cargo was intended for the coasting trade, business began at the first large plantations. This was in the day of overseers who liberally patronized these "coasters," giving in payment drafts on New Orleans. The darkies were, in some cases, allowed to make their own purchases; they did not neglect the liquor, often exchanging molasses for brandy even, gallon for gallon.
Upon arriving at his destination, the proprietor sold his remaining stock and boat, invested his money in sugar and molasses, and embarked with his freight on a packet for home. Thus two profits were cleared.
The advent of the Civil War was evident to these latter day boatmen; watches were always kept on the outlook lest the "lines" be cut. At the opening of the war flat-boats were frequently fired upon. When the business was again revived in 1866 it was a new, sad South the flat-boat men found. The negroes were "free," the overseers gone, the coasting trade ruined; through freights were found to be the only ones that paid after 1865.
Collins asserts that Captain Jacob Yoder
