Smith, Robert Archibald, 1780-1829

R.A. Smith served in Company D of the 3rd Alabama Cavalry.

From the description of Civil War letter, 1863. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122587213

On September 22, 1845, John White committed suicide. John White (1802-1845) was elected and served in the Kentucky General Assembly in 1832, U.S. House of Reps in 1835 and served as Speaker of the House from 1843 until 1845. Voted out of office in 1845. John White may have received the letter the day of his suicide.

The Choctaw were moved in three groups, beginning in 1831. The United States government wanted to be generous to those who left first, to encourage the rest to leave. However, there were different agencies involved, which led to contradictory orders and other complications. The supplies were to be bought locally, and local traders exploited the situation by raising prices astronomically. There was unexpected bad weather, which combined with the disorganization led to a bad experience for this first group of travelers. Some government agents tried to do the best they could, but they went way over budget doing so and got in trouble. When the first wagons reached Little Rock, an Arkansas Gazette reporter interviewed a Choctaw chief (probably either Thomas Harkins or Nitikechi) who was quoted as saying the Choctaw removal had been "a trail of tears and death." This was picked up by the eastern press, and was later associated with the brutal removal of the Cherokee in 1838.

From the description of Letter. 10 September 1845. (Kentucky Historical Society). WorldCat record id: 191699425