Natural Disasters
In 1811 an earthquake of such magnitude hit many states, including the present day Missouri and Arkansas with the epicenter being in the current St. Madrid fault line. It started with a 7.7 magnitude quake on December 16, 1811 with an after shock of 7.0, followed by another after shock of similar intensity. Another quake hit January 23, 1812 at magnitude 7.5 and after shocks of near same intensity. By February 7, 1812 when another 7.7 hit and in all, there were seven major seismic events in this time period. One was so severe that it was recorded that the Mississippi River flowed backwards. In all the quakes covered in excess of 78,000 - 129,000 square kilometers and covering several states.
Most of the Cherokees living in those areas saw this as a sign to leave and fled to safer ground; many did not go back. Some followed Chief Bowles to the area southwest of present day Little Rock, Arkansas and later to Texas in 1820. Some fled west to the Sac River area or Northwest to around Springfield, or Columbia, Missouri. This is how we split into three bands; the Green or Northern Band that followed Benjamin Green, the Sac River Band, and the White River Band. Of course, there were many Cherokees with relatives in those three bands that chose to live in other areas of Missouri and Arkansas and even Oklahoma or Kansas.
Most of the Cherokees living in those areas saw this as a sign to leave and fled to safer ground; many did not go back. Some followed Chief Bowles to the area southwest of present day Little Rock, Arkansas and later to Texas in 1820. Some fled west to the Sac River area or Northwest to around Springfield, or Columbia, Missouri. This is how we split into three bands; the Green or Northern Band that followed Benjamin Green, the Sac River Band, and the White River Band. Of course, there were many Cherokees with relatives in those three bands that chose to live in other areas of Missouri and Arkansas and even Oklahoma or Kansas.
