoral by the victims, but to many of the U.S. soldiers who objected to the practice, who nonetheless carried out their orders as required under the law.

The events that took place during the forced removal of the Cherokee were not just considered a great wrong by the victims, but to many of the U.S. soldiers who objected to the practice, who nonetheless carried out their orders as required under the law.

An eloquent account of such a soldier's experience is found in a letter by Private John G. Burnett, Captain Abraham McClellan’s Company, 2nd Regiment, 2nd Brigade, Mounted Infantry, Cherokee Indian Removal, 1838-39.  On the occasion of his 80th birthday in 1890, he wrote a letter to his family telling his life story, and the following excerpt describes his experiences during the Trail of Tears period:

An eloquent account of such a soldier's experience is found in a letter by Private John G. Burnett, Captain Abraham McClellan’s Company, 2nd Regiment, 2nd Brigade, Mounted Infantry, Cherokee Indian Removal, 1838-39.  On the occasion of his 80th birthday in 1890, he wrote a letter to his family telling his life story, and the following excerpt describes his experiences during the Trail of Tears period:

:''Chief Junaluska who had saved President Jackson’s life at the battle of Horse Shoe witnessed this scene, the tears gushing down his cheeks and lifting his cap he turned his face toward the heavens and said, "Oh my God, if I had known at the battle of the Horse Shoe what I know now, American history would have been differently written."''

:''Chief Junaluska who had saved President Jackson’s life at the battle of Horse Shoe witnessed this scene, the tears gushing down his cheeks and lifting his cap he turned his face toward the heavens and said, "Oh my God, if I had known at the battle of the Horse Shoe what I know now, American history would have been differently written."''

Burnett ended this account with the observation that U.S. History as taught in the late 1800's had already downplayed or concealed the immoral nature and suffering of the Trail of Tears.  This did not mean that the atrocities did not take place, and he left his testimony to posterity so others would know what had actually happened:

Burnett ended this account with the observation that U.S. History as taught in the late 1800's had already downplayed or concealed the nature and suffering of the Trail of Tears.  This did not mean that the atrocities did not take place, and he left his testimony to posterity so others would know what had actually happened:

:''"At this time, 1890, we are too near the removal of the Cherokees for our young people to fully understand the enormity of the crime that was committed against a helpless race. Truth is, the facts are being concealed from the young people of today. School children of today do not know that we are living on lands that were taken from a helpless race at the bayonet point to satisfy the white man’s greed.''

:''"At this time, 1890, we are too near the removal of the Cherokees for our young people to fully understand the enormity of the crime that was committed against a helpless race. Truth is, the facts are being concealed from the young people of today. School children of today do not know that we are living on lands that were taken from a helpless race at the bayonet point to satisfy the white man’s greed.''