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Ep 3 - The Confessions of Nat Turner · Confessions of Nat Turner, Insurrectionist

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Chapter two confession, agreeable to his own appointment. On the evening he was
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committed to prison with permission of the jailer. I visited nat on Tuesday,
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the first November, when, without being questioned at all, he commenced his
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narrative in the following words. Sir, you have asked me to give a
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history of the motives which induced me to undertake the late insurrection, as you
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call it. To do so, I must go back to the days of
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my infancy, and even before I was born. I was thirty one years
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of age the second of October last and born the property of Benjamin Turner of
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this county. In my childhood a circumstance occurred which made an indelible impression on
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my mind and laid the groundwork of that enthusiasm which has terminated so fatally to
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many, both white and black, and for which I am about to atone
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at the gallows. It is here necessary to relate this circumstance. Trifling as
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it may seem, it was the commencement of that belief which has grown with
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time, and even now, Sir, in this dungeon, helpless and forsaken
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as I am, I cannot divest myself of being at play with other children
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when three or four years old, I was telling them something which my mother,
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overhearing, said it happened before I was born. I stuck to my
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story, however, and related some themes which went, in her opinion,
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to confirm it. Others being called on, were greatly astonished, knowing that
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these things had happened, and caused them to say, in my hearing,
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I surely would be a prophet, as the Lord has shown me things that
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had happened before my birth. And my father and mother strengthened me in this
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my first impression, saying in my presence, I was intended for some great
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purpose, which they had always thought from certain marks on my head and breast
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a parcel of excrescence, which I believe are not at all in common,
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particularly among Negroes, as I have seen several with the same. In this
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case, he has either cut them off or they have nearly disappeared. My
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grandmother, who was very religious and to whom I was much attached, my
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master, who belonged to the church, and other religious persons who visited the
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house, and whom I often saw at prayers. Noticing the singularity of my
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manners, I suppose, and my uncommon intelligence for a child marked I had
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too much sense to be raised, as if I was, I would never
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be of any service to anyone. As a slave to a mind like mine,
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restless, inquisitive, and observant of everything that was passing, it is
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easy to suppose that religion was the subject to which it would be directed.
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And although this subject principally occupied my thoughts, there was nothing that I saw
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or heard of to which my attention was not directed. The manner in which
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I learned to read and write not only had great influence on my own mind,
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as I acquired it with the most perfect ease, so much so that
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I have no recollection whatever of learning the alphabet. But to the astonishment of
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the family, one day, when a book was shown me, to keep
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me from crying, I began spelling the names of different objects. This was
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a source of wonder to all in the neighborhood, particularly the blacks, and
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this learning was constantly improved at all opportunities when I got large enough to go
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to work. While employed, I was reflecting on many things that would present
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themselves to my imagination, and whenever an opportunity occurred, of looking at a
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book the school children were getting their lessons, I would find many things that
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the fertility of my own imagination had depicted to me before. All my time
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not devoted to my master's service, was spent either in prayer or in making
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experiments, in casting different things in molds made of earth, in attempting to
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make paper, gunpowder, and many other experiments that, although I could not
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perfect, yet convinced me of its practicability if I had the means footnote,
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when questioned as to the manner of manufacturing those different articles, he was found
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well informed on the subject. I was not addicted to stealing in my youth,
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nor have ever been yet. Such was the confidence of the negroes in
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the neighborhood, even at this early period in my life, in my superior
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judgment, that they would often carry me with them when they were going on
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any roguery to plan for them, growing up among them with this confidence in
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my superior judgment, and when this in their opinions, was perfected by divine
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inspiration from the circumstances already alluded to in my infancy, and which belief was
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afterwards zealously inculcated by the austerity of my life manners, which became the subject
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of remark by white and black. Having soon discovered to be great, I
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must appear so, and therefore studiously avoided mixing in society and wrapped myself in
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mystery, devoting my time to fasting and prayer. By this time, having
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arrived to Man's estate, and hearing the scriptures commented on at meetings, I
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was struck with that particular passage which says, seek ye the Kingdom of heaven,
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and all things shall be added unto you. I reflected much on this
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passage and prayed daily for light on the subject. As I was praying,
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one day at my plow, the Spirit spoke to me, saying, seek
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ye the kingdom of heaven, and all things shall be added unto you.
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Question, what do you mean by the spirit? Answer the spirit that spoke
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to the prophet in former days. And I was greatly astonished, and for
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two years prayed continually whenever my duty would permit. And then again I had
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the same revelation, which fully confirmed me in the impression that I was ordained
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for some great purpose in the hands of the Almighty. Several years rolled around,
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in which many events occurred, to strengthen me in this my belief.
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At this time I reverted in my mind to the remarks made of me in
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my childhood, and the things that had been shown me, and as it
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had been said of me in my childhood by those by whom I had been
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taught to pray, both white and black, and in whom I had the
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greatest confidence, that I had too much sense to be raised, and if
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I was, I would never be of use to anyone as a slave.
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Now, finding I had arrived to man's estate and I was a slave,
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and these revelations being made known to me, I began to direct my attention
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to this great object, to fulfill the purpose for which by this time I
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felt assured I was intended. Knowing the influence I had obtained over the minds
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of my fellow servants, not by the means of conjuring and such like tricks,
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for to them I always spoke of such things with contempt, but by
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the communion of the Spirit, whose revelations I often communicated to them, and
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they believed and said my wisdom came from God. I now began to prepare
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them for my purpose by telling them something was about to happen that would terminate
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in fulfilling the great promise that had been made to me. About this time
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I was placed under an overseer, from whom I ran away, And after
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remaining in the woods thirty days, I returned to the astonishment of the negroes
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on the plantation, who thought I had made my escape to some other part
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of the country, as my father had done before. But the reason of
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my return was that the spirit appeared to me and said I had my wishes
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directed to the things of this world and not to the kingdom of heaven,
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and that I should return to the service of my earthly master. For he
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who knoweth his Master's will and doeth it not shall be beaten with many stripes.
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And thus I have chastened you. And the negroes found fault and murmured
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against me, saying that if they had my sense, they would not serve
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any master in the world. And about that time I had a vision.
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I saw white spirits and black spirits engaged in battle, and the sun was
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darkened, the thunder rolled in the heavens, and the blood flowed in the
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streams, and I heard a voice saying, such is your luck, such
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you are called to see, and let it come rough or smooth, you
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must surely bear it. I now withdrew myself as much as my situation would
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permit, from the intercourse of my fellow servants, for the avowed purpose of
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serving the Spirit more fully. And it appeared to me and reminded me of
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the things it had already shown me, and that it would then reveal to
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me the knowledge of the elements, the revolution of the planets, the operation
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of tides, and changes of the seasons. After this revelation in the year
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eighteen twenty five, and the knowledge of the elements being made known to me,
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I sought more than ever to obtain true holiness before the great day of
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judgment should appear. And then I began to receive the true knowledge of faith,
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and from the first steps of righteousness until the last I was made perfect.
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And the Holy Ghost was with me and said, behold me as I
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stand in the heavens. And I looked and saw the forms of men in
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different attitudes. And there were the lights in the sky to which the children
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of darkness gave other names than what they really were, for they were the
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lights of the Saviour's hands stretched forth from east to west, even as they
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were extended on the cross on Calvary for the redemption of sinners. And I
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wondered greatly at these miracles, and prayed to be informed of a certainty of
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the meaning thereof. And shortly afterwards, while laboring in the field, I
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discovered drops of blood on the corn, as though it were due from heaven,
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and I communicated it to many, both white and black, in the
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neighborhood. And I then found on the leaves in the woods hieroglyphic characters and
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numbers with the forms of men in different attitudes, portrayed in blood, and
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representing the figures I had seen before in the heavens. And now the Holy
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Ghost had revealed itself to me and made plain the miracles it had shown me.
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For as the blood of Christ had been shed on this earth and had
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ascended to Heaven for the salvation of sinners, and was now returning to the
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earth again in the form of dew, and as the leaves on the earth
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bore the impressions of the figures I had seen in the heavens, it was
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plain to me that the Savior was about to lay down the yoke he had
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borne for the sins of men, and the great day of judgment was at
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hand. About this time I told these things to a white man, ethel
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Red T. Bradley, on whom it had a wonderful effect, and he
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ceased from his wickedness, and was attacked immediately with a cutaneous eruption and blood
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oozed from the pores of his skin. And after praying and fasting nine days,
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he was healed. And the Spirit appeared to me again and said,
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as the Savior had been baptized, so should we be also. And when
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the white people would not let us be baptized by the Church, we went
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down into the water together in the sight of many who reviled us, and
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were baptized by the Spirit. After this I rejoiced greatly and gave thanks to
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God. And on the twelfth of May eighteen twenty eight, I heard a
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loud noise in the heavens, and the Spirit instantly appeared to me and said,
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the serpent was loosened, and Christ had laid down the yoke he had
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borne for the sins of men, and that I should take it on and
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fight against the serpent, for the time was fast approaching when the first should
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be last and the last should be first question, do you not find yourself
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mistaken? Now? Answer was not Christ crucified, and by signs in the
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heavens, that it would make known to me when I should commence the great
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work, and until the first sign appeared, I should con yel it from
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the knowledge of men. And on the appearance of the sign the eclipse of
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the sun last February, I should arise and prepare myself and slay my enemies
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with their own weapons. And immediately on the sign appearing in the heavens,
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the seal was removed from my lips, and I communicated the great work laid
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out for me to do to four in whom I had the greatest confidence,
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Henry hark Nelson and Sam It was intended by us to have begun the work
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of death on the fourth July. Last Many were the plans formed and rejected
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by us, and it affected my mind to such a degree that I fell
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sick, and the time passed without our coming to any determination how to commence,
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still forming new schemes and rejecting them. When the sign appeared again,
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which determined me not to wait longer. Since the commencement of eighteen thirty I
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had been living with mister Joseph Travis, who was to me a kind master
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and placed the greatest confidence in me. In fact, I had no cause
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to complain of his treatment to me. On Saturday evening, the twentieth of
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August, it was agreed between Henry Hark and myself to prepare at dinner the
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next day for the men we expected, and then to concert a plan,
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as we had not yet determined on any park. On the following morning,
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brought a pig and Henry brandy, and being joined by Sam Nelson, Will
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and Jack. They prepared in the woods at dinner, where about three o'clock
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I joined them, question why were you so backward in joining them? Answer
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the same reason that had caused me not to mix with them for years before.
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I saluted them on coming up and asked Will how came he there?
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He answered, his life was worth no more than others, and his liberty
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is dear to him. I asked him if he thought to obtain it.
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He said he would or lose his life. This was enough to put him
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in full confidence. Jack, I knew, was only a tool in the
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hands of Hark. It was quickly agreed we should commence at home mister J.
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Travis's on that night, and until we had armed and equipped ourselves and
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gathered sufficient force, neither age nor sex was to be spared, which was
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invariably adhered to. We remained at the feast until about two hours in the
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night, when we went to the house and found austin. They all went
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to the cider press and drank, except myself. On returning to the house,
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Hark went to the door with an axe for the purpose of breaking it
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open. As we knew we were strong enough to murder the family if they
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were awake by the noise, but reflecting that it might create an alarm in
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the neighborhood, we determined to enter the house secretly and murder them while sleeping.
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Hark got a ladder and set it against the chimney, which I ascended,
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and, hoisting a window, entered and came downstairs, unbarred the door,
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and removed the guns from their places. It was then observed that I
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must spill the first blood, on which armed with a hatchet and accompanied by
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will, I entered my master's chamber. It being dark, I could not
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give a death blow. The hatchet glanced from his head. He sprang from
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the bed and called his wife. It was his last word. Will laid
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him dead with a blow of his axe, and Missus Travis shared the same
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fate as she lay in bed. The murder of this family, five in
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number, was the work of a moment. Not one of them awoke.
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There was a little infant sleeping in a cradle that was forgotten until we had
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left the house and gone some distance, when Henry and Will returned and killed
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it. We got here four guns that shoot, and several old muskets with
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a pound or two of powder. We remained some time at the barn where
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we paraded. I formed them in a line as soldiers, and after carrying
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them through all the maneuvers I was master of, marched them off to mister
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Southell Francis's, about six hundred yards distance. Sam and Will went to the
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door and knocked. Mister Francis asked who was there. Sam replied that it
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was him, and he had a letter for him, on which he got
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up and came to the door. They immediately seized him, and dragging him
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out a little from the door, he was dispatched by repeated blows on the
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head. There was no other white person in the family. We started from
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there to Missus Rees's, maintaining the most perfect silence on our march, where,
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finding the door unlocked, we entered and murdered Missus Reese in her bed
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while sleeping. Her son awoke, but it was only to sleep, the
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sleep of death. He had only time to say, who is that?
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And he was no more. From Missus Rees's, we went to Missus Turner's,
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a mile distant from which we reached about sunrise on Monday morning. Henry,
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Austen and Sam went to the still where, finding mister Peebles, Austin
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shot him and the rest of us went to the house. As we approached,
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the family discovered us then shut the door vain hope. Will, with
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one stroke of his axe, opened it and we entered and found Missus Turner
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and Missus Newsom in the middle of a room, almost frightened to death.
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Will immediately killed Missus Turner with one blow of his axe. I took Missus
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Newsom by the hand, and with the sword I had when I was apprehended,
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I struck her several blows over the head, but not being able to
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kill her as the sword was dull. Will turning around and discovering it,
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despatched her. Also. A general destruction of property and search for money and
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ammunition always succeeded the murders. By this time my company amounted to fifteen and
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nine men mounted, who started for Missus Whitehead's. The other six were to
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go through a byway to Missus Bryant's and rejoin us at Missus Whitehead's. As
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we approached the house, we discovered mister Richard Whitehead standing in the cotton patch
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near the lane fence. We called him over into the lane, and Will,
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the executioner, was near at hand with fatal axe to send him to
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an untimely grave. As we pushed onto the house, I discovered someone run
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round the guard, and, thinking it was someone of the white family,
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I pursued them, but finding it was a servant girl belonging to the house,
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I returned to commence the work of death. But they whom I left
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had not been idle. All the family were already murdered, but Missus Whitehead
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and her daughter Margaret. As I came round to the door, I saw
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Will pulling Missus Whitehead out of the house, and at the step he nearly
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severed her head from her body. With his broad axe. Miss Margaret,
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when I discovered her, had concealed herself in the corner formed by the projection
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of the cellar cap from the house. On my approach, she fled,
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but was soon overtaken, and after repeated blows with a sword, I killed
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her by a blow on the head with a fence rail. By this time
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the six who had gone by mister Bryant's rejoined us and informed me they had
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done the work of death assigned them. We again divided, part going to
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mister Richard Porter's and from fence the Nathaniel Francis's, the others to mister Howell
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Harris's and mister t. Doyle's. On my reaching mister Porter's, he had
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escaped with his family. I understood there that the alarm had already spread,
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and I immediately returned to bring up those sent to mister Doyle's and mister Howell
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Harris's. The party I had left on to mister Francis's, having told them
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I would join them in that neighborhood. I met those sent to mister Doyle's
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and mister Harris's, returning having met mister Doyle on the road and killed him,
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and learning from some who joined them that mister Harris was from home.
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I immediately pursued the course taken by the party gone on before, but knowing
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they would complete the work of death and pillage at mister Francis's before I could
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get there. I went to mister Peter Edwards, expecting to find them there,
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but they had been there also. I then went to mister John T.
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Barrow's. They had been here and murdered him. I pursued on their
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track to Captain Knewett Harris's, where I found the greater part mounted and ready
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to start. The men, now amounting to about forty, shouted and hurraed
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as I rode up somewhere in the yard, loading their guns, others drinking.
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They said Captain Harris and his family had escaped the property in the house
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they destroyed, robbing him of money and other valuables. I ordered them to
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mount and march instantly. This was about nine or ten o'clock Monday morning.
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I proceeded to mister LEVI Waller's, two or three miles distant. I took
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my station in the rear, and it was my object to carry terror and
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devastation wherever we went. I placed fifteen or twenty of the best armed and
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most to be relied on in front, who generally approached the houses as fast
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as their horses could run. This was for two purposes, to prevent their
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escape and strike terror to the inhabitants. On this account, I never got
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to the houses after leaving Missus Whitehead's until the murders were committed, except in
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one case I sometimes got in sight in time to see the work of death
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completed, viewed the mangled bodies as they lay in silent satisfaction, and immediately
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started in quest of other victims. Having murdered Missus Waller and ten children,
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we started for mister William Williams's, having killed him and two little boys that
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were there. While engaged in this, Missus Williams fled and got some distance
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from the house, but she was pursued, overtaken, and compelled to get
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up behind one of the company, who brought her back, and after showing
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her the mangled body of her lifeless husband, she was told to get down
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and lay by his side, where she was shot dead. I then started
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from mister Jacob Williams, where the family were murdered. Here we found a
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young man named Drury, who had come on business with mister Williams. He
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was pursued, overtaken and shot. Missus Vaughan was the next place we visited,
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and after murdering the family here, I determined on starting for Jerusalem.
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Our number amounted now to fifty or sixty, all mounted and armed with guns,
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axes, swords and clubs. On reaching mister James W. Parker's Gate,
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immediately on the road leading to Jerusalem and about three miles distant, it
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was proposed to me to call there, but I objected, as I knew
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he was gone to Jerusalem and my object was to reach there as soon as
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possible. But some of the men having relations at mister Parker's, it was
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agreed that they might call and get his people. I remained at the gate
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on the road was seven or eight, the others going across the field to
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the house about a half a mile off. After waiting some time for them,
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I became impatient and started to the house for them, And on our
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return we were met by a party of white men who had pursued our blood
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stained track, and who had fired on those at the gate and dispersed them,
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which I knew nothing of, not having been at that time rejoined by
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any of them. Immediately on discovering the whites, I ordered my men to
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halt and form as they appeared to be alarmed. The white men, eighteen
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in number, approached us in about one hundred yards when one of them fired.
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This was against the positive orders of Captain Alexander P. Pete, who
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commanded and who had directed the men to reserve their fire until within thirty paces,
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and I discovered about half of them retreating. I then ordered my men
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to fire and rush on them. The few remaining stood their ground until we
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approached within fifty yards. When they fired and retreated. We pursued and overtook
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some of them, who we thought we left dead. They were not killed.
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After pursuing them about two hundred yards and rising a little hill, I
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discovered they were met by another party and had halted and were reloading their guns.
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This was a small party from Jerusalem who knew the Negroes were in the
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field and had just tied their horses to await their return to the road,
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knowing that mister Parker and family were in Jerusalem, but knew nothing of the
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party that had gone in with Captain Pete on hearing the firing, they immediately
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rushed to the spot and arrived just in time. I'm to arrest the progress
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of these barbarous villains and saved the lives of their friends and fellow citizens,
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thinking that those who retreated first and the party who fired on us at fifty
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or sixty yards distant, had all only fallen back to meet others with ammunition.
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As I saw them reloading their guns and more coming up than I saw
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it first, and several of my bravest men being wounded, the others became
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panic struck and squandered over the field. The white men pursued and fired on
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us several times. Park had his horse shot under him, and I caught
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another for him as it was running by me. Five or six of my
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men were wounded, but none left on the field. Finding myself defeated here,
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I instantly determined to go through a private way and crossed the Nataway River
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at the Cypress Bridge, three miles below Jerusalem, and attacked that place in
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the rear. As I expected they would look for me on the other road,
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and I had a great desire to get there to procure arms and ammunition.
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After going a short distance in this private way, accompanied by about twenty
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men, I overtook two or three, who told me the others were dispersed
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in every direction. After trying in vain to collect a sufficient force to proceed
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to Jerusalem, I determined to return, as I was sure they would make
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back to their old neighborhood, where they would rejoin me, make new recruits,
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and come down again. On my way back, I called at Missus
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Thomas's, Missus Spencer's, and several other places. The white families having fled,
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we found no more victims to gratify our thirst for blood. We stopped
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at Major Ridley's quarter for the night, and, being joined by four of
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his men. With the recruits made since my defeat, we mustered, now
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about forty strong. After placing out sentinels, I laid down to sleep,
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but was quickly roused by a great racket starting up. I found some mounted
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and others in great confusion. One of the sentinels having given the alarm that
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we were about to be attacked. I ordered some to ride round and reconnoiter,
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and on their return, the others, being more alarmed, not knowing
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who they were, fled in different ways, so that I was reduced to
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about twenty. Again. With this, I determined to attempt to recruit and
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proceed on to Raleigh. In the neighborhood I had left. Doctor Blunts was
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the nearest house, which we reached just before day. On riding up the
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yard, fired a gun. We expected Doctor Blunt and his family were at
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Major Ridley's, as I knew there was a company of men there. The
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gun was fired to ascertain if any of the family were at home. We
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were immediately fired upon and retreated, leaving several of my men. I do
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not know what became of them, as I never saw them. Afterwards.
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Pursuing our course back and coming in sight of Captain Harris's, where we had
22:18
been the day before, we discovered a party of white men at the house,
22:22
on which all deserted me but two, Jacob and Natt. We concealed
22:26
ourselves in the woods until near night, when I sent them in search of
22:30
Henry, Sam Nelson and Hark and directed them to rally all they could at
22:33
the place we had had our dinner the Sunday before, where they would find
22:36
me, and accordingly returned there as soon as it was dark, and remained
22:40
until Wednesday evening, when discovering white men riding around the place as though they
22:44
were looking for someone, and none of my men joining me. I concluded
22:47
Jacob and Nat had been taken and compelled to betray me. On this I
22:51
gave up all hope for the present, and on Thursday night, after having
22:53
supplied myself with provisions for mister Travis's, I scratched a hole under a pile
22:57
of fence rails in a field, where I concealed myself for six weeks,
23:02
never leaving my hiding place but for a few minutes in the dead of night
23:06
to get water, which was very near. Thinking by this time I could
23:08
venture out, I began to go about in the night and eavesdropped the houses
23:12
in the neighborhood, pursuing this course for about a fortnight and gathering little or
23:18
no intelligence, afraid of speaking to any human being, and returning every morning
23:22
to my cave before the dawn of day. I know not how long I
23:25
might have led this life if accident had not betrayed me. A dog in
23:29
the neighborhood, passing by my hiding place one night while I was out,
23:32
was attracted by some meat I had in my cave, and crawled in and
23:34
stole it, and was coming out just as I returned. A few nights
23:38
after, two negroes having started to go hunting with the same dog and passed
23:42
that way. The dog came again to the place, and, having just
23:45
gone out to walk about, discovered me and barked on which, thinking myself
23:49
discovered, I spoke to them to beg concealment. On making myself known,
23:53
they fled from me, Knowing then they would betray me. I immediately left
23:56
my hiding place and was pursued almost incessantly till I was taken a fortnight afterwards
24:02
by mister Benjamin Phipps in a little hole I had dug out with my sword
24:04
for the purpose of concealment under the top of a fallen tree. On mister
24:08
Phipps's discovering the place of my concealment, he cocked his gun and aimed at
24:12
me. I requested him not to shoot and I would give up, upon
24:17
which he demanded my sword. I delivered it to him, and he brought
24:19
me to prison. During the time I was pursued, I had many hair
24:22
breath escapes which your time will not permit you to relate. I am here
24:26
loaded with chains and willingly to suffer the fate that awaits me. I here
24:30
proceeded to make some inquiries of him, after assuring him of the certain death
24:34
that awaited him, and that concealment would only bring destruction of the innocent as
24:38
well as the guilty of his own color. If he knew of any extensive
24:41
or concerted plan, his answer was I do not. When I questioned him
24:45
as to the insurrection in North Carolina happening about the same time, he denied
24:49
any knowledge of it. And when I looked him in the face as though
24:52
I would search his inmost thoughts, he replied, I see, sir,
24:56
you doubt my word, But can you not think the same ideas and strange
25:00
appearances about this time in the heavens might prompt others as well as myself to
25:04
this undertaking. I now had much conversation with and asked him any questions,
25:08
having forborne to do so previously, except in the cases noted in parentheses.
25:14
But during his statement I had, unnoticed by him, taken notes as to
25:18
some particular circumstances, and, having the advantage of his statement before him in
25:22
writing on the evening of the third day that I had been with him.
25:25
I began a cross examination and found his statement corroborated by every circumstance coming within
25:30
my own knowledge or the confessions of others whom had either been killed or executed,
25:36
and whom he had not seen or had any knowledge. Since twenty second
25:38
of August last, he expressed himself fully satisfied as to the impracticability of his
25:44
attempt. It has been said he was ignorant and cowardly, and that his
25:48
object was to murder and rob for the purpose of obtaining money to make his
25:51
escape. It is notorious that he was never known to have a dollar in
25:55
his life, to swear an oath, or drink a drop of spirits.
25:57
As to his ignorance, he certainly never had the advantages of education. But
26:03
he can read and write. It was taught him by his parents, and
26:06
for natural intelligence and quickness of apprehension is surpassed by few men I have ever
26:11
seen. As to his being a coward, his reason as given for not
26:15
resisting mister Phipps, shows the decision of his character. When he saw mister
26:18
Phipps present his gun, he said he knew it was impossible for him to
26:22
escape, as the woods were full of men. He therefore thought it was
26:26
better to surrender and trust to fortune for his escape. He is a complete
26:30
fanatic, or plays his part most admirably on other subjects. He possesses an
26:33
uncommon share in intelligence, with a mind capable of attending anything, but warped
26:38
and perverted by the influence of early impressions. He is below the ordinary stature,
26:44
though strong and active, having the true Negro face, every feature of
26:48
which is strongly marked. I shall not attempt to describe the effect of his
26:52
narrative as told and commented on by himself in the condemned whole of the prison,
26:56
the calm, deliberate composure with which he spoke of his late deeds and
27:00
intentions, the expression of his fiendlike face, when excited by enthusiasm, still
27:04
bearing the stains of the blood of helpless innocence about him, clothed with rags
27:10
and covered with chains, yet daring to raise his manacled hands to heaven with
27:14
the spirit of soaring above the attributes of man. I looked on him,
27:18
and my blood curdled in my veins. I will not shock the feelings of
27:22
humanity, nor wound afresh the bosoms of the disconsolate sufferers and this unparalleled and
27:27
inhuman massacre by detailing the deeds of their fiendlike barbarity. There were two or
27:33
three who were in the power of those wretches. They had known it,
27:36
and who escaped in the most providential manner. There were two whom they thought
27:40
they left dead on the field of mister Parker's, but who were only stunned
27:44
by the blows of their guns, as they did not take time to reload
27:47
when they charged on them. The escape of a little girl who went to
27:49
school at mister Waller's and where the children were collecting for that purpose, excited
27:53
general sympathy. As their teacher had not arrived, they were at play in
27:57
the yard, and seeing the negro as approach, she ran up on a
28:00
dirt chimney, such as are common to log houses, and remained there unnoticed
28:04
during the massacre of the eleven that were killed at this place. She remained
28:08
on her hiding place till just before the arrival of a party who were in
28:12
pursuit of the murderers, when she came down and fled to a swamp where
28:15
a mere child as she was, with the horrors of the late scene before
28:19
her, she lay concealed until the next day, when seeing a party go
28:23
up to the house, she came up, and, on being asked how
28:26
she escaped, replied with the utmost simplicity. The lord helped her. She
28:30
was taken up behind a gentleman of the party and returned to the arms of
28:33
her weeping mother. Miss Whitehead concealed herself between the bed and the mat that
28:37
supported it, while they murdered her sister in the same room without discovering her.
28:42
She was afterwards carried off and concealed her protection by a slave of the
28:45
family, who gave evidence against several of them on their trial. Missus Nathaniel
28:52
Francis, while concealed in a closet, heard their blows and the shrieks of
28:55
the victims of these ruthless savages. They then entered the closet where she was
28:59
concealed and went out without discovering her. While in this hiding place, she
29:03
heard two of her women in a quarrel about the division of her clothes.
29:06
Mister John T. Baron, discovering them, approaching his house, told his
29:08
wife to make her escape, and, scorning to fly, fell fighting on
29:12
his own threshold. After firing his rifle. He discharged his gun at them
29:17
and then broke it over the villain who first approached him, but he was
29:18
overpowered and slain. His bravery, however, saved from the hands of these
29:23
monsters his lovely and amiable wife, who will always lament a husband so deserving
29:30
of her love. As directed by him, she attempted to escape through the
29:33
garden when she was caught and held by one of her servant girls, but
29:37
another coming to her rescue, she fled to the woods and concealed herself.
29:40
Few, indeed, were those who escaped their work of death. But fortunate
29:44
for society, the hand of attribute of justice has overtaken them, and not
29:48
one that was known to be concerned has escaped the commonwealth versus Nat Turner,
29:53
charged with making insurrection and plotting to take away the lives of divers, free
29:59
white persons, and et cetera. On the twenty second of August eighteen thirty
30:03
one, the court composed of having met for the trial of Nat Turner.
30:07
The prisoner was brought in and arraigned, and upon his arraignment, pleaded not
30:11
guilty, saying to his counsel that he did not feel so on the part
30:15
of the Commonwealth. Levi Waller was introduced, who, being sworn, deposed
30:19
as follows, agreeably to NAT's own confession. Colonel Trezvant footnote, the committing
30:26
magistrate, was then introduced, who, being sworn, narrated NAT's confession to
30:30
him as follows his confession as given to mister Gray. The prisoner introduced no
30:36
evidence and the case was submitted without argument to the court, who, having
30:40
found him guilty, Jeremiah Cobb, Esquire, Chairman, pronounced the sentence of
30:45
the court and the following words, Nat Turner, stand up. Have you
30:48
anything to say why sentence of death should not be pronounced against you? Answer?
30:52
I have not. I have made a full confession to mister Gray,
30:56
and I have nothing more to say. Attend then to the sentence of the
31:00
Court. You have been arraigned and tried before this court and convicted of one
31:03
of the highest crimes in our criminal code. You have been convicted of plotting
31:07
in cold blood, the indiscriminate destruction of men, of helpless women, and
31:11
of infant children. The evidence before us leaves not a shadow of doubt but
31:15
that your hands were often embrewed in the blood of the innocent and your own
31:18
confession tells us that they were stained with the blood of a master in your
31:22
own language, too indulgent. Could I stop here? Your crime would be
31:26
sufficiently aggravated. But the original contriver of a plan, deep and deadly,
31:30
one that never can be affected, you manage so far to put it into
31:34
execution as to deprive us of many of our most valuable citizens. And this
31:40
was done when they were asleep and defenseless, under circumstances shocking to humanity.
31:45
And while upon this part of the subject, I cannot but call your attention
31:48
to the poor, misguided wretches who have gone before you. They are not
31:52
few in number, They were your bosom associates. And the blood of all
31:56
cries aloud and calls upon you as the author of their misfortune. Yes,
32:00
you forced them unprepared from time to eternity, borne down by this load of
32:06
guilt. Your only justification is that you are led away by fanaticism. If
32:09
this be true, from my soul, I pity you, And while you
32:13
have my sympathies, I am nevertheless called upon to pass the sentence of the
32:17
court. The time between this and your execution will necessarily be very short,
32:22
and your only hope must be in another world. The judgment of the court
32:27
is that you be taken hence to the jail from whence you came, thence
32:30
to the place of execution, and on Friday next between the hours of ten
32:35
am and two pm, be hung by the neck until you are dead,
32:38
dead, dead, and may the Lord have mercy upon your soul. A
32:44
list of persons murdered in the insurrection on the twenty first and twenty second of
32:47
August eighteen thirty one. Joseph Travers and wife and three children, Missus Elizabeth
32:53
Turner, Hartwell Prebbles, Sarah Newsome, Missus p Reese and son, William
32:59
Trajan Doyle, Henry Bryant and wife and child and wife's mother, Missus Catherine
33:04
Whitehead, son Richard and four daughters and grandchild. Solothiel Francis Nathaniel Francis's overseer
33:10
and two children. John T. Barrow, George Vaughan, Missus Levi Waller
33:15
and ten children, William Williams, wife and two boys, Missus Caswell Worrell
33:21
and child, Missus Rebecca Vaughan, Ann Eliza von and son Arthur. Missus
33:25
John K. Williams and child, Missus Jacob Williams and three children and Edward
33:30
Drury, amounting to fifty five. A list of Negroes brought before the Court
33:36
of Southampton with their owner's names and sentence. Daniel Richard Porter convicted, Moses
33:42
J. T. Barrow convicted, Tom Katie Whitehead discharged, Jack and Andrew
33:49
Katie Whitehead convicted and transported. Jacob George H. Charlton discharged without trial,
33:55
Isaac George H. Charlton convicted and transported. Jack Everett Bryant discharged, Nathan
34:04
Benjamin Blent's estate convicted, Nathan, Tom and Davy Boys, Nathaniel Francis convicted
34:12
and transported. Davy Elizabeth Turner convicted. Curtis Thomas Ridley convicted, Stephen Thomas
34:21
Ridley convicted, Hardy and Isham Benjamin Edwards convicted and transported. Sam Nathaniel Francis
34:29
convicted, Hark Joseph Travis's Estate convicted, Moses A. Boy Joseph Travis's Estate
34:37
convicted and transported, Davy Levi Waller convicted, Nelson, Jacob Williams convicted,
34:45
Nat Edmund Turner's estate convicted, Jack William Reese's Estate convicted, Dread Nathaniel Francis
34:52
convicted Arnold artist free discharged. Sam J. W. Parker acquitted end of Chapter two