Garland

Name

Garland

Sex

Male

Freedom Status

Enslaved

Work Location

University of Alabama Jefferson Barracks

Occupation

Pilot

Landon Cabell Garland letterbook transcripts, vol. 3, pt. 1, 1864-1865, image 14-17, June 22, 1864 (conflict with Blocker over Garland/Crawford)

"Head Quarters
Unty of Ala.
June 22 1864

To the Honble J. J. Ormond
My Dear Sir…
[14] In relation to the hire of the pilot, Garland, the facts are these.
Mrs. Riddle’s Crawford was the servant employed to wait in the Jefferson Barracks. We desired to retain his services for the present year at a fair price. Col. Blocker had hired Garland as pilot for 1863 and he also wished to retain him and offered $300 dolls. for him. I was willing to let Col. B. have the pilot, if I could hire Crawford, it would be necessary to place Garland the pilot in the Jefferson Barracks. The latter part of December I wrote to Mrs. Riddle proposing to hire Crawford another year, and in that state of suspense Col. Blocker proposed to hire Garland. I address him the following note on the subject…

[15] This note shows the precise nature of the agreement between us. His hire of Garland was contingent - & his hire of him entirely dependent upon our success in obtaining Crawford.
As soon as Mrs. Riddle’s letter was received which rejected our offer & promptly ordered Crawford home at once, I write to Col. Blocker as follows…

Crawford left that morning by stage, the Jefferson barracks were without a servant, and I was compelled to withdraw Garland from Col. Blocker’s service. I had reserved the right to do so in my note of the 1st mail, and my duty to the Cadets of that building, who had paid for the service of a waiter, required me to act as I did.
After Crawford got home, he persuaded his mistress to let him return with modified terms, offered for our acceptance. To these terms I did not accede, but I dropt [sic] a note to Col. Blocker offering him Garland on the same terms….

[16] Now, how was this offering him Garland at 3 times the price we had agreed on? He had offered me $300 for Garland. I had agreed to accept it in case we hired Crawford. We had not hired him, & did not intend to hire him on Mrs. Riddle’s terms; but to accommodate Col. Blocker, if he was willing to give as much for Garland as she asked for Crawford, then, in that event, I would exchange. Col. Blocker did not accept – although in fact when clothing is taken into account it was but a trifling advance upon the sum he had offered for Garland.
Crawford again went home, and after some days, his mistress seeing his discontent, sent him back, with an acceptance of our terms, namely $300. Through Capt. Gibbs I again tendered Garland to Col. Blocker - & this time on his own terms: but having made other arrangements, he declined to hire him.
Now, I submit to you, in light of these records, whether my desire to accommodate Col. Blocker with the pilot, is not conspicuous from first to last.
And furthermore, how was I responsible for any inconvenience to which he was put, in returning Crawford on the 4th of Jan’y? He helf him at the hazard of withdrawal whenever our necessities required it. I suffered him to remain in his service to the last moment, and on the 3rd day after when Crawford returned with his mistress modified [17] proposition, proposed to return Garland to his employment, on terms scarcely less favorable than he had offered. His refusal to receive him on those terms is a proof that the inconvenience was either very small, or had been remedied within three days…"

Enslaver

Col. J. R. Blocker

Landon Cabell Garland letterbook transcripts, vol. 2, pt. 1, 1863-1864, image 140-141, Nov 25, 1863 (Garland refusing to work with Col. Blocker's agent re: coal and the river)

"University of Ala.
Nov. 25, 1863
Col. J. R. Bl[o]cker
My Dear Sir
I am very sorry to trouble you again concerning the slave Garland. I know that complaints of the kind he bring to me, annoy you as much as they do myself – and the moreso because they involve the conduct of your agents. I can however do nothing less than to call your attention to the facts as detailed by him. His statement is as follows: viz.
1. Last evening your agent had a leaky boat filled with 200 bushels of coal.
2. Garland warned him at the time of the condition of the boat & of the certainty of it sinking if such a load was put upon – but to no effect.
3. This morning the boat was found sunken, and your agent ordered the hands to get into the water waist-deep in order to throw out the coal.
4. On the plea of being unwell with a bad cold, recently contracted by exposure to rain, Garland declined to go into the water.
5. Your agent was about to force him by the last, when he left and came to me for protection.
It is not right that I should accept an experte statement of the matter, and that coming from a negro; - nor on the other hand should I return him to your agent to be subjected to any punishment he might choose to inflict, without appealing to you as the principal to enquire into the facts and see that no injustice is done.

[141] In you I have the fullest confidence and when you shall have investigated the matter impartially I am willing to submit it to your conviction of right.
But I must say, that is they boy has stated the facts of the case, it would have been cruel and injust to force a sick man into water. Until I hear from you I will retain Garland here. In this, I hope I will meet with your convenience. Your agent I do not know, & it would not be discharging my duty to a slave entrusted to my care, to send him back to your agent unless I could go myself – and this my engagements preclude me from doing.
I am with the kindest regards,
Yr. Frd & Svt.
L. C. Garland"

Leaser

The University of Alabama

Landon Cabell Garland letterbook transcripts, vol. 2, pt. 1, 1863-1864, image 219, Jan 1, 1864 (potential hire to Blocker)

"Supt’s Office
Jan’y 1, 1864

To Col. J. R. Blocker
My Dear Sir.
The compliment of hands at the Mess Hall is complete. Garland, if retained by us, will be placed in the place stead of Crawford in Jeff. Barracks.
But we have written Mrs. Riddle proposing to hire Crawford again & we expect him to accept our proposition.
If that case you can have Garland at your offer of $300 with clothes.
You can put him to work and await the reply of Mrs. Riddle which we expect early next week.
I will thank you to qualify yourself, according to the provisions in the Code, to act as Trustees. I shall wish to consult yourself & Judge Ormond about some matters next week.
I am Very Resply Yrs.
L. C. Garland, Supt."

Landon Cabell Garland letterbook transcripts, vol. 2, pt. 1, 1863-1864, image 228, Jan 4, 1864 (switch for Crawford)

"Supt’s Office
Jan’y 4, 1864

Col. J. R. Blocker
My Dear Sir.
Mrs. Riddle asks a price for her boy Crawford, which I cannot give. We are compelled in consequence of this, to put Garland in Crawford's place. Please send him up this morning. If, however, you can procure Crawford on terms suitable to yourself, I will exchange Garland for him.
Yrs. Very Resp.ly
L. C. Garland, Supt"

Landon Cabell Garland letterbook transcripts, vol. 2, pt. 1, 1863-1864, image 241, Jan 7, 1864 (price for Garland)

" Univy of Ala.
Jany 7, 64

Col. J. R. Blocker
Dr. Sir
Mrs. Riddle offers Crawford at $40 per month, she clothing, paying Doctors bills & taces. Will you give this amt for Garland?
Yrs Resply. &c.
L. C. Garland
Supt, A. C. C."

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