Aspects of Slavery and Freedom Seeking in North Carolina
Wood-Inland-Carving Culture
In the nineteenth century, the state of North Carolina, in general, and, in particular, its Piedmont region contained large deposits of iron ore. These deposits fueled the need for Iron Works Plantations across the piedmont region. The abundance of the four necessary natural elements to produce iron were a significant reason for these deposits of iron ore. Fast flowing waterways, limestone, crystalized stone, and hardwood. Limestone was important as a fluxing agent while fast moving water, powered turbines, water wheels, and large crystallized stone supported the structural integrity of the furnace stack that housed the iron ore.
The last element necessary is that of hardwood, which was used to produce charcoal—an essential agent in the continual operation of furnaces for up to six months at a time. At almost every level of iron ore production, African Americans were necessary to collect the natural materials and keep the process of producing iron ore ongoing until iron was produced. Enslaved ironworkers had to mine hard rock and cut down large quantities of forest to produce enough hardwood to contribute to the production process. All of the above natural features were present in large deposits in Catawba, Cleveland, Gaston, and Lincoln counties.
To understand the total importance of wood in the process of many plantations, in general, and iron furnace production, in particular, one needs to look no further than the image below.
This image depicts a hierarchical chart of necessary persons, most of whom are enslaved, who perform the tasks necessary to make iron ore. At the bottom are the woodcutters. At first glance, this representation may present the notion of an inferior position. While true in terms of power, woodcutters were the critical elements in the entire operation. This is also apparent from the large numbers that are necessary to cut and haul wood from the forest to the plantations. All duties on an iron plantation required a high level of skill regardless of their connection to the process of making iron ore or retrieving materials connected to that process. Whether a woodcutter, a collier, a teamster or other laborer, enslaved laborers were trained in and learned skilled work.
Allen Parker remarks on cutting timber and lumber camps:
"These logs were of the largest kind and were often one hundred feet or more in length. The but end of the log was fastened to the axletree of an enormous pair of wheels, from the axletree projected a long tongue, to which was attached a single yoke of oxen. In front of this yoke of oxen there was sometimes as many as fifteen yoke of oxen one ahead of the other and all fastened by a chain to the end of the tongue. A team of this kind required about eight drivers. Each driver was seated on the yoke of one pair of oxen, and would drive that yoke and the yoke in front.
Instead of a whip such as is used in the north, the drivers would have a long slender birch rod, which when green would be almost as durable as a raw-hide.
The small end of the log was also hung between a large pair of wheels. To the tongue of which was fastened a rope from twelve to fifteen feet long with a a knot in the end. The end of this rope was given into the hands of a strong active negro, whose business it was to steer the logs. When everything was ready the word to start would be given and away the logs went, the oxen pulling with all their might and the log drivers shouting at the top of their voices.The man with the guiding ropes of the rear wheels sometimes on the logs sometimes on the ground at one side, and sometimes at the other side working with all his strength to keep the log in its place, and so the procession proceeded from the woods to the river bank, where the log would be left till enough were got together to ship to market.
Very often I had to drive oxen myself, though my business generally was to drive the mules, drawing grain and fodder for the oxen. Sometimes the mules would be hitched in front of the ox team. I liked this sort of work very well as it was not often hard, and there was a good deal of excitement about it."
On Lumber camps, Allen wrote:
"Many of the slaves camped in the woods through the entire lumber season. A camp would be made of logs, bark and pieces of board, which would enclose the camp on three sides, on the fourth a large fire would be built at night, at which we did our cooking. Every evening after supper had been disposed of the slaves would spend the time till bed time in singing and telling stories"