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The Old Federal Road:

Updated: Oct 23, 2023



Federal Road
1829 Map showing the Federal Road in Cherokee Territory

The Treaty of Tellico and the great road that traversed Augusta, Georgia to Knoxville, Tennessee.


In 1805 the Federal Road was created, having been established by a treaty between the Cherokee and the United States Government. Chief James Vann, a half Scot, half Cherokee leader.


The treaty allowed for the passage of the white settlers through the Cherokee Territory. A series of taverns and public houses were constructed along different segments providing travelers with a place to rest, and get food and drink. The treaty also allowed for the Cherokee to be the sole operators of such stops.


In the northern part of the Cherokee Territory, Chief James Vann, Chief Daniels, Ambrose and Nancy Harnage (sister of Alexander Sanders), and David and Delilah McNair, operated a series of ferries, taverns, and stands along the road.


Starting in Hall County, at the crossing of the Chattahootchie River, Vann had a tavern and operated a ferry for passage.


Vann's Tavern New Echota
Vann's Tavern at New Echota

Further ahead, in Forsyth County, Blackburn's Tavern was a way stop. It was at this location where Chief James Vann was shot and murdered on February 20, 1809, in front of his son Joe. It is thought that Alexander Sanders was the man who murdered Vann in retaliation for the abuses he suffered at Vann's hand.


Blackburn's Tavern presently at Cumming Fairground
Blackburn's Tavern

Today, the body of Vann lies across the road in Blackburn's Cemetery. It was exhumed twice and not confirmed as being his body. However, he could be buried elsewhere in the cemetery. President James Monroe stayed the evening at the tavern along with John C. Calhoun.


Vann's Grave Blackburn Cemetery, Forsyth County
Vann's grave in Blackburn Cemetery

Further up the road, on the southeast side of Long Swamp Creek was the tavern of Chief James Daniels. Chief Daniels had hundreds of acres of land and a two-story house for visitors to stay at.


Artist's rendering of Daniels' Tavern

The last remaining chimney of the Daniels Tavern was photographed in the 1980s.

On the southwestern side of the Old Federal Rd, was Harnages. Harnages was run by Ambrose Harnage, a white settler who married Nancy Sanders, the sister of Alexander Sanders. It also served as the first Superior Courthouse of the new Cherokee County in 1832.

Harnage's location, also known as Harnageville, is where the present-day Tate Mansion is in Tate, Georgia.


Harnages Tavern, Tate, Georgia
Artist's rendering of Harnage's Tavern


Next along the road was Taloney/Carmel Mission at Sanderstown. Sanderstown was named for the Sanders family who were the first settlers in what is now Pickens County. The Mission was established in 1819 and stayed active until 1839. It had the first post office, church, and school in what was Gilmer County. Alexander Sanders was a student there. In 1825 he burned a town hall near there in an act of rage.



The last remaining building of Carmel Mission/Taloney circa 1930


Taloney was a Presbyterian Mission site established in the Cherokee Territory in 1819. It taught the Cherokee and African Americans school and farming basics as well as about the Christian faith. It closed within a year of the Indian Removal in 1839 after Fort Newnan was constructed less than a mile away.



Drawing of the building layout at Spring Place

Spring Place, a Moravian Mission, was established near the location of present-day Chatsworth in 1800. Located within two miles of Chief Vann's brick mansion, it was the first Mission to be established in the Cherokee Territory. Chief James Vann arranged for its placement near his father's town known as Vann's Town, or Vann's Place.



Spring Place Mission
Artist's conception of Spring Place Mission


Finally, as one crossed the border into Tennessee, they reached McNair's Stand, located near the Conasauga River, David McNair, the son-in-law of Chief Vann and Delila McNair (Vann) operated a house for travelers. It was here the Moravians retreated to after the closure of Spring Place.




McNair Cemetery, Old Fort, Tennessee
McNair Cemetery - burial place of David and Delilah McNair (Vann)

Vann's daughter, Delilah McNair died on the Trail of Tears. She and her husband David are buried at the site.




Sadly, the only remnants of the cemetery are covered by plants on a local farm. The historical marker near the site is missing also. The Tennessee Historical Commission has been notified.


2 Comments

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Guest
Oct 04, 2023
Rated 5 out of 5 stars.

Love the history of the area. The farm on which my grandfather grew up now contains the Mt. Carmel historical marker (Or it did if GDOT didn't take it down in the round-about project.)

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Guest
Oct 10, 2023
Replying to

Thanks for the feedback. I'd love to see it sometime in person. My email is feldtcj@gmail.com

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