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Thursday, 09 October 2008 03:54 |
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Yesterday I posted a sketch drawn by George Alfred Townsend. He was a war correspondant during the Civil War. He also gave us a description of Port Tobacco which was posted on our blog last year. (see post of Tuesday, September 18, 2007) In his description, he gives this statement: "Before the war, Port Tobacco was the seat of a tobacco aristocracy and a haunt of negro trades." We know that residents of Port Tobacco had slaves. There is evidence in the court records, newspapers, and the census data. What we still lack is the archaeological evidence. After the Civil War, we know that the town became a mostly African American population. Where were these trades or auctions taking place? It wouldn't be surprising that they were held on the courthouse steps as has been seen in other towns. But I am thinking of another possibility that happened in most port towns. In Annapolis, MD, there was a auctioning block right on the docks (right about where "ego alley" is today). Was there a similar area in Port Tobacco or down at Wharehouse Landing? - Peter Source:
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