Garrison Frazier facts for kids

Garrison Frazier (born around 1798, died 1873) was an important African-American minister during the U.S. Civil War. He became famous as the main speaker for a group of 20 African-American ministers.

They met on January 12, 1865, with General William Tecumseh Sherman and U.S. Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton. This meeting happened in Savannah, Georgia. It is often called the "Savannah Colloquy" or the "Forty acres and a mule" meeting.

Frazier's words helped General Sherman create his Special Field Orders, No. 15. This order, issued on January 16, 1865, gave land to formerly enslaved African-Americans. They received 40-acre plots, mainly on the Sea Islands. Some also received mules from the army. These plots were sometimes called "Blackacres."

At the time of this important meeting, Frazier was about 67 years old.

Frazier's Early Life

We don't have clear records of when Garrison Frazier was born or who his parents were. People believed he was of pure African heritage. There is some confusion about his birthplace. Some say he was born in Granville County, North Carolina. Others say he was born in Virginia.

Frazier and his wife, Diana Williams, were enslaved. Their enslavers brought them to Georgia around 1850. After being enslaved for about 60 years, Frazier bought his and his wife's freedom in 1856. He paid $1,000 in gold and silver, which was a lot of money back then.

Frazier lived on White Bluffs Road in Savannah, Georgia. He and Diana had several children. Their children included William, Roderick, John, Chas, Andrew, Green, Bell, and Charity.

Frazier's Ministry Work

Garrison Frazier first belonged to the Methodist Church in Georgia. Later, he became convinced that the Baptist faith was more aligned with the Bible. He then joined the Baptist Church.

He was baptized at Savannah's Third African Church. This church was later renamed the First Bryan Baptist Church. In December 1851, he became an ordained minister. He served as the 8th pastor of First Bryan Baptist Church from December 1851 to 1860. Overall, Frazier served as a minister for 35 years.

People said Frazier had a strong presence and a good voice. He was known as a plain and powerful preacher. Even though he wasn't formally trained in theology, he could explain Christian teachings very clearly.

As the U.S. Civil War continued, Frazier's health began to fail. He resigned as pastor of First Bryan Baptist Church in 1861. Deacon Ulysses L. Houston took over from him. Houston also attended the "Forty acres and a mule" meeting. First Bryan Baptist Church had more representatives at that meeting than any other church.

Even after he left his official duties, Frazier remained a respected elder. The African-American community and other ministers in Savannah looked to him as a knowledgeable leader.

The "Forty Acres and a Mule" Meeting

During the Civil War, General Sherman led his army through the South. His goal was to weaken the Confederacy. He moved his army from Atlanta to the coast, capturing Savannah on December 21, 1864. This journey was called the "March to the Sea."

As Sherman's army marched, over 17,000 formerly enslaved African-Americans followed them. These refugees had left plantations in Georgia and South Carolina. General Sherman was worried that so many refugees could slow down his army.

To address this, U.S. Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton suggested a meeting. He wanted to talk with "the leaders of the local Negro community." They would discuss the refugee crisis and what African-Americans wanted after the war.

On January 12, 1865, at 8:00 PM, 20 African-American ministers met with General Sherman and Secretary Stanton. The meeting took place at Sherman's headquarters in Savannah, the Green-Meldrim House.

Garrison Frazier was chosen by the other ministers to be their spokesperson. He introduced each minister by name and their role in their church.

Sherman and Stanton promised protection and help for the refugees. Then, Frazier answered 12 questions. He spoke clearly about what African-Americans wanted after being freed from slavery.

Sherman and Stanton were impressed by Frazier's understanding. He explained the reasons for the Civil War and President Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation. Frazier is most remembered for this part of the "Forty acres and a mule" discussion:

• Question: "How do you think you can take care of yourselves, and how can you best help the Government keep your freedom?"

• Brother Frazier: "The best way we can take care of ourselves is to have land. We can farm it with our own labor—the labor of women, children, and old men. We can soon support ourselves and have extra. To help the Government, the young men should join the army and serve as needed. We want to be given land until we can buy it and own it."

• Question: "How would you rather live—scattered among white people or in your own communities?"

• Brother Frazier: "I would prefer to live by ourselves. There is a prejudice against us in the South that will take years to overcome. But I don't know if I can speak for all my brothers."

After the Meeting: Special Field Orders, Number 15

Four days after the meeting, General Sherman issued his Special Field Orders, No. 15.

These orders set aside 400,000 acres of land for formerly enslaved African-Americans. This land was taken from white landowners in South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. It stretched from Charleston, South Carolina, to northern Florida. The land was for "the settlement of the negroes now made free."

Each family would receive "forty acres of tillable ground." The army would protect them on this land. This protection would last until they could protect themselves or until Congress decided on their ownership. General Rufus Saxton was put in charge of carrying out this plan.

These orders became the basis for the idea that the government promised freed slaves "40 acres and a mule." However, President Andrew Johnson later canceled these orders that same year.

Later Life and Death

After the historic "Forty acres and a mule" meeting, Garrison Frazier became weaker due to old age. He still did some missionary work with country churches for a few years.

Frazier lived on White Bluffs Road in White Bluff, Georgia. This area was once a group of African-American communities near Savannah.

Frazier was also registered to vote in 1870. He passed away in 1873. His burial place is not known.

Frazier's Legacy

Charles Elmore, a professor from Savannah State University, is an expert on Garrison Frazier. He believes Frazier's presence and powerful words greatly influenced General Sherman. He thinks Frazier's words inspired the Special Field Orders, No. 15.

Elmore said, "The other men chose this eloquent, 67-year-old imposing Black man, who was well over 6 feet tall, to speak on their behalf. And he said essentially we want to be free from domination of white men, we want to be educated, and we want to own land."

Historian Kevin M. Levin also highlighted Frazier's importance. He said that Frazier helps us understand a more complete Civil War history. Levin noted that discussions about the South often focus only on white people. He believes that people who say "the South lost the war but won the peace" don't have Garrison Frazier in mind.

Levin argues that important figures like Lincoln need to be seen as part of a larger historical process. This process connects Lincoln not just to politicians, but also to soldiers, runaway slaves, and Black leaders like Garrison Frazier.

Memorial to Frazier and Fellow Pastor

In 2014, the Georgia Historical Society placed a Historical Marker at First Bryan Baptist Church. This marker honors the roles of former pastors Garrison Frazier and Ulysses Houston. It highlights their part in the important meeting with General Sherman in January 1865.

The marker reads: "First Bryan Baptist Church - Constituted 1788 First Bryan dates its founding to the constitution of the Ethiopian Church of Jesus Christ under Rev. Andrew Bryan in January 1788, making it one of the nation's oldest African-American Baptist churches. Known later as First Colored Church, First African, and Third African, the congregation took the name First Bryan Baptist in 1867. Construction of the first church building began here in 1793 on property purchased by Reverend Bryan. The current building was completed in 1874.

First Bryan ministers including Garrison Frazier and Ulysses Houston attended the nearby meeting of local black leaders with Gen. Sherman in January 1865 that resulted in Special Field Orders No. 15, promising confiscated coastal land to freed slaves. In the twentieth century, Civil Rights leader W. W. Law taught Sunday School at First Bryan for many years. Erected by the Georgia Historical Society and First Bryan Baptist Church."