Hi, Audrey. I surely agree, and I do not think that any researcher is able to do much without some knowledge of the migration trails and why those existed. In my dictionary, under "roads, early" I speak of the several that were of GREAT importance. As to the question of Brunswick to GA, I think it would have been a very much longer journey to have gone far north to Cumberland Gap in their efforts to go to GA. Salisbury was a major terminal on the wagon roads from the north and east, and from there primitive roads in all directions extended south, west and northwest toward Asheville and - yes - from there toward the great Gap and thence into KY and the NW Territory. The road west from Emporia, South Hill, South Boston, Danville, etc. and on to NE TN (now US #58) was a major road west, and it, as did the roads west from Salisbury toward the back country - GA, AL and further west and south - all skirted the Cherokee lands, That fear, albeit more imagined than real, continued till Jackson's era, immediately following which (1837/38) those Indians who had not hidden in the Blue Ridge, the Smokeys, and in the TN/NC mountains were sent to the West - the Trail of Tears. It is because of that need (and fear) that I suspect the early 19th century movement was across NC and then east of the mountains and south to the westward "roads" into GA and west. How about it, Lee? Have you a comment that might help us all ?? Paul ----- Original Message ----- From: Audrey Pool To: paul drake Sent: Friday, June 13, 2003 SOUTHSIDE-L] early VA to Carolines- GA roads Paul, The Cumberland Gap Road, and the Wilderness Road come to mind. I am not an historian, but think about it. Does that count?

<<<How about it, Lee? Have you a comment that might help us all ?? Paul <<<<< It would depend what part of Virginia one was traveling from to Ga as to the route taken. Virginia and NC were settled from East to the West, generally speaking, however by 1800 several roads had been opened across the Blue Ridge Mountains which allowed movement from the Valley of Virginia southward toward NC and beyond. After 1800 these roads allowed many who settled in southside Va and NC to move west to Tennesse, Ky, Indiana and beyond. The Cumberland Gap was definitely not on any road or trail one would have traveled from VA or NC to Ga. Most people who have never seen the Blue Ridge Mountain do not realize the barrier it presented between the Valley of Virginia and southside Va. and NC. There were few gaps or passes in the mountain chain which would allow wagon travel. There were two near Roanoke, Va., one near Bedford, Va. and the other between Rocky Mount and Salem Va. The latter was the pass through which the Great Wagon Road was built. This road took pioneers to Surry Co., NC and the Yadkin River area and from there to Georgia. Another gap in the Blue Ridge was near present day Hillsville, Va. Lead mined on the New River was hauled through this gap to the Moravian Towns at Winston Salem, NC and used to make pottery. Many pioneers crossed the mountain at this point after 1800 as they moved to Grayson co., Va. and later to east Tennessee and westward. The road from Salem Va. southwest into Tennessee is sometimes called the Wilderness Road or the Great Stage Road. It does not cross the Blue Ridge Mountain but does cross a couple of small mountains in the Valley of Virginia. This road originally went to Fort Loudon near the Cherokee Towns at the foot of the Smokey Mountains. The section of this road from Fort Chiswell on the New River to Ft. Loudon was impassable by wagon when the army tried to rescue the men at Ft. Loudon and could not be fixed in time to bring the men relief. Remember, this was some 25 years before settlers made their way through Cumberland Gap to homestead in Kentucky. Contrary to popular belief, Daniel Boone did not build the road through Cumberland Gap. End of history lesson for today! G. Lee Hearl Authentic Appalachian Storyteller Abingdon, Va.