Trail of Tears
The deadline for Cherokees to leave their land voluntarily was on May 23, 1838.p. 36  President Martin Van Buren sent General Winfield Scott to lead the soldiers who would force the Cherokee to leave.p. 41 Scott ordered his soldiers to "show every possible kindness to the Cherokee and to arrest any soldier who [gave] a [cruel] injury or insult [to] any Cherokee man, woman, or child."