It was advertised and announced from the beginning that there would be no division of families. The slaves were brought to the race track 4 days before the auction started; allowing buyers and inspectors to take a look at them. On the first sale day, there were about 200 buyers present. Fierce rains kept many of the potential buyers away, and the auction began two hours late. During the day of the sale, Joseph Bryan was in charge of feeding the slaves, and keeping them in "good" condition. The slaves were kept in the horse barn stalls. All family members were put into the same stall. In the stalls they had nothing but the hardwood floors to sit and eat on. The slaves were given small portions of rice and beans, and sometimes cornbread, to eat over the two days. Skin color often played a role in the price a slave would sell for. In this sale it was not a factor, since all of these slaves were the color of their African ancestors. The slaves were skilled in their crafts, e.g. shoe making, cooperage, blacksmithing, carpentry. Some of the slaves had been taught to use machinery. The skilled slaves were sold for more, and were sought by the buyers during the auction. The slaves were brought to Savannah by steamboat and train, and were housed in the stables at the racecourse. They huddled together eating and sleeping on the floor. Beginning from February 26 through March 1, the slaves were inspected by prospective buyers. Anxious buyers from Virginia, North and South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, and Louisiana descended upon Savannah in hopes of getting good deals. It was known that the Butler plantations had slaves who were skilled tradesmen, e.g. shoe making, cooperage, blacksmithing, carpentry, machine operators. The buyers poked, pinched, and fondled the slaves. They also opened their mouths inspecting their teeth. Slaves were also examined for "ruptures" or defects on their bodies that might affect their productivity. Four hundred and thirty-six persons were advertised in the sale catalogue, but only four hundred and twenty-nine were sold. Those not sold were either ill or disabled. The majority of those sold were rice and cotton fieldworkers; others were skilled coopers, carpenters, shoemakers, blacksmiths, and cooks. The two-day sale netted $303,850. The highest bid for a family, a mother and her five grown children, was for $6,180. The highest price for an individual was $1,750 whereas the lowest price was $250  Mortimer Thomson, a popular journalist during the time who wrote under the pseudonym "Q. K. Philander Doesticks" memorialized the event.