re: Mid 19th century life in the American south, what do you think it was like?

Actually, if you were in New Orleans, it was a vibrant, rollicking place. A very busy port, with interesting people and goods coming off the ships daily. New Orleans was the 5th most populated city in the US at the time. Obviously, slavery was thriving, but a census taken in 1860 showed about 13,000 slaves and 11,000 free people of color. Probably (next to New York) the most class segregated city in the US. Frenchmen over there, Acadians over here. Creoles - slaves and free, separating themselves. Italians and Sicilians would come in droves later in the century. The Germans found a home in Des Allemands, etc. Wealthy planters from Virginia, etc.

And look at it today. The forefathers of New Orleans and the rest of the South were very shortsighted.

Probably so shvtty that risking your life for a company to continue owning slaves was worth it.

Not sure - my Irish ancestors came over in 1848 to the port of New Orleans - I’m sure it was quite a culture shock for them, but at least there was work and food

They were the biggest for awhile, sugar cane plantation in St. James parish, a mother and her son's.

LA and SC had the largest populations of free blacks slave owning blacks. LA was by and far the largest though.

Read
Mississippi no man’s land. An echo of the Koch family letters

Good little book describing the life of the Koch family during those times


Description
Civil War Experiences Revealed by Family Letters A family in the southwestern corner of Hancock County, MS preserved hundreds of letters detailing their privations and fears, as well as the intrigues of the local citizenry. Their perseverance was truly heroic as they survived in spite of the demands of cavalry of both sides, while jayhawkers took what was left. Even as a vigilante committee assumed the duties of law and order in the community, this close-knit family tried to live and work normally, all the while maintaining their honor and integrity.

My family moved westward over time in the 1800s until ending up in texas. At the beginning of the century they started on the east coast around North Carolina/Virginia. They farmed mostly as far as I know. Had to worry about Indians as they settled further west. I read a cool account about how one of my ancestors had an Indian wife and the Indians didn’t like him for this. He was out hunting one day and they saw him. Chased him for about 2-3 miles before he finally got away. This was in northern Arkansas.

Lot's of Bush

Hot, stinky, physically grueling, and mercifully brief.

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They were the biggest for awhile, sugar cane plantation in St. James parish, a mother and her son's.

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They were the biggest for awhile, sugar cane plantation in St. James parish, a mother and her son's.

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I was thinking of the Metoyers in Natchitoches, so the top 2 slave owners in Louisiana were black.