What Became of the Slaves on a Georgia Plantation?: Great Auction Sale of Slaves, at Savannah, Georgia, March 2d & 3d, 1859Doesticks, Q. K. Philander
History
What Became of the Slaves on a Georgia Plantation?: Great Auction Sale of Slaves, at Savannah, Georgia, March 2d & 3d, 1859
Doesticks, Q. K. Philander
Slave trade -- United States; Slavery -- Georgia
The Race-course at Savannah is situated about three miles from the
city, in a pleasant spot, nearly surrounded by woods. As it rained
violently during the two days of the sale, the place was only
accessible by carriages, and the result was, that few attended but
actual buyers, who had come from long distances, and could not afford
to lose the opportunity. If the affair had come off in Yankee land,
there would have been a dozen omnibuses running constantly between
the city and the Race-course, and some speculator would have bagged
a nice little sum of money by the operation. But nothing of the kind
was thought of here, and the only gainers were the livery stables, the
owners of which had sufficient Yankeeism to charge double and treble
prices.
The conveniences for getting to the ground were so limited that there
were not enough buyers to warrant the opening of the sale for an hour
or two after the advertised time. They dropped in, however, a few at a
time, and things began to look more encouragingly for the seller.
The negroes looked more uncomfortable than ever; the close confinement
in-doors for a number of days, and the drizzly, unpleasant weather,
began to tell on their condition. They moved about more listlessly,
and were fast losing the activity and springiness they had at first
shown. This morning they were all gathered into the long room of the
building erected as the "Grand Stand" of the Race-course, that they
might be immediately under the eye of the buyers. The room was about
a hundred feet long by twenty wide, and herein were crowded the poor
creatures, with much of their baggage, awaiting their respective calls
to step upon the block and be sold to the highest bidder. This morning
Mr. Pierce Butler appeared among his people, speaking to each one, and
being recognized with seeming pleasure by all. The men obsequiously
pulled off their hats and made that indescribable sliding hitch with
the foot which passes with a negro for a bow; and the women each
dropped the quick curtsy, which they seldom vouchsafe to any other than
their legitimate master and mistress. Occasionally, to a very old or
favorite servant, Mr. Butler would extend his gloved hand, which mark
of condescension was instantly hailed with grins of delight from all
the sable witnesses.
The room in which the sale actually took place immediately adjoined the
room of the negroes, and communicated with it by two large doors. The
sale room was open to the air on one side, commanding a view of the
entire Course. A small platform was raised about two feet and a-half
high, on which were placed the desks of the entry clerks, leaving room
in front of them for the auctioneer and the goods.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account