Commemoration of the Meeting of 20 African American Ministers with General Sherman

Historical Background: On January 12th 1865 General William Sherman and Secretary of War Edwin Stanton met with twenty Black leaders of the Savannah community, mostly Baptist and Methodist ministers, to discuss the question of emancipation. The meeting marked the beginning of a new relation of equality between formerly enslaved Black leaders and Federal officials.   Just four days later, Sherman issued the famous Field Order Number 15. From Sherman’s perspective the measure served as a means of providing for the thousands of Black refugees who had been following his army since its invasion of Georgia. (New Georgia Encyclopedia)

Event: Green-Meldrim House will be open, and docents will be on hand to describe the events of December/January 1865.  Of special note is the second-floor room which served as Sherman’s private headquarters where the leaders met.  

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