Running Waters

Running Waters -- located in what is now Floyd County, Georgia -- played a pivotal role in the Cherokee Removal story. Running Waters is where the group that would later be called the "Treaty Party" was formed, where it conducted its business, and where terms of what would become known as the Treaty of New Echota were discussed in open council. Running Waters was also the location of a Ridge-sponsored Cherokee mission school, headed by Sophia Sawyer, who taught a number of Cherokee students between 1835 and 1836, after her school was forced out of New Echota. Running Waters is where Treaty Party leader John Ridge lived, wrote his correspondence, and conducted his business. It is often said these days that "the Trail of Tears began right here," but in this case, such a statement wouldn't be empty hyperbole. But by the end of the 19th century, Running Waters and its role in U.S. history had been almost completely erased from public memory. For many years, the Running Waters series of councils that preceded the signing of the Treaty of New Echota were mistakenly thought to have been held at the Major Ridge home, near Rome (Battey, 1994, p. 43). Later, a home near the Rome Bypass was identified as the location of Running Waters - again, in error. W. Jeff Bishop reports on the history surrounding this forgotten Native American council site.