Poindexter_&_Little
Poindexter & Little
American slave-trading company
Poindexter & Little was a 19th-century American slave-trading company with operations in Tennessee and Louisiana. The principals were likely Thomas B. Poindexter, John J. Poindexter, Montgomery Little, William Little, Chauncey Little, and Benjamin Little. The Littles were brothers; the Poindexters were most likely brothers but possibly cousins. At the time of the 1860 census, Thomas B. Poindexter had the highest declared net worth of any person who listed their occupation as a slave trader in New Orleans.[1] In 1861 they had a slave depot located at 48 Baronne in New Orleans.[2][3]
In January 1862 the firm placed a classified ad for their slave depot in the Southern Confederacy newspaper, published in Atlanta, which advertised that Poindexter & Little's Slave Depot was "for receiving, forwarding, and selling, for merchants, planters, and traders. Also, keeps constantly on hand a good assortment of Field Hands, Mechanics, and Servants."[4]
Two of the Little brothers died in the explosion of the steamboat Kentucky in 1861.[5] Thomas B. Poindexter died from unknown causes in Tensas Parish, Louisiana in 1861.[6] Montgomery Little joined the Confederate Army as an officer in the company led by fellow slave trader Bedford Forrest; Little was killed at the Battle of Thompson's Station in 1863.[7] John J. Poindexter died in Mississippi or Louisiana in 1870.[8]