During
the Civil War, town slaves and freedmen were
important parts of the war industry in Columbus.
Many slaves were skilled artisans--carpenters,
blacksmiths, iron workers, coopers, plasterers,
cabinet makers, shoemakers, masons, woodworkers--trades
many of them learned working on plantations in
the area. Not all slaves in Columbus and other
towns lived in the city all year round. Many
were countrymen who were rented out to city whites
by plantation owners during slack periods in
the cotton season. Skilled slaves were in great
demand in town because so few whites were skilled
artisans.
Most town slaves lived in small cabins similar
to the one shown here. Often living quarters
for town slaves were in the backyards of the
homes of the whites. Town slaves were subject
to a strict code of behavior: they could not
be out at all after sundown or before sunrise;
they were forbidden to move about the streets
without passes or written permission.
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