Jefferson Cotton Gin in "Skirmish at Sartoris" (Location)

Cotton gins play a crucial role in the economy of Yoknapatawpha. A "gin" is machine that separates the valuable fibers of the cotton plant from its seeds; since it was only used once each year, when the cotton was picked, it was typically housed in a simple structure. In this story, the "cotton gin on the edge of town" is where the freedmen gathered, "under guard," ahead of the election (69).