Agreeable to his own appointment, on the evening he was committed to
prison, with permission of the jailer, I visited NAT on Tuesday the 1st
November, when, without being questioned at all, he commenced his
narrative in the following words:--
Sir,--You have asked me to give a history of the motives which induced
me to undertake the late insurrection, as you call it--To do so I must
go back to the days of my infancy, and even before I was born. I was
thirty-one years of age the 2d of October last, and born the property of
Benj. Turner, of this county. In my childhood a circumstance occurred
which made an indelible impression on my mind, and laid the ground work
of that enthusiasm, which has terminated so fatally to many, both white
and black, and for which I am about to atone at the gallows. It is here
necessary to relate this circumstance--trifling as it may seem, it was
the commencement of that belief which has grown with time, and even now,
sir, in this dungeon, helpless and forsaken as I am, I cannot divest
myself of. Being at play with other children, when three or four years
old, I was telling them something, which my mother overhearing, said it
had happened before I was born--I stuck to my story, however, and
related somethings which went, in her opinion, to confirm it--others
being called on were greatly astonished, knowing that these things had
happened, and caused them to say in my hearing, I surely would be a
prophet, as the Lord had shewn me things that had happened before my
birth. And my father and mother strengthened me in this my first
impression, saying in my presence, I was intended for some great
purpose, which they had always thought from certain marks on my head and
breast--[a parcel of excrescences which I believe are not at all
uncommon, particularly among negroes, as I have seen several with the
same. In this case he has either cut them off or they have nearly
disappeared]--My grand mother, who was very religious, and to whom I was
much attached--my master, who belonged to the church, and other
religious persons who visited the house, and whom I often saw at
prayers, noticing the singularity of my manners, I suppose, and my
uncommon intelligence for a child, remarked I had too much sense to be
raised, and if I was, I would never be of any service to any one as a
slave--To a mind like mine, restless, inquisitive and observant of every
thing that was passing, it is easy to suppose that religion was the
subject to which it would be directed, and although this subject
principally occupied my thoughts--there was nothing that I saw or heard
of to which my attention was not directed--The manner in which I learned
to read and write, not only had great influence on my own mind, as I
acquired it with the most perfect ease, so much so, that I have no
recollection whatever of learning the alphabet--but to the astonishment
of the family, one day, when a book was shewn me to keep me from crying,
I began spelling the names of different objects--this was a source of
wonder to all in the neighborhood, particularly the blacks--and this
learning was constantly improved at all opportunities--when I got large
enough to go to work, while employed, I was reflecting on many things
that would present themselves to my imagination, and whenever an
opportunity occurred of looking at a book, when the school children were
getting their lessons, I would find many things that the fertility of my
own imagination had depicted to me before; all my time, not devoted to
my master's service, was spent either in prayer, or in making
experiments in casting different things in moulds made of earth, in
attempting to make paper, gunpowder, and many other experiments, that
although I could not perfect, yet convinced me of its practicability if
I had the means.[Footnote: When questioned as to the manner of
manufacturing those different articles, he was found well informed on
the subject.] I was not addicted to stealing in my youth, nor have ever
been--Yet such was the confidence of the negroes in the neighborhood,
even at this early period of my life, in my superior judgment, that they
would often carry me with them when they were going on any roguery, to
plan for them. Growing up among them, with this confidence in my
superior judgment, and when this, in their opinions, was perfected by
Divine inspiration, from the circumstances already alluded to in my
infancy, and which belief was ever afterwards zealously inculcated by
the austerity of my life and manners, which became the subject of remark
by white and black.--Having soon discovered to be great, I must appear
so, and therefore studiously avoided mixing in society, and wrapped
myself in mystery, devoting my time to fasting and prayer--By this time,
having arrived to man's estate, and hearing the scriptures commented on
at meetings, I was struck with that particular passage which says: "Seek
ye the kingdom of Heaven and all things shall be added unto you." I
reflected much on this passage, and prayed daily for light on this
subject--As I was praying one day at my plough, the spirit spoke to me,
saying, "Seek ye the kingdom of Heaven and all things shall be added
unto you." _Question_--what do you mean by the Spirit. _Ans._ The Spirit
that spoke to the prophets in former days--and I was greatly astonished,
and for two years prayed continually, whenever my duty would permit--and
then again I had the same revelation, which fully confirmed me in the
impression that I was ordained for some great purpose in the hands of
the Almighty. Several years rolled round, in which many events occurred
to strengthen me in this my belief. At this time I reverted in my mind
to the remarks made of me in my childhood, and the things that had been
shewn me--and as it had been said of me in my childhood by those by whom
I had been taught to pray, both white and black, and in whom I had the
greatest confidence, that I had too much sense to be raised, and if I
was, I would never be of any use to any one as a slave. Now finding I
had arrived to man's estate, and was a slave, and these revelations
being made known to me, I began to direct my attention to this great
object, to fulfil the purpose for which, by this time, I felt assured I
was intended. Knowing the influence I had obtained over the minds of my
fellow servants, (not by the means of conjuring and such like
tricks--for to them I always spoke of such things with contempt) but by
the communion of the Spirit whose revelations I often communicated to
them, and they believed and said my wisdom came from God. I now began to
prepare them for my purpose, by telling them something was about to
happen that would terminate in fulfilling the great promise that had
been made to me--About this time I was placed under an overseer, from
whom I ran away--and after remaining in the woods thirty days, I
returned, to the astonishment of the negroes on the plantation, who
thought I had made my escape to some other part of the country, as my
father had done before. But the reason of my return was, that the Spirit
appeared to me and said I had my wishes directed to the things of this
world, and not to the kingdom of Heaven, and that I should return to the
service of my earthly master--"For he who knoweth his Master's will, and
doeth it not, shall be beaten with many stripes, and thus have I
chastened you." And the negroes found fault, and murmurred against me,
saying that if they had my sense they would not serve any master in the
world. And about this time I had a vision--and I saw white spirits and
black spirits engaged in battle, and the sun was darkened--the thunder
rolled in the Heavens, and blood flowed in streams--and I heard a voice
saying, "Such is your luck, such you are called to see, and let it come
rough or smooth, you must surely bare it." I now withdrew myself as much
as my situation would permit, from the intercourse of my fellow
servants, for the avowed purpose of serving the Spirit more fully--and
it appeared to me, and reminded me of the things it had already shown
me, and that it would then reveal to me the knowledge of the elements,
the revolution of the planets, the operation of tides, and changes of
the seasons. After this revelation in the year 1825, and the knowledge
of the elements being made known to me, I sought more than ever to
obtain true holiness before the great day of judgment should appear, and
then I began to receive the true knowledge of faith. And from the first
steps of righteousness until the last, was I made perfect; and the Holy
Ghost was with me, and said, "Behold me as I stand in the Heavens"--and
I looked and saw the forms of men in different attitudes--and there were
lights in the sky to which the children of darkness gave other names
than what they really were--for they were the lights of the Saviour's
hands, stretched forth from east to west, even as they were extended on
the cross on Calvary for the redemption of sinners. And I wondered
greatly at these miracles, and prayed to be informed of a certainty of
the meaning thereof--and shortly afterwards, while laboring in the
field, I discovered drops of blood on the corn as though it were dew
from heaven--and I communicated it to many, both white and black, in the
neighborhood--and I then found on the leaves in the woods hieroglyphic
characters, and numbers, with the forms of men in different attitudes,
portrayed in blood, and representing the figures I had seen before in
the heavens. And now the Holy Ghost had revealed itself to me, and made
plain the miracles it had shown me--For as the blood of Christ had been
shed on this earth, and had ascended to heaven for the salvation of
sinners, and was now returning to earth again in the form of dew--and as
the leaves on the trees bore the impression of the figures I had seen in
the heavens, it was plain to me that the Saviour was about to lay down
the yoke he had borne for the sins of men, and the great day of judgment
was at hand. About this time I told these things to a white man,
(Etheldred T. Brantley) on whom it had a wonderful effect--and he ceased
from his wickedness, and was attacked immediately with a cutaneous
eruption, and blood ozed from the pores of his skin, and after praying
and fasting nine days, he was healed, and the Spirit appeared to me
again, and said, as the Saviour had been baptised so should we be
also--and when the white people would not let us be baptised by the
church, we went down into the water together, in the sight of many who
reviled us, and were baptised by the Spirit--After this I rejoiced
greatly, and gave thanks to God. And on the 12th of May, 1828, I heard a
loud noise in the heavens, and the Spirit instantly appeared to me and
said the Serpent was loosened, and Christ had laid down the yoke he had
borne for the sins of men, and that I should take it on and fight
against the Serpent, for the time was fast approaching when the first
should be last and the last should be first. _Ques._ Do you not find
yourself mistaken now? _Ans._ Was not Christ crucified. And by signs in
the heavens that it would make known to me when I should commence the
great work--and until the first sign appeared, I should conceal it from
the knowledge of men--And on the appearance of the sign, (the eclipse of
the sun last February) I should arise and prepare myself, and slay my
enemies with their own weapons. And immediately on the sign appearing in
the heavens, the seal was removed from my lips, and I communicated the
great work laid out for me to do, to four in whom I had the greatest
confidence, (Henry, Hark, Nelson, and Sam)--It was intended by us to
have begun the work of death on the 4th July last--Many were the plans
formed and rejected by us, and it affected my mind to such a degree,
that I fell sick, and the time passed without our coming to any
determination how to commence--Still forming new schemes and rejecting
them, when the sign appeared again, which determined me not to wait
longer.
Since the commencement of 1830, I had been living with Mr. Joseph
Travis, who was to me a kind master, and placed the greatest confidence
in me; in fact, I had no cause to complain of his treatment to me. On
Saturday evening, the 20th of August, it was agreed between Henry, Hark
and myself, to prepare a dinner the next day for the men we expected,
and then to concert a plan, as we had not yet determined on any. Hark,
on the following morning, brought a pig, and Henry brandy, and being
joined by Sam, Nelson, Will and Jack, they prepared in the woods a
dinner, where, about three o'clock, I joined them.
_Q._ Why were you so backward in joining them.
_A._ The same reason that had caused me not to mix with them for years
before.
I saluted them on coming up, and asked Will how came he there, he
answered, his life was worth no more than others, and his liberty as
dear to him. I asked him if he thought to obtain it? He said he would,
or loose his life. This was enough to put him in full confidence. Jack,
I knew, was only a tool in the hands of Hark, it was quickly agreed we
should commence at home (Mr. J. Travis') on that night, and until we had
armed and equipped ourselves, and gathered sufficient force, neither age
nor sex was to be spared, (which was invariably adhered to.) We remained
at the feast, until about two hours in the night, when we went to the
house and found Austin; they all went to the cider press and drank,
except myself. On returning to the house, Hark went to the door with an
axe, for the purpose of breaking it open, as we knew we were strong
enough to murder the family, if they were awaked by the noise; but
reflecting that it might create an alarm in the neighborhood, we
determined to enter the house secretly, and murder them whilst sleeping.
Hark got a ladder and set it against the chimney, on which I ascended,
and hoisting a window, entered and came down stairs, unbarred the door,
and removed the guns from their places. It was then observed that I must
spill the first blood. On which, armed with a hatchet, and accompanied
by Will, I entered my master's chamber, it being dark, I could not give
a death blow, the hatchet glanced from his head, he sprang from the bed
and called his wife, it was his last word, Will laid him dead, with a
blow of his axe, and Mrs. Travis shared the same fate, as she lay in
bed. The murder of this family, five in number, was the work of a
moment, not one of them awoke; there was a little infant sleeping in a
cradle, that was forgotten, until we had left the house and gone some
distance, when Henry and Will returned and killed it; we got here, four
guns that would shoot, and several old muskets, with a pound or two of
powder. We remained some time at the barn, where we paraded; I formed
them in a line as soldiers, and after carrying them through all the
manoeuvres I was master of, marched them off to Mr. Salathul Francis',
about six hundred yards distant. Sam and Will went to the door and
knocked. Mr. Francis asked who was there, Sam replied it was him, and he
had a letter for him, on which he got up and came to the door; they
immediately seized him, and dragging him out a little from the door, he
was dispatched by repeated blows on the head; there was no other white
person in the family. We started from there for Mrs. Reese's,
maintaining the most perfect silence on our march, where finding the
door unlocked, we entered, and murdered Mrs. Reese in her bed, while
sleeping; her son awoke, but it was only to sleep the sleep of death, he
had only time to say who is that, and he was no more. From Mrs. Reese's
we went to Mrs. Turner's, a mile distant, which we reached about
sunrise, on Monday morning. Henry, Austin, and Sam, went to the still,
where, finding Mr. Peebles, Austin shot him, and the rest of us went to
the house; as we approached, the family discovered us, and shut the
door. Vain hope! Will, with one stroke of his axe, opened it, and we
entered and found Mrs. Turner and Mrs. Newsome in the middle of a room,
almost frightened to death. Will immediately killed Mrs. Turner, with
one blow of his axe. I took Mrs. Newsome by the hand, and with the
sword I had when I was apprehended, I struck her several blows over the
head, but not being able to kill her, as the sword was dull. Will
turning around and discovering it, despatched her also. A general
destruction of property and search for money and ammunition, always
succeeded the murders. By this time my company amounted to fifteen, and
nine men mounted, who started for Mrs. Whitehead's, (the other six were
to go through a by way to Mr. Bryant's, and rejoin us at Mrs.
Whitehead's,) as we approached the house we discovered Mr. Richard
Whitehead standing in the cotton patch, near the lane fence; we called
him over into the lane, and Will, the executioner, was near at hand,
with his fatal axe, to send him to an untimely grave. As we pushed on to
the house, I discovered some one run round the garden, and thinking it
was some of the white family, I pursued them, but finding it was a
servant girl belonging to the house, I returned to commence the work of
death, but they whom I left, had not been idle; all the family were
already murdered, but Mrs. Whitehead and her daughter Margaret. As I
came round to the door I saw Will pulling Mrs. Whitehead out of the
house, and at the step he nearly severed her head from her body, with
his broad axe. Miss Margaret, when I discovered her, had concealed
herself in the corner, formed by the projection of the cellar cap from
the house; on my approach she fled, but was soon overtaken, and after
repeated blows with a sword, I killed her by a blow on the head, with a
fence rail. By this time, the six who had gone by Mr. Bryant's, rejoined
us, and informed me they had done the work of death assigned them. We
again divided, part going to Mr. Richard Porter's, and from thence to
Nathaniel Francis', the others to Mr. Howell Harris', and Mr. T. Doyles.
On my reaching Mr. Porter's, he had escaped with his family. I
understood there, that the alarm had already spread, and I immediately
returned to bring up those sent to Mr. Doyles, and Mr. Howell Harris';
the party I left going on to Mr. Francis', having told them I would join
them in that neighborhood. I met these sent to Mr. Doyles' and Mr.
Harris' returning, having met Mr. Doyle on the road and killed him; and
learning from some who joined them, that Mr. Harris was from home, I
immediately pursued the course taken by the party gone on before; but
knowing they would complete the work of death and pillage, at Mr.
Francis' before I could get there, I went to Mr. Peter Edwards',
expecting to find them there, but they had been here also. I then went
to Mr. John T. Barrow's, they had been here and murdered him. I pursued
on their track to Capt. Newit Harris', where I found the greater part
mounted, and ready to start; the men now amounting to about forty,
shouted and hurraed as I rode up, some were in the yard, loading their
guns, others drinking. They said Captain Harris and his family had
escaped, the property in the house they destroyed, robbing him of money
and other valuables. I ordered them to mount and march instantly, this
was about nine or ten o'clock, Monday morning. I proceeded to Mr. Levi
Waller's, two or three miles distant. I took my station in the rear, and
as it 'twas my object to carry terror and devastation wherever we went,
I placed fifteen or twenty of the best armed and most to be relied on,
in front, who generally approached the houses as fast as their horses
could run; this was for two purposes, to prevent their escape and strike
terror to the inhabitants--on this account I never got to the houses,
after leaving Mrs. Whitehead's, until the murders were committed, except
in one case. I sometimes got in sight in time to see the work of death
completed, viewed the mangled bodies as they lay, in silent
satisfaction, and immediately started in quest of other victims--Having
murdered Mrs. Waller and ten children, we started for Mr. William
Williams'--having killed him and two little boys that were there; while
engaged in this, Mrs. Williams fled and got some distance from the
house, but she was pursued, overtaken, and compelled to get up behind
one of the company, who brought her back, and after showing her the
mangled body of her lifeless husband, she was told to get down and lay
by his side, where she was shot dead. I then started for Mr. Jacob
Williams, where the family were murdered--Here we found a young man
named Drury, who had come on business with Mr. Williams--he was pursued,
overtaken and shot. Mrs. Vaughan was the next place we visited--and
after murdering the family here, I determined on starting for
Jerusalem--Our number amounted now to fifty or sixty, all mounted and
armed with guns, axes, swords and clubs--On reaching Mr. James W.
Parkers' gate, immediately on the road leading to Jerusalem, and about
three miles distant, it was proposed to me to call there, but I
objected, as I knew he was gone to Jerusalem, and my object was to reach
there as soon as possible; but some of the men having relations at Mr.
Parker's it was agreed that they might call and get his people. I
remained at the gate on the road, with seven or eight; the others going
across the field to the house, about half a mile off. After waiting some
time for them, I became impatient, and started to the house for them,
and on our return we were met by a party of white men, who had pursued
our bloodstained track, and who had fired on those at the gate, and
dispersed them, which I new nothing of, not having been at that time
rejoined by any of them--Immediately on discovering the whites, I
ordered my men to halt and form, as they appeared to be alarmed--The
white men, eighteen in number, approached us in about one hundred yards,
when one of them fired, (this was against the positive orders of Captain
Alexander P. Peete, who commanded, and who had directed the men to
reserve their fire until within thirty paces) And I discovered about
half of them retreating, I then ordered my men to fire and rush on them;
the few remaining stood their ground until we approached within fifty
yards, when they fired and retreated. We pursued and overtook some of
them who we thought we left dead; (they were not killed) after pursuing
them about two hundred yards, and rising a little hill, I discovered
they were met by another party, and had haulted, and were re-loading
their guns, (this was a small party from Jerusalem who knew the negroes
were in the field, and had just tied their horses to await their return
to the road, knowing that Mr. Parker and family were in Jerusalem, but
knew nothing of the party that had gone in with Captain Peete; on
hearing the firing they immediately rushed to the spot and arrived just
in time to arrest the progress of these barbarous villians, and save the
lives of their friends and fellow citizens.) Thinking that those who
retreated first, and the party who fired on us at fifty or sixty yards
distant, had all only fallen back to meet others with amunition. As I
saw them re-loading their guns, and more coming up than I saw at first,
and several of my bravest men being wounded, the others became panick
struck and squandered over the field; the white men pursued and fired
on us several times. Hark had his horse shot under him, and I caught
another for him as it was running by me; five or six of my men were
wounded, but none left on the field; finding myself defeated here I
instantly determined to go through a private way, and cross the Nottoway
river at the Cypress Bridge, three miles below Jerusalem, and attack
that place in the rear, as I expected they would look for me on the
other road, and I had a great desire to get there to procure arms and
amunition. After going a short distance in this private way, accompanied
by about twenty men, I overtook two or three who told me the others were
dispersed in every direction. After trying in vain to collect a
sufficient force to proceed to Jerusalem, I determined to return, as I
was sure they would make back to their old neighborhood, where they
would rejoin me, make new recruits, and come down again. On my way back,
I called at Mrs. Thomas's, Mrs. Spencer's, and several other places, the
white families having fled, we found no more victims to gratify our
thirst for blood, we stopped at Majr. Ridley's quarter for the night,
and being joined by four of his men, with the recruits made since my
defeat, we mustered now about forty strong. After placing out sentinels,
I laid down to sleep, but was quickly roused by a great racket; starting
up, I found some mounted, and others in great confusion; one of the
sentinels having given the alarm that we were about to be attacked, I
ordered some to ride round and reconnoitre, and on their return the
others being more alarmed, not knowing who they were, fled in different
ways, so that I was reduced to about twenty again; with this I
determined to attempt to recruit, and proceed on to rally in the
neighborhood, I had left. Dr. Blunt's was the nearest house, which we
reached just before day; on riding up the yard, Hark fired a gun. We
expected Dr. Blunt and his family were at Maj. Ridley's, as I knew there
was a company of men there; the gun was fired to ascertain if any of the
family were at home; we were immediately fired upon and retreated,
leaving several of my men. I do not know what became of them, as I never
saw them afterwards. Pursuing our course back and coming in sight of
Captain Harris', where we had been the day before, we discovered a party
of white men at the house, on which all deserted me but two, (Jacob and
Nat,) we concealed ourselves in the woods until near night, when I sent
them in search of Henry, Sam, Nelson, and Hark, and directed them to
rally all they could, at the place we had had our dinner the Sunday
before, where they would find me, and I accordingly returned there as
soon as it was dark and remained until Wednesday evening, when
discovering white men riding around the place as though they were
looking for some one, and none of my men joining me, I concluded Jacob
and Nat had been taken, and compelled to betray me. On this I gave up
all hope for the present; and on Thursday night after having supplied
myself with provisions from Mr. Travis's, I scratched a hole under a
pile of fence rails in a field, where I concealed myself for six weeks,
never leaving my hiding place but for a few minutes in the dead of night
to get water which was very near; thinking by this time I could venture
out, I began to go about in the night and eaves drop the houses in the
neighborhood; pursuing this course for about a fortnight and gathering
little or no intelligence, afraid of speaking to any human being, and
returning every morning to my cave before the dawn of day. I know not
how long I might have led this life, if accident had not betrayed me, a
dog in the neighborhood passing by my hiding place one night while I was
out, was attracted by some meat I had in my cave, and crawled in and
stole it, and was coming out just as I returned. A few nights after, two
negroes having started to go hunting with the same dog, and passed that
way, the dog came again to the place, and having just gone out to walk
about, discovered me and barked, on which thinking myself discovered, I
spoke to them to beg concealment. On making myself known they fled from
me. Knowing then they would betray me, I immediately left my hiding
place, and was pursued almost incessantly until I was taken a fortnight
afterwards by Mr. Benjamin Phipps, in a little hole I had dug out with
my sword, for the purpose of concealment, under the top of a fallen
tree. On Mr. Phipps' discovering the place of my concealment, he cocked
his gun and aimed at me. I requested him not to shoot and I would give
up, upon which he demanded my sword. I delivered it to him, and he
brought me to prison. During the time I was pursued, I had many hair
breadth escapes, which your time will not permit you to relate. I am
here loaded with chains, and willing to suffer the fate that awaits me.
I here proceeded to make some inquiries of him, after assuring him of
the certain death that awaited him, and that concealment would only
bring destruction on the innocent as well as guilty, of his own color,
if he knew of any extensive or concerted plan. His answer was, I do not.
When I questioned him as to the insurrection in North Carolina happening
about the same time, he denied any knowledge of it; and when I looked
him in the face as though I would search his inmost thoughts, he
replied, "I see sir, you doubt my word; but can you not think the same
ideas, and strange appearances about this time in the heaven's might
prompt others, as well as myself, to this undertaking." I now had much
conversation with and asked him many questions, having forborne to do so
previously, except in the cases noted in parenthesis; but during his
statement, I had, unnoticed by him, taken notes as to some particular
circumstances, and having the advantage of his statement before me in
writing, on the evening of the third day that I had been with him, I
began a cross examination, and found his statement corroborated by every
circumstance coming within my own knowledge or the confessions of others
whom had been either killed or executed, and whom he had not seen nor
had any knowledge since 22d of August last, he expressed himself fully
satisfied as to the impracticability of his attempt. It has been said he
was ignorant and cowardly, and that his object was to murder and rob for
the purpose of obtaining money to make his escape. It is notorious, that
he was never known to have a dollar in his life; to swear an oath, or
drink a drop of spirits. As to his ignorance, he certainly never had the
advantages of education, but he can read and write, (it was taught him
by his parents,) and for natural intelligence and quickness of
apprehension, is surpassed by few men I have ever seen. As to his being
a coward, his reason as given for not resisting Mr. Phipps, shews the
decision of his character. When he saw Mr. Phipps present his gun, he
said he knew it was impossible for him to escape as the woods were full
of men; he therefore thought it was better to surrender, and trust to
fortune for his escape. He is a complete fanatic, or plays his part most
admirably. On other subjects he possesses an uncommon share of
intelligence, with a mind capable of attaining any thing; but warped and
perverted by the influence of early impressions. He is below the
ordinary stature, though strong and active, having the true negro face,
every feature of which is strongly marked. I shall not attempt to
describe the effect of his narrative, as told and commented on by
himself, in the condemned hole of the prison. The calm, deliberate
composure with which he spoke of his late deeds and intentions, the
expression of his fiend-like face when excited by enthusiasm, still
bearing the stains of the blood of helpless innocence about him; clothed
with rags and covered with chains; yet daring to raise his manacled
hands to heaven, with a spirit soaring above the attributes of man; I
looked on him and my blood curdled in my veins.
I will not shock the feelings of humanity, nor wound afresh the bosoms
of the disconsolate sufferers in this unparalleled and inhuman massacre,
by detailing the deeds of their fiend-like barbarity. There were two or
three who were in the power of these wretches, had they known it, and
who escaped in the most providential manner. There were two whom they
thought they left dead on the field at Mr. Parker's, but who were only
stunned by the blows of their guns, as they did not take time to re-load
when they charged on them. The escape of a little girl who went to
school at Mr. Waller's, and where the children were collecting for that
purpose, excited general sympathy. As their teacher had not arrived,
they were at play in the yard, and seeing the negroes approach, she ran
up on a dirt chimney, (such as are common to log houses,) and remained
there unnoticed during the massacre of the eleven that were killed at
this place. She remained on her hiding place till just before the
arrival of a party, who were in pursuit of the murderers, when she came
down and fled to a swamp, where, a mere child as she was, with the
horrors of the late scene before her, she lay concealed until the next
day, when seeing a party go up to the house, she came up, and on being
asked how she escaped, replied with the utmost simplicity, "The Lord
helped her." She was taken up behind a gentleman of the party, and
returned to the arms of her weeping mother. Miss Whitehead concealed
herself between the bed and the mat that supported it, while they
murdered her sister in the same room, without discovering her. She was
afterwards carried off, and concealed for protection by a slave of the
family, who gave evidence against several of them on their trial. Mrs.
Nathaniel Francis, while concealed in a closet heard their blows, and
the shrieks of the victims of these ruthless savages; they then entered
the closet where she was concealed, and went out without discovering
her. While in this hiding place, she heard two of her women in a quarrel
about the division of her clothes. Mr. John T. Baron, discovering them
approaching his house, told his wife to make her escape, and scorning to
fly, fell fighting on his own threshold. After firing his rifle, he
discharged his gun at them, and then broke it over the villain who first
approached him, but he was overpowered, and slain. His bravery, however,
saved from the hands of these monsters, his lovely and amiable wife, who
will long lament a husband so deserving of her love. As directed by him,
she attempted to escape through the garden, when she was caught and held
by one of her servant girls, but another coming to her rescue, she fled
to the woods, and concealed herself. Few indeed, were those who escaped
their work of death. But fortunate for society, the hand of retributive
justice has overtaken them; and not one that was known to be concerned
has escaped.
The Commonwealth, }
vs. } Charged with making insurrection,
Nat Turner. } and plotting to take away the lives of
divers free white persons, &c.
on the 22d of August, 1831.
The court composed of----, having met for the trial of Nat Turner, the
prisoner was brought in and arraigned, and upon his arraignment pleaded
_Not guilty_, saying to his counsel, that he did not feel so.
On the part of the Commonwealth, Levi Waller was introduced, who being
sworn, deposed as follows: (_agreeably to Nat's own Confession_.) Col.
Trezvant[Footnote: The committing Magistrate.] was then introduced, who
being sworn, numerated Nat's Confession to him, as follows: (_his
Confession as given to Mr. Gray_.) The prisoner introduced no evidence,
and the case was submitted without argument to the court, who having
found him guilty, Jeremiah Cobb, Esq. Chairman, pronounced the sentence
of the court, in the following words: "Nat Turner! Stand up. Have you
any thing to say why sentence of death should not be pronounced against
you?"
_Ans._ I have not. I have made a full confession to Mr. Gray, and I have
nothing more to say.
Attend then to the sentence of the Court. You have been arraigned and
tried before this court, and convicted of one of the highest crimes in
our criminal code. You have been convicted of plotting in cold blood,
the indiscriminate destruction of men, of helpless women, and of infant
children. The evidence before us leaves not a shadow of doubt, but that
your hands were often imbrued in the blood of the innocent; and your own
confession tells us that they were stained with the blood of a master;
in your own language, "too indulgent." Could I stop here, your crime
would be sufficiently aggravated. But the original contriver of a plan,
deep and deadly, one that never can be effected, you managed so far to
put it into execution, as to deprive us of many of our most valuable
citizens; and this was done when they were asleep, and defenceless;
under circumstances shocking to humanity. And while upon this part of
the subject, I cannot but call your attention to the poor misguided
wretches who have gone before you. They are not few in number--they were
your bosom associates; and the blood of all cries aloud, and calls upon
you, as the author of their misfortune. Yes! You forced them unprepared,
from Time to Eternity. Borne down by this load of guilt, your only
justification is, that you were led away by fanaticism. If this be true,
from my soul I pity you; and while you have my sympathies, I am,
nevertheless called upon to pass the sentence of the court. The time
between this and your execution, will necessarily be very short; and
your only hope must be in another world. The judgment of the court is,
that you be taken hence to the jail from whence you came, thence to the
place of execution, and on Friday next, between the hours of 10 A.M. and
2 P.M. be hung by the neck until you are dead! dead! dead! and may the
Lord have mercy upon your soul.
_A list of persons murdered in the Insurrection, on the 21st and 22d of
August, 1831._
Joseph Travers and wife and three children, Mrs. Elizabeth Turner,
Hartwell Prebles, Sarah Newsome, Mrs. P. Reese and son William, Trajan
Doyle, Henry Bryant and wife and child, and wife's mother, Mrs.
Catharine Whitehead, son Richard and four daughters and grand-child,
Salathiel Francis, Nathaniel Francis' overseer and two children, John T.
Barrow, George Vaughan, Mrs. Levi Waller and ten children, William
Williams, wife and two boys, Mrs. Caswell Worrell and child, Mrs.
Rebecca Vaughan, Ann Eliza Vaughan, and son Arthur, Mrs. John K.
Williams and child, Mrs. Jacob Williams and three children, and Edwin
Drury--amounting to fifty-five.
_A List of Negroes brought before the Court of Southampton, with their
owners' names, and sentence._
Daniel, Richard Porter, Convicted.
Moses, J.T. Barrow, Do.
Tom, Caty Whitehead, Discharged.
Jack and Andrew, Caty Whitehead, Con. and transported.
Jacob, Geo. H. Charlton, Disch'd without trial.
Isaac, Ditto, Convi. and transported.
Jack, Everett Bryant, Discharged.
Nathan, Benj. Blunt's estate, Convicted.
Nathan, Tom, and
Davy, (boys,) Nathaniel Francis, Convicted and transported.
Davy, Elizabeth Turner, Convicted.
Curtis, Thomas Ridley, Do.
Stephen, Do. Do.
Hardy and Isham, Benjamin Edwards, Convicted and transp'd.
Sam, Nathaniel Francis, Convicted.
Hark, Joseph Travis' estate. Do.
Moses, (a boy,) Do. Do. and transported
Davy, Levi Waller, Convicted.
Nelson, Jacob Williams, Do.
Nat, Edm'd Turner's estate, Do.
Jack, Wm. Reese's estate, Do.
Dred, Nathaniel Francis, Do.
Arnold, Artist, (free,) Discharged.
Sam, J.W. Parker, Acquitted.
Ferry and Archer, J.W. Parker, Disch'd without trial.
Jim, William Vaughan, Acquitted.
Bob, Temperance Parker, Do.
Davy, Joseph Parker,
Daniel, Solomon D. Parker, Disch'd without trial.
Thomas Haithcock, (free,) Sent on for further trial.
Joe, John C. Turner, Convicted.
Lucy, John T. Barrow, Do.
Matt, Thomas Ridley, Acquitted.
Jim, Richard Porter, Do.
Exum Artes, (free,) Sent on for further trial.
Joe, Richard P. Briggs, Disch'd without trial.
Bury Newsome, (free,) Sent on for further trial.
Stephen James Bell, Acquitted.
Jim and Isaac, Samuel Champion, Convicted and trans'd.
Preston, Hannah Williamson, Acquitted.
Frank, Solomon D. Parker, Convi'd and transp'd.
Jack and Shadrach, Nathaniel Simmons, Acquitted.
Nelson, Benj. Blunt's estate, Do.
Sam, Peter Edwards, Convicted.
Archer, Arthur G. Reese, Acquitted.
Isham Turner, (free,) Sent on for further trial.
Nat Turner, Putnam Moore, dec'd, Convicted.