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CONFESSION. Agreeable to his ownappointment, on the evening he wascommitted to prison, with permission of the jailer, I visitedNAT on Tuesday the 1st November, when, without beingquestioned at all, commenced his narrative in the followingwords:-- SIR,--You have askedme to give a history of the motiveswhich induced me to undertake the late insurrection, as youcall 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 agethe 2d of October last, and born the property of Benj. Turner,of this county. In my childhood a circumstance occurredwhich made an indelible impression on my mind, andlaid the ground work of that enthusiasm, which has terminatedso fatally to many, both white and black, and for which Iam about to atone at the gallows. It is here necessary to relatethis circumstance--trifling as it may seem, it was thecommencement of that belief which has grown with time,and even now, sir, in this dungeon, helpless and forsakenas I am, I cannot divest myself of. Being at play withother children, when three or four years old, I was tellingthem something, which my mother overhearing, said it hadhappened before I was I born--I stuck to my story, however,and related somethings which went, in her opinion, to confirmit--others being called on were greatly astonished, knowingthat these things had happened, and caused them to say inmy hearing, I surely would be a prophet, as the Lord hadshewn me things that had happened before my birth. Andmy father and mother strengthened me in this my first impression,saying in my presence, I was intended for some greatpurpose, which they had always thought from certain markson my head and breast--[a parcel of excrescences which I believeare not at all uncommon, particularly among negroes, asI have seen several with the same. In this case he has eithercut them off or they have nearly disappeared]--My grandmother, who was very religious, and to whom I was much attached Page 8--my master, who belonged to the church, and otherreligious persons who visited the house, and whom I oftensaw at prayers, noticing the singularity of my manners, I suppose,and my uncommon intelligence for a child, remarked Ihad too much sense to be raised, and if I was, I would neverbe of any service to any one as a slave--To a mind like mine,restless, inquisitive and observant of every thing that waspassing, it is easy to suppose that religion was the subject towhich it would be directed, and although this subject principallyoccupied my thoughts--there was nothing that I sawor heard of to which my attention was not directed--Themanner in which I learned to read and write, not only hadgreat influence on my own mind, as I acquired it with the mostperfect ease, so much so, that I have no recollection whatever oflearning the alphabet--but to the astonishment of the family,one day, when a book was shewn me to keep me from crying, Ibegan spelling the names of different objects--this was asource of wonder to all in the neighborhood, particularly theblacks--and this learning was constantly improved at allopportunities--when I got large enough to go to work, while employed,I was reflecting on many things that would presentthemselves to my imagination, and whenever an opportunityoccurred of looking at a book, when the school childrenwere getting their lessons, I would find many things that thefertility of my own imagination had depicted to me before; allmy time, not devoted to my master's service, was spent either inprayer, or in making experiments in casting different thingsin moulds made of earth, in attempting to make paper, gunpowder,and many other experiments, that although I couldnot perfect, yet convinced me of its practicability if I had themeans.* I was not addicted to stealing in myyouth, norhave ever been--Yet such was the confidence of the negroesin the neighborhood, even at this early period of my life, in mysuperior judgment, that they would often carry me with themwhen they were going on any roguery, to plan for them.Growing up among them, with this confidence in my superiorjudgment, and when this, in their opinions, was perfectedby Divine inspiration, from the circumstances already alludedto in my infancy, and which belief was ever afterwardszealously 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, andtherefore studiously avoided mixing in society, and wrapped *When questioned as to the manner of manufacturing those differentarticles, he was found well informed on the subject. Page 9myself in mystery, devoting my time to fasting and prayer--By this time,having arrived to man's estate, and hearing thescriptures commented on at meetings, I was struck with thatparticular passage which says : "Seek ye the kingdom of Heavenand all things shall be added unto you." I reflectedmuch on this passage, and prayed daily for light on this subject--As Iwas praying one day at my plough, the spirit spoketo me, saying "Seek ye the kingdom of Heaven and all thingsshall be added unto you."Question--what do you mean by theSpirit. Ans. The Spirit that spoke to the prophets in formerdays--and I was greatly astonished, and for two years prayedcontinually, whenever my duty would permit--and thenagain I had the same revelation, which fully confirmed me inthe impression that I was ordained for some great purposein the hands of the Almighty. Several years rolled round, inwhich many events occurred to strengthen me in this my belief.At this time I reverted in my mind to the remarks madeof me in my childhood, and the things that had been shewnme--and as it had been said of me in my childhood by thoseby whom I had been taught to pray, both white and black,and in whom I had the greatest confidence, that I had toomuch sense to be raised, and if I was, I would never be ofany use to any one as a slave. Now finding I had arrived toman's estate, and was a slave, and these revelations beingmade known to me, I began to direct my attention to thisgreat object, to fulfil the purpose for which, by this time, Ifelt assured I was intended. Knowing the influence I had obtainedover the minds of my fellow servants, (not by themeans of conjuring and such like tricks--for to them I alwaysspoke of such things with contempt) but by the communion ofthe Spirit whose revelations I often communicated to them,and they believed and said my wisdom came from God. Inow began to prepare them for my purpose, by telling themsomething was about to happen that would terminate in fulfillingthe great promise that had been made to me--About thistime I was placed under an overseer, from whom I ranaway - and after remaining in the woods thirty days, I returned, tothe astonishment of the negroes on the plantation, whothought I had made my escape to some other part of thecountry, as my father had done before. But the reason ofmy return was, that the Spirit appeared to me and said I hadmy wishes directed to the things of this world, and not to thekingdom of Heaven, and that I should return to the service ofmy earthly master--"For he who knoweth his Master's will, Page 10and doeth it not, shall be beaten with many stripes, and thus,have I chastened you." And the negroes found fault, andmurmurred against me, saying that if they had my sense theywould not serve any master in the world. And about thistime I had a vision--and I saw white spirits and black spiritsengaged in battle, and the sun was darkened--the thunderrolled in the Heavens, and blood flowed in streams--and Iheard a voice saying, "Such is your luck, such you are called tosee, and let it come rough or smooth, you must surely bareit." I now withdrew myself as much as my situation wouldpermit, from the intercourse of my fellow servants, for theavowed purpose of serving the Spirit more fully--and it appearedto me, and reminded me of the things it had alreadyshown me, and that it would then reveal to me the knowledgeof the elements, the revolution of the planets, the operationof tides, and changes of the seasons. After this revelation inthe year 1825, and the knowledge of the elements being madeknown to me, I sought more than ever to obtain true holinessbefore the great day of judgment should appear, and then Ibegan to receive the true knowledge of faith. And from thefirst steps of righteousness until the last, was I made perfect;and the Holy Ghost was with me, and said, "Behold me as Istand in the Heavens"--and I looked and saw the forms of menin different attitudes--and there were lights in the sky towhich the children of darkness gave other names than whatthey really were--for they were the lights of the Saviour'shands, stretched forth from east to west, even as they wereextended on the cross on Calvary for the redemption of sinners.And I wondered greatly at these miracles, and prayedto be informed of a certainty of the meaning thereof--andshortly afterwards, while laboring in the field, I discovereddrops 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 thewoods hieroglyphic characters, and numbers, with the formsof men in different attitudes, portrayed in blood, and representingthe figures I had seen before in the heavens. Andnow the Holy Ghost had revealed itself to me, and madeplain the miracles it had shown me--For as the blood ofChrist had been shed on this earth, and had ascended to heavenfor the salvation of sinners, and was now returning toearth again in the form of dew--and as the leaves on thetrees bore the impression of the figures I had seen in theheavens, it was plain to me that the Saviour was about to laydown the yoke he had borne for the sins of men, and the Page 11great day of judgment was at band. About this time I toldthese things to a white man, (Etheldred T. Brantley) on whomit 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 prayingand fasting nine days, he was healed, and the Spirit appearedto me again, and said, as the Saviour had been baptised soshould we be also--and when the white people would notlet us be baptised by the church, we went down into the watertogether, in the sight of many who reviled us, and werebaptised by the Spirit--After this I rejoiced greatly, and gavethanks to God. And on the 12th of May, 1828, I heard aloud noise in the heavens, and the Spirit instantly appearedto me and said the Serpent was loosened, and Christ had laiddown the yoke he had borne for the sins of men, and that Ishould take it on and fight against the Serpent, for the timewas fast approaching when the first should be last and the lastshould be first. Ques. Do you not find yourself mistakennow? Ans. Was not Christ crucified. And by signs in theheavens that it would make known to me when I shouldcommence the great work--and until the first sign appeared,I should conceal it from the knowledge of men--And on theappearance of the sign, (the eclipse of the sun last February)I should arise and prepare myself, and slay my enemies withtheir own weapons. And immediately on the sign appearingin the heavens, the seal was removed from my lips, and I communicatedthe great work laid out for me to do, to four inwhom I had the greatest confidence, (Henry, Hark, Nelson,and Sam)--It was intended by us to have begun the work ofdeath on the 4th July last--Many were the plans formed andrejected by us, and it affected my mind to such a degree, thatI fell sick, and the time passed without our coming to anydetermination how to commence--Still forming new schemesand rejecting them, when the sign appeared again, which determinedme not to wait longer. Since the commencement of 1830, I had been living withMr. Joseph Travis, who was to me a kind master, and placedthe greatest confidence in me; in fact, I had no cause to complainof his treatment to me. On Saturday evening, the20th 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 determinedon any. Hark, on the following morning, brought apig, and Henry brandy, and being joined by Sam, Nelson, Page 12Will 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 withthem for years before. I saluted them on coming up, and asked Will how camehe there, he answered, his life was worth no more thanothers, and his liberty as dear to him. I asked him if hethought 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 wasquickly 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 wasto be spared, (which was invariably adhered to.) We remainedat the feast until about two hours in the night, whenwe went to the house and found Austin; they all went to thecider press and drank, except myself. On returning to thehouse, Hark went to the door with an axe, for the purposeof breaking it open, as we knew we were strong enough tomurder the family, if they were awaked by the noise; butreflecting that it might create an alarm in the neighborhood,we determined to enter the house secretly, and murder themwhilst sleeping. Hark got a ladder and set it against thechimney, on which I ascended, and hoisting a window, enteredand came down stairs, unbarred the door, and removedthe guns from their places. It was then observed that I mustspill the first blood. On which, armed with a hatchet, andaccompanied by Will, I entered my master's chamber, it beingdark, I could not give a death blow, the hatchet glancedfrom his head, he sprang from the bed and called his wife,it was his last word, Will laid him dead, with a blow of hisaxe, and Mrs. Travis shared the same fate, as she lay in bed.The murder of this family, five in number, was the work of amoment, not one of them awoke; there was a little infantsleeping in a cradle, that was forgotten, until we had left thehouse and gone some distance, when Henry and Will returnedand 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; Iformed them in a line as soldiers, and after carrying themthrough all the manoeuvres I was master of, marched themoff to Mr. Salathul Francis', about six hundred yards distant.Sam and Will went to the door and knocked. Mr. Francisasked who was there, Sam replied, it was him, and he had a Page 13letter for him, on which he got up and came to the door,they immediately seized him, and dragging him out a littlefrom the door, he was dispatched by repeated blows on thehead; there was no other white person in the family. Westarted from there for Mrs. Reese's, maintaining the mostperfect silence on our march, where finding the door unlocked,we entered, and murdered Mrs. Reese in her bed, whilesleeping; her son awoke, but it was only to sleep the sleep ofdeath, he had only time to say who is that, and he was nomore. From Mrs. Reese's we went to Mrs. Turner's, a miledistant, which we reached about sunrise, on Monday morning. Henry, Austin, and Sam, went to the still, where, findingMr. Peebles, Austin shot him, and the rest of us went tothe house; as we approached, the family discovered us, andshut 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 todeath. Will immediately killed Mrs. Turner, with one blowof his axe. I took Mrs. Newsome by the hand, and withthe sword I had when I was apprehended, I struck herseveral blows over the head, but not being able to kill her,as the sword was dull. Will turning around and discoveringit, despatched her also. A general destruction of propertyand search for money and ammunition, always succeededthe 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'sand rejoin us at Mrs. Whitehead's,) as we approached thehouse we discovered Mr. Richard Whitehead standing in thecotton patch, near the lane fence; we called him over intothe lane, and Will, the executioner, was near at hand, withhis fatal axe, to send him to an untimely grave. As wepushed on to the house, I discovered some one run round thegarden, and thinking it was some of the white family, I pursuedthem, but finding it was a servant girl belonging to thehouse, I returned to commence the work of death, but theywhom I left, had not been idle; all the family were alreadymurdered, but Mrs. Whitehead and her daughter Margaret.As I came round to the door I saw Will pulling Mrs. Whiteheadout of the house, and at the step he nearly severed herhead 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 Page 14repeated blows with a sword, I killed her by a blow on thehead, with a fence rail. By this time, the six who had goneby Mr. Bryant's, rejoined us, and informed me they had donethe work of death assigned them. We again divided, partgoing to Mr. Richard Porter's, and from thence to NathanielFrancis', the others to Mr. Howell Harris', and Mr. T.Doyles. On my reaching Mr. Porter's, he had escaped withhis family. I understood there, that the alarm had alreadyspread, and I immediately returned to bring up those sent toMr. Doyles, and Mr. Howell Harris'; the party I left goingon to Mr. Francis', having told them I would join them inthat neighborhood. I met these sent to Mr. Doyles' and Mr.Harris' returning, having met Mr. Doyle on the road andkilled him; and learning from some who joined them, thatMr. Harris was from home, I immediately pursued the coursetaken by the party gone on before; but knowing they wouldcomplete the work of death and pillage, at Mr. Francis'before I could there, I went to Mr. Peter Edwards', expectingto find them there, but they had been here also. Ithen went to Mr. John T. Barrow's, they had been here andmurdered him. I pursued on their track to Capt. NewitHarris', where I found the greater part mounted, and readyto start; the men now amounting to about forty, shouted andhurraed as I rode up, some were in the yard, loading theirguns, others drinking. They said Captain Harris and hisfamily had escaped, the property in the house they destroyed,robbing him of money and other valuables. I orderedthem to mount and march instantly, this was about nine orten o'clock, Monday morning. I proceeded to Mr. LeviWaller's, two or three miles distant. I took my station inthe rear, and as it 'twas my object to carry terror and devastationwherever we went, I placed fifteen or twenty of thebest armed and most to be relied on, in front, who generallyapproached the houses as fast as their horses could run; thiswas for two purposes, to prevent their escape and strike terrorto the inhabitants--on this account I never got to thehouses, after leaving Mrs. Whitehead's, until the murders werecommitted, except in one case. I sometimes got in sight intime to see the work of death completed, viewed the mangledbodies as they lay, in silent satisfaction, and immediatelystarted 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 Page 15from the house, but she was pursued, overtaken, andcompelled to get up behind one of the company, who broughther back, and after showing her the mangled body of her lifelesshusband, 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 ayoung man named Drury, who had come on business withMr. Williams--he was pursued, overtaken and shot. Mrs.Vaughan was the next place we visited--and after murderingthe family here, I determined on starting for Jerusalem--Our number amounted now to fifty or sixty, all mounted andarmed with guns, axes, swords and clubs--On reaching Mr.James W. Parkers' gate, immediately on the road leading toJerusalem, and about three miles distant, it was proposed tome to call there, but I objected, as I knew he was gone toJerusalem, and my object was to reach there as soon as possible;but some of the men having relations at Mr. Parker's itwas agreed that they might call and get his people. I remainedat the gate on the road, with seven or eight; the others goingacross the field to the house, about half a mile off. Afterwaiting some time for them, I became impatient, and startedto the house for them, and on our return we were met by aparty of white men, who had pursued our blood-stained track,and who had fired on those at the gate, and dispersed them,which I new nothing of, not having been at that time rejoinedby any of them--Immediately on discovering the whites, Iordered my men to halt and form, as they appeared to bealarmed--The white men, eighteen in number, approachedus in about one hundred yards, when one of them fired,(this was against the positive orders of Captain AlexanderP. Peete, who commanded, and who had directedthe men to reserve their fire until within thirty paces)And I discovered about half of them retreating, I then orderedmy men to fire and rush on them; the few remaining stoodtheir ground until we approached within fifty yards, whenthey fired and retreated. We pursued and overtook some ofthem who we thought we left dead; (they were not killed) afterpursuing them about two hundred yards, and rising a littlehill, I discovered they were met by another party, and hadhaulted, and were re-loading their guns, (this was a smallparty from Jerusalem who knew the negroes were in the field,and had just tied their horses to await their return to theroad, knowing that Mr. Parker aad family were in Jerusalem,but knew nothing of the party that had gone in with Captain Page 16Peete; on hearing the firing they immediately rushed to thespot and arrived just in time to arrest the progress of thesebarbarous villians, and save the lives of their friends and fellowcitizens.) Thinking that those who retreated first, and theparty who fired on us at fifty or sixty yards distant, had allonly fallen back to meet others with amunition. As I sawthem re-loading their guns, and more coming up than I saw atfirst, and several of my bravest men being wounded, the othersbecame panick struck and squandered over the field; thewhite men pursued and fired on us several times. Hark hadhis horse shot under him, and I caught another for him as itwas running by me; five or six of my men were wounded, butnone left on the field; finding myself defeated here I instantlydetermined to go through a private way, and cross theNottoway river at the Cypress Bridge, three miles below Jerusalem,and attack that place in the rear, as I expected theywould look for me on the other road, and I had a great desireto get there to procure arms and amunition. After goinga short distance in this private way, accompanied by abouttwenty men, I overtook two or three who told me the otherswere dispersed in every direction. After trying in vain to collecta sufficient force to proceed to Jerusalem, I determinedto return, as I was sure they would make back to their oldneighborhood, 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 whitefamilies having fled, we found no more victims to gratify ourthirst for blood, we stopped at Majr. Ridley's quarter for thenight, and being joined by four of his men, with the recruitsmade since my defeat, we mustered now about forty strong.After placing out sentinels, I laid down to sleep, but was quicklyroused by a great racket; starting up, I found some mounted,and others in great confusion; one of the sentinels havinggiven the alarm that we were about to be attacked, I orderedsome to ride round and reconnoitre, and on their return theothers being more alarmed, not knowing who they were, fledin different ways, so that I was reduced to about twenty again;with this I determined to attempt to recruit, and proceed onto rally in the neighborhood, I had left. Dr. Blunt's was thenearest house, which we reached just before day; on riding upthe yard, Hark fired a gun. We expected Dr. Blunt and his familywere at Maj. Ridley's, as I knew there was a company ofmen there; the gun was fired to ascertain if any of the familywere at home; we were immediately fired upon and retreated, Page 17leaving several of my men. I do not know what became ofthem, as I never saw them afterwards. Pursuing our courseback and coming in sight of Captain Harris', where we hadbeen the day before, we discovered a party of white men atthe house, on which all deserted me but two, (Jacob andNat,) 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 hadhad our dinner the Sunday before, where they would find me,and I accordingly returned there as soon as it was dark andremained until Wednesday evening, when discovering whitemen riding around the place as though they were looking forsome one, and none of my men joining me, I concluded Jacoband Nat had been taken, and compelled to betray me.On this I gave up all hope for the present; and on Thursdaynight after having supplied myself with provisions from Mr.Travis's, I scratched a hole under a pile of fence rails in afield, where I concealed myself for six weeks, never leavingmy hiding place but for a few minutes in the dead of nightto get water which was very near; thinking by this time Icould venture out, I began to go about in the night andeaves drop the houses in the neighborhood; pursuing thiscourse for about a fortnight and gathering little or no intelligence,afraid of speaking to any human being, and returningevery morning to my cave before the dawn of day. I knownot how long I might have led this life, if accident had notbetrayed me, a dog in the neighborhood passing by my hidingplace one night while I was out, was attracted by somemeat I had in my cave, and crawled in and stole it, and wascoming out just as I returned. A few nights after, two negroeshaving started to go hunting with the same dog, and passedthat way, the dog came again to the place, and having justgone out to walk about, discovered me and barked, on whichthinking myself discovered, I spoke to them to beg concealment.On making myself known they fled from me. Knowingthen they would betray me, I immediately left my hidingplace, and was pursued almost incessantly until I was takena fortnight afterwards by Mr. Benjamin Phipps, in a little holeI had dug out with my sword, for the purpose of concealment,under the top of a fallen tree. On Mr. Phipps' discoveringthe place of my concealment, he cocked his gun andaimed at me. I requested him not to shoot and I would giveup, upon which he demanded my sword. I delivered it tohim, and he brought me to prison. During the time I was Page 18pursued, I had many hair breadth escapes, which your timewill 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 assuringhim of the certain death that awaited him, and that concealmentwould only bring destruction on the innocent as well asguilty, of his own color, if he knew of any extensive or concertedplan. His answer was, I do not. When I questioned himas to the insurrection in North Carolina happening aboutthe same time, he denied any knowledge of it; and when Ilooked him in the face as though I would search his inmostthoughts, he replied, "I see sir, you doubt my word; but canyou not think the same ideas, and strange appearances aboutthis time in the heaven's might prompt others, as well as myself,to this undertaking." I now had much conversationwith and asked him many questions, having forborne to do sopreviously, except in the cases noted in parenthesis; but duringhis statement, I had, unnoticed by him, taken notes as tosome particular circumstances, and having the advantage ofhis statement before me in writing, on the evening of thethird day that I had been with him, I began a cross examination,and found his statement corroborated by every circumstancecoming within my own knowledge or the confessionsof others whom had been either killed or executed, and whomhe had not seen nor had any knowledge since 22d of Augustlast, he expressed himself fully satisfied as to the impracticabilityof his attempt. It has been said he was ignorant andcowardly, and that his object was to murder and rob for thepurpose 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 tohis being a coward, his reason as given for not resisting Mr.Phipps, shews the decision of his character. When he sawMr. Phipps present his gun, he said he knew it was impossiblefor him to escape as the woods were full of men; hetherefore thought it was better to surrender, and trust to fortunefor his escape. He is a complete fanatic, or plays hispart most admirably. On other subjects he possesses an uncommonshare of intelligence, with a mind capable of attainingany thing; but warped and perverted by the influence of Page 19early impressions. He is below the ordinary stature, thoughstrong and active, having the true negro face, every feature ofwhich is strongly marked. I shall not attempt to describe theeffect of his narrative, as told and commented on by himself,in the condemned hole of the prison. The calm, deliberatecomposure with which he spoke of his late deeds and intentions,the expression of his fiend-like face when excited byenthusiasm, still bearing the stains of the blood of helplessinnocence about him; clothed with rags and covered withchains; yet daring to raise his manacled hands to heaven, witha spirit soaring above the attributes of man; I looked onhim and my blood curdled in my veins. I will not shock the feelings of humanity, nor woundafresh the bosoms of the disconsolate sufferers in this unparalleledand inhuman massacre, by detailing the deeds of theirfiend-like barbarity. There were two or three who were inthe power of these wretches, had they known it, and who escapedin the most providential manner. There were twowhom they thought they left dead on the field at Mr. Parker's,but who were only stunned by the blows of their guns, asthey 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,ran up on a dirt chimney (such as are commonto log houses,) and remained there unnoticed during the massacreof the eleven that were killed at this place. She remainedon her hiding place till just before the arrival of aparty, who were in pursuit of the murderers, when she camedown and fled to a swamp, where, a mere child as she was,with the horrors of the late scene before her, she lay concealeduntil the next day, when seeing a party go up to thehouse, she came up, and on being asked how she escaped, repliedwith the utmost simplicity, "The Lord helped her."She was taken up behind a gentleman of the party, and returnedto the arms of her weeping mother Miss Whiteheadconcealed herself between the bed and the mat that supportedit, while they murdered her sister in the same room, withoutdiscovering her. She was afterwards carried off, andconcealed for protection by a slave of the family, who gaveevidence against several of them on their trial. Mrs. NathanielFrancis, while concealed in a closet heard their blows,and the shrieks of the victims of these ruthless savages; they Page 20then entered the closet where she was concealed, and wentout without discovering her. While in this hiding place, sheheard two of her women in a quarrel about the division ofher clothes. Mr. John T. Baron, discovering them approachinghis house, told his wife to make her escape, and scorningto fly, fell fighting on his own threshold. After firing his rifle,he discharged his gun at them, and then broke it over thevillain who first approached him, but he was overpowered,and slain. His bravery, however, saved from the hands ofthese monsters, his lovely and amiable wife, who will longlament a husband so deserving of her love. As directed byhim, she attempted to escape through the garden, when shewas caught and held by one of her servant girls, but anothercoming to her rescue, she fled to the woods, and concealedherself. Few indeed, were those who escaped their work ofdeath. But fortunate for society, the hand of retributive justicehas overtaken them; and not one that was known to beconcerned has escaped.The Commonwealth,vs. Nat Turner. Charged with making insurrection,and plotting to take away the lives ofdivers free white persons, &c. on the 22d of August, 1831. The court composed of - , having met for the trial ofNat Turner, the prisoner was brought in and arraigned, andupon 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 toNat's own Confession.) Col. Trezvant* was then introduced,who being Sworn, narrated Nat's Confession to him, as follows:(his Confession as given to Mr. Gray.) The prisonerintroduced no evidence, and the case was submitted withoutargument to the court, who having found him guilty, JeremiahCobb, Esq. Chairman, pronounced the sentence of thecourt, in the following words: "Nat Turner! Stand up.Have you any thing to say why sentence of death should notbe pronounced against you?" Ans. I have not. I have made a full confession to Mr.Gray, and I have nothing more to say. * The committing Magistrate. Page 21 Attend then to the sentence of the Court. You have been arraignedand tried before this court, and convicted of one of thehighest crimes in our criminal code. You have been convictedof plotting in cold blood, the indiscriminate destruction ofmen, of helpless women, and of infant children. The evidencebefore us leaves not a shadow of doubt, but that yourhands were often imbrued in the blood of the innocent; andyour own confession tells us that they were stained with theblood 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 itinto execution, as to deprive us of many of our most valuablecitizens; and this was done when they were asleep, and defenceless;under circumstances shocking to humanity. Andwhile upon this part of the subject, I cannot but call your attentionto the poor misguided wretches who have gone beforeyou. They are not few in number--they were your bosomassociates; and the blood of all cries aloud, and callsupon you, as the author of their misfortune. Yes! Youforced them unprepared, from Time to Eternity. Bornedown by this load of guilt, your only justification is, thatyou were led away by fanaticism. If this be true, from mysoul I pity you; and while you have my sympathies, I am, neverthelesscalled upon to pass the sentence of the court. Thetime between this and your execution, will necessarily bevery short; and your only hope must be in another world.The judgment of the court is, that you be taken hence to thejail 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! deadand may the Lord have mercy upon your soul. Page 22A list of persons murdered in the Insurrection, onthe 21st and 22nd of August, 1831. Joseph Travers andwife and three children, Mrs. ElizabethTurner, Hartwell Prebles, Sarah Newsome, Mrs. P. Reeseand son William, Trajan Doyle, Henry Bryant and wife andchild, and wife's mother, Mrs. Catharine Whitehead, sonRichard 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 Worrelland child, Mrs. Rebecca Vaughan, Ann Eliza Vaughan, andson Arthur, Mrs. John K. Williams and child, Mrs. JacobWilliams and three children, and Edwin Drury--amountingto fifty-five.A List of Negroes brought before the Court ofSouthampton,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. Page 23Joe, -- -- -- -- John C. Turner, Convicted.Lucy, -- -- -- -- John T. Barrow, Do.Matt, -- -- -- -- Thomas Ridley, Acquitted.Jim, -- -- -- -- Richard Porter, Do.Exum Artes, (free,) Richard Porter, Sent on or 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.Return to Menu Page for The Confessions of Nat Turner ... by Nat Turner 2b1af7f3a8