The Confessions ofNat Turner

The Leader of theLate Insurrections inSouthampton, Va. AsFully and VoluntarilyMade to Thomas R.Gray, in the Prison

Where He WasConfined, and

Acknowledged byHim to be Such when

Read Before theCourt of

Southampton; Turner, Nat

THE CONFESSIONS OF NAT TURNER,

THE LEADER OF THE LATEINSURRECTIONS IN SOUTHAMPTON, VA.

As fully and voluntarily made to

THOMAS R. GRAY,

In the prison where he was confined, andacknowledged by him to be such whenread before the Court of Southampton;with the certificate, under seal of the Courtconvened at Jerusalem, Nov. 5, 1831, forhis trial.

ALSO, AN AUTHENTIC ACCOUNT OF THEWHOLE INSURRECTION, WITH LISTS OFTHE WHITES WHO WERE MURDERED,AND OF THE NEGROES BROUGHTBEFORE THE COURT OF SOUTHAMPTON,AND THERE SENTENCED, &c.

Baltimore: PUBLISHED BY THOMAS R.GRAY. _Lucas & Denver, print._ 1831

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, TO WIT:

_Be it remembered_, That on this tenth dayof November, Anno Domini, eighteenhundred and thirty-one, Thomas R. Gray ofthe said District, deposited in this officethe title of a book, which is in the words asfollowing:

"The Confessions of Nat Turner, the leaderof the late insurrection in Southampton,Virginia, as fully and voluntarily made toThomas R. Gray, in the prison where hewas confined, and acknowledged by himto be such when read before the Court ofSouthampton; with the certificate, underseal, of the Court convened at Jerusalem,November 5, 1831, for his trial. Also, anauthentic account of the wholeinsurrection, with lists of the whites whowere murdered, and of the negroesbrought before the Court of Southampton,

and there sentenced, &c" the right whereofhe claims as proprietor, in conformity withan Act of Congress, entitled "An act toamend the several acts respecting CopyRights." Edmund J. Lee,Clerk of the District.

In testimony that the aboveis a true copy, from therecord of the District Court for(Seal.) the District of Columbia, I,Edmund J. Lee, the Clerkthereof, have hereunto setmy hand and affixed the seal of my

office, this 10th day of November,1831.

Edmund J. Lee,C.D.C.

TO THE PUBLIC.

The late insurrection in Southampton hasgreatly excited the public mind, and led toa thousand idle, exaggerated andmischievous reports. It is the first instancein our history of an open rebellion of theslaves, and attended with such atrociouscircumstances of cruelty and destruction,as could not fail to leave a deepimpression, not only upon the minds of thecommunity where this fearful tragedy waswrought, but throughout every portion ofour country, in which this population is tobe found. Public curiosity has been on thestretch to understand the origin andprogress of this dreadful conspiracy, andthe motives which influences its diabolicalactors. The insurgent slaves had all beendestroyed, or apprehended, tried andexecuted, (with the exception of the

leader,) without revealing any thing at allsatisfactory, as to the motives whichgoverned them, or the means by whichthey expected to accomplish their object.Every thing connected with this sad affairwas wrapt in mystery, until Nat Turner, theleader of this ferocious band, whose namehas resounded throughout our widelyextended empire, was captured. This"great Bandit" was taken by a singleindividual, in a cave near the residence ofhis late owner, on Sunday, the thirtieth ofOctober, without attempting to make theslightest resistance, and on the followingday safely lodged in the jail of the County.His captor was Benjamin Phipps, armedwith a shot gun well charged. Nat's onlyweapon was a small light sword which heimmediately surrendered, and beggedthat his life might be spared. Since hisconfinement, by permission of the Jailor, Ihave had ready access to him, and finding

that he was willing to make a full and freeconfession of the origin, progress andconsummation of the insurrectorymovements of the slaves of which he wasthe contriver and head; I determined forthe gratification of public curiosity tocommit his statements to writing, andpublish them, with little or no variation,from his own words. That this is a faithfulrecord of his confessions, the annexedcertificate of the County Court ofSouthampton, will attest. They certainlybear one stamp of truth and sincerity. Hemakes no attempt (as all the otherinsurgents who were examined did,) toexculpate himself, but franklyacknowledges his full participation in allthe guilt of the transaction. He was not onlythe contriver of the conspiracy, but gavethe first blow towards its execution.

It will thus appear, that whilst every thing

upon the surface of society wore a calmand peaceful aspect; whilst not one note ofpreparation was heard to warn thedevoted inhabitants of woe and death, agloomy fanatic was revolving in therecesses of his own dark, bewildered, andoverwrought mind, schemes ofindiscriminate massacre to the whites.Schemes too fearfully executed as far ashis fiendish band proceeded in theirdesolating march. No cry for mercypenetrated their flinty bosoms. No acts ofremembered kindness made the leastimpression upon these remorselessmurderers. Men, women and children,from hoary age to helpless infancy wereinvolved in the same cruel fate. Never dida band of savages do their work of deathmore unsparingly. Apprehension for theirown personal safety seems to have beenthe only principle of restraint in the wholecourse of their bloody proceedings. And it

is not the least remarkable feature in thishorrid transaction, that a band actuated bysuch hellish purposes, should haveresisted so feebly, when met by the whitesin arms. Desperation alone, one wouldthink, might have led to greater efforts.More than twenty of them attacked Dr.Blunt's house on Tuesday morning, a littlebefore day-break, defended by two menand three boys. They fled precipitately atthe first fire; and their future plans ofmischief, were entirely disconcerted andbroken up. Escaping thence, eachindividual sought his own safety either inconcealment, or by returning home, withthe hope that his participation mightescape detection, and all were shot downin the course of a few days, or capturedand brought to trial and punishment. Nathas survived all his followers, and thegallows will speedily close his career. Hisown account of the conspiracy is submitted

to the public, without comment. It reads anawful, and it is hoped, a useful lesson, as tothe operations of a mind like his,endeavoring to grapple with thingsbeyond its reach. How it first becamebewildered and confounded, and finallycorrupted and led to the conception andperpetration of the most atrocious andheart-rending deeds. It is calculated alsoto demonstrate the policy of our laws inrestraint of this class of our population, andto induce all those entrusted with theirexecution, as well as our citizensgenerally, to see that they are strictly andrigidly enforced. Each particularcommunity should look to its own safety,whilst the general guardians of the laws,keep a watchful eye over all. If Nat'sstatements can be relied on, theinsurrection in this county was entirelylocal, and his designs confided but to afew, and these in his immediate vicinity. It

was not instigated by motives of revengeor sudden anger, but the results of longdeliberation, and a settled purpose ofmind. The offspring of gloomy fanaticism,acting upon materials but too wellprepared for such impressions. It will belong remembered in the annals of ourcountry, and many a mother as she pressesher infant darling to her bosom, willshudder at the recollection of Nat Turner,and his band of ferocious miscreants.

Believing the following narrative, byremoving doubts and conjectures from thepublic mind which otherwise must haveremained, would give general satisfaction,it is respectfully submitted to the public bytheir ob't serv't,

T.R. GRAY._Jerusalem, Southampton, Va. Nov. 5,1831._

We the undersigned, members of theCourt convened at Jerusalem, on Saturday,the 5th day of Nov. 1831, for the trial of Nat,_alias_ Nat Turner, a negro slave, late theproperty of Putnam Moore, deceased, dohereby certify, that the confessions of Nat,to Thomas R. Gray, was read to him in ourpresence, and that Nat acknowledged thesame to be full, free, and voluntary; andthat furthermore, when called upon by thepresiding Magistrate of the Court, to stateif he had any thing to say, why sentence ofdeath should not be passed upon him,replied he had nothing further than he hadcommunicated to Mr. Gray. Given underour hands and seals at Jerusalem, this 5thday of November, 1831.

JEREMIAH COBB, [_Seal_.]THOMAS PRETLOW,

[_Seal_.] JAMES W.

PARKER, [_Seal_.]CARR BOWERS, [_Seal_.]

SAMUEL B. HINES, [_Seal_.]ORRIS A. BROWNE,

[_Seal_.]

_State of Virginia, Southampton County, towit_:

I, James Rochelle, Clerk of the CountyCourt of Southampton in the State ofVirginia, do hereby certify, that JeremiahCobb, Thomas Pretlow, James W. Parker,Carr Bowers, Samuel B. Hines, and Orris A.Browne, esqr's are acting Justices of thePeace, in and for the County aforesaid, andwere members of the Court whichconvened at Jerusalem, on Saturday the5th day of November, 1831, for the trial ofNat _alias_ Nat Turner, a negro slave, latethe property of Putnam Moore, deceased,

who was tried and convicted, as aninsurgent in the late insurrection in thecounty of Southampton aforesaid, and thatfull faith and credit are due, and ought tobe given to their acts as Justices of thepeace aforesaid. Intestimony whereof, I have hereunto set my

hand and caused the sealof the Court [Seal.] aforesaid,to be affixed this 5th day of

November, 1831.James Rochelle, C.S.C.C.

CONFESSION.

Agreeable to his own appointment, on theevening he was committed to prison, withpermission of the jailer, I visited NAT onTuesday the 1st November, when, withoutbeing questioned at all, he commenced hisnarrative in the following words:--

Sir,--You have asked me to give a historyof the motives which induced me toundertake the late insurrection, as you callit--To do so I must go back to the days ofmy infancy, and even before I was born. Iwas thirty-one years of age the 2d ofOctober last, and born the property ofBenj. Turner, of this county. In mychildhood a circumstance occurred whichmade an indelible impression on my mind,and laid the ground work of that

enthusiasm, which has terminated sofatally to many, both white and black, andfor which I am about to atone at thegallows. It is here necessary to relate thiscircumstance--trifling as it may seem, itwas the commencement of that beliefwhich has grown with time, and even now,sir, in this dungeon, helpless and forsakenas I am, I cannot divest myself of. Being atplay with other children, when three orfour years old, I was telling themsomething, which my mother overhearing,said it had happened before I was born--Istuck to my story, however, and relatedsomethings which went, in her opinion, toconfirm it--others being called on weregreatly astonished, knowing that thesethings had happened, and caused them tosay in my hearing, I surely would be aprophet, as the Lord had shewn me thingsthat had happened before my birth. Andmy father and mother strengthened me in

this my first impression, saying in mypresence, I was intended for some greatpurpose, which they had always thoughtfrom certain marks on my head andbreast--[a parcel of excrescences which Ibelieve are not at all uncommon,particularly among negroes, as I have seenseveral with the same. In this case he haseither cut them off or they have nearlydisappeared]--My grand mother, who wasvery religious, and to whom I was muchattached--my master, who belonged to thechurch, and other religious persons whovisited the house, and whom I often saw atprayers, noticing the singularity of mymanners, I suppose, and my uncommonintelligence for a child, remarked I had toomuch sense to be raised, and if I was, Iwould never be of any service to any oneas a slave--To a mind like mine, restless,inquisitive and observant of every thingthat was passing, it is easy to suppose that

religion was the subject to which it wouldbe directed, and although this subjectprincipally occupied my thoughts--therewas nothing that I saw or heard of to whichmy attention was not directed--The mannerin which I learned to read and write, notonly had great influence on my own mind,as I acquired it with the most perfect ease,so much so, that I have no recollectionwhatever of learning the alphabet--but tothe astonishment of the family, one day,when a book was shewn me to keep mefrom crying, I began spelling the names ofdifferent objects--this was a source ofwonder to all in the neighborhood,particularly the blacks--and this learningwas constantly improved at allopportunities--when I got large enough togo to work, while employed, I wasreflecting on many things that wouldpresent themselves to my imagination, andwhenever an opportunity occurred of

looking at a book, when the schoolchildren were getting their lessons, Iwould find many things that the fertility ofmy own imagination had depicted to mebefore; all my time, not devoted to mymaster's service, was spent either inprayer, or in making experiments incasting different things in moulds made ofearth, in attempting to make paper,gunpowder, and many other experiments,that although I could not perfect, yetconvinced me of its practicability if I hadthe means.[Footnote: When questioned asto the manner of manufacturing thosedifferent articles, he was found wellinformed on the subject.] I was notaddicted to stealing in my youth, nor haveever been--Yet such was the confidence ofthe negroes in the neighborhood, even atthis early period of my life, in my superiorjudgment, that they would often carry mewith them when they were going on any

roguery, to plan for them. Growing upamong them, with this confidence in mysuperior judgment, and when this, in theiropinions, was perfected by Divineinspiration, from the circumstancesalready alluded to in my infancy, andwhich belief was ever afterwards zealouslyinculcated by the austerity of my life andmanners, which became the subject ofremark by white and black.--Having soondiscovered to be great, I must appear so,and therefore studiously avoided mixing insociety, and wrapped myself in mystery,devoting my time to fasting and prayer--Bythis time, having arrived to man's estate,and hearing the scriptures commented onat meetings, I was struck with thatparticular passage which says: "Seek yethe kingdom of Heaven and all things shallbe added unto you." I reflected much onthis passage, and prayed daily for light onthis subject--As I was praying one day at

my plough, the spirit spoke to me, saying,"Seek ye the kingdom of Heaven and allthings shall be added unto you."_Question_--what do you mean by theSpirit. _Ans._ The Spirit that spoke to theprophets in former days--and I was greatlyastonished, and for two years prayedcontinually, whenever my duty wouldpermit--and then again I had the samerevelation, which fully confirmed me in theimpression that I was ordained for somegreat purpose in the hands of theAlmighty. Several years rolled round, inwhich many events occurred to strengthenme in this my belief. At this time I revertedin my mind to the remarks made of me inmy childhood, and the things that hadbeen shewn me--and as it had been said ofme in my childhood by those by whom Ihad been taught to pray, both white andblack, and in whom I had the greatestconfidence, that I had too much sense to

be raised, and if I was, I would never be ofany use to any one as a slave. Now findingI had arrived to man's estate, and was aslave, and these revelations being madeknown to me, I began to direct myattention to this great object, to fulfil thepurpose for which, by this time, I feltassured I was intended. Knowing theinfluence I had obtained over the minds ofmy fellow servants, (not by the means ofconjuring and such like tricks--for to them Ialways spoke of such things withcontempt) but by the communion of theSpirit whose revelations I oftencommunicated to them, and they believedand said my wisdom came from God. I nowbegan to prepare them for my purpose, bytelling them something was about tohappen that would terminate in fulfillingthe great promise that had been made tome--About this time I was placed under anoverseer, from whom I ran away--and after

remaining in the woods thirty days, Ireturned, to the astonishment of thenegroes on the plantation, who thought Ihad made my escape to some other part ofthe country, as my father had done before.But the reason of my return was, that theSpirit appeared to me and said I had mywishes directed to the things of this world,and not to the kingdom of Heaven, and thatI should return to the service of my earthlymaster--"For he who knoweth his Master'swill, and doeth it not, shall be beaten withmany stripes, and thus have I chastenedyou." And the negroes found fault, andmurmurred against me, saying that if theyhad my sense they would not serve anymaster in the world. And about this time Ihad a vision--and I saw white spirits andblack spirits engaged in battle, and thesun was darkened--the thunder rolled inthe Heavens, and blood flowed instreams--and I heard a voice saying, "Such

is your luck, such you are called to see,and let it come rough or smooth, you mustsurely bare it." I now withdrew myself asmuch as my situation would permit, fromthe intercourse of my fellow servants, forthe avowed purpose of serving the Spiritmore fully--and it appeared to me, andreminded me of the things it had alreadyshown me, and that it would then reveal tome the knowledge of the elements, therevolution of the planets, the operation oftides, and changes of the seasons. Afterthis revelation in the year 1825, and theknowledge of the elements being madeknown to me, I sought more than ever toobtain true holiness before the great dayof judgment should appear, and then Ibegan to receive the true knowledge offaith. And from the first steps ofrighteousness until the last, was I madeperfect; and the Holy Ghost was with me,and said, "Behold me as I stand in the

Heavens"--and I looked and saw the formsof men in different attitudes--and therewere lights in the sky to which the childrenof darkness gave other names than whatthey really were--for they were the lightsof the Saviour's hands, stretched forth fromeast to west, even as they were extendedon the cross on Calvary for the redemptionof sinners. And I wondered greatly at thesemiracles, and prayed to be informed of acertainty of the meaning thereof--andshortly afterwards, while laboring in thefield, I discovered drops of blood on thecorn as though it were dew fromheaven--and I communicated it to many,both white and black, in theneighborhood--and I then found on theleaves in the woods hieroglyphiccharacters, and numbers, with the forms ofmen in different attitudes, portrayed inblood, and representing the figures I hadseen before in the heavens. And now the

Holy Ghost had revealed itself to me, andmade plain the miracles it had shownme--For as the blood of Christ had beenshed on this earth, and had ascended toheaven for the salvation of sinners, andwas now returning to earth again in theform of dew--and as the leaves on the treesbore the impression of the figures I hadseen in the heavens, it was plain to me thatthe Saviour was about to lay down the yokehe had borne for the sins of men, and thegreat day of judgment was at hand. Aboutthis time I told these things to a white man,(Etheldred T. Brantley) on whom it had awonderful effect--and he ceased from hiswickedness, and was attackedimmediately with a cutaneous eruption,and blood ozed from the pores of his skin,and after praying and fasting nine days, hewas healed, and the Spirit appeared to meagain, and said, as the Saviour had beenbaptised so should we be also--and when

the white people would not let us bebaptised by the church, we went down intothe water together, in the sight of manywho reviled us, and were baptised by theSpirit--After this I rejoiced greatly, andgave thanks to God. And on the 12th ofMay, 1828, I heard a loud noise in theheavens, and the Spirit instantly appearedto me and said the Serpent was loosened,and Christ had laid down the yoke he hadborne for the sins of men, and that I shouldtake it on and fight against the Serpent, forthe time was fast approaching when thefirst should be last and the last should befirst. _Ques._ Do you not find yourselfmistaken now? _Ans._ Was not Christcrucified. And by signs in the heavens thatit would make known to me when I shouldcommence the great work--and until thefirst sign appeared, I should conceal itfrom the knowledge of men--And on theappearance of the sign, (the eclipse of the

sun last February) I should arise andprepare myself, and slay my enemies withtheir own weapons. And immediately onthe sign appearing in the heavens, the sealwas removed from my lips, and Icommunicated the great work laid out forme to do, to four in whom I had thegreatest confidence, (Henry, Hark, Nelson,and Sam)--It was intended by us to havebegun the work of death on the 4th Julylast--Many were the plans formed andrejected by us, and it affected my mind tosuch a degree, that I fell sick, and the timepassed without our coming to anydetermination how to commence--Stillforming new schemes and rejecting them,when the sign appeared again, whichdetermined me not to wait longer.

Since the commencement of 1830, I hadbeen living with Mr. Joseph Travis, whowas to me a kind master, and placed the

greatest confidence in me; in fact, I had nocause to complain of his treatment to me.On Saturday evening, the 20th of August, itwas agreed between Henry, Hark andmyself, to prepare a dinner the next dayfor the men we expected, and then toconcert a plan, as we had not yetdetermined on any. Hark, on the followingmorning, brought a pig, and Henrybrandy, and being joined by Sam, Nelson,Will and Jack, they prepared in the woodsa dinner, where, about three o'clock, Ijoined them.

_Q._ Why were you so backward in joiningthem.

_A._ The same reason that had caused menot to mix with them for years before.

I saluted them on coming up, and askedWill how came he there, he answered, his

life was worth no more than others, and hisliberty as dear to him. I asked him if hethought to obtain it? He said he would, orloose his life. This was enough to put himin full confidence. Jack, I knew, was only atool in the hands of Hark, it was quicklyagreed we should commence at home (Mr.J. Travis') on that night, and until we hadarmed and equipped ourselves, andgathered sufficient force, neither age norsex was to be spared, (which wasinvariably adhered to.) We remained atthe feast, until about two hours in the night,when we went to the house and foundAustin; they all went to the cider press anddrank, except myself. On returning to thehouse, Hark went to the door with an axe,for the purpose of breaking it open, as weknew we were strong enough to murderthe family, if they were awaked by thenoise; but reflecting that it might create analarm in the neighborhood, we

determined to enter the house secretly,and murder them whilst sleeping. Hark gota ladder and set it against the chimney, onwhich I ascended, and hoisting a window,entered and came down stairs, unbarredthe door, and removed the guns from theirplaces. It was then observed that I mustspill the first blood. On which, armed witha hatchet, and accompanied by Will, Ientered my master's chamber, it beingdark, I could not give a death blow, thehatchet glanced from his head, he sprangfrom the bed and called his wife, it was hislast word, Will laid him dead, with a blowof his axe, and Mrs. Travis shared the samefate, as she lay in bed. The murder of thisfamily, five in number, was the work of amoment, not one of them awoke; there wasa little infant sleeping in a cradle, that wasforgotten, until we had left the house andgone some distance, when Henry and Willreturned and killed it; we got here, four

guns that would shoot, and several oldmuskets, with a pound or two of powder.We remained some time at the barn,where we paraded; I formed them in a lineas soldiers, and after carrying themthrough all the manoeuvres I was masterof, marched them off to Mr. SalathulFrancis', about six hundred yards distant.Sam and Will went to the door andknocked. Mr. Francis asked who wasthere, Sam replied it was him, and he had aletter for him, on which he got up andcame to the door; they immediately seizedhim, and dragging him out a little from thedoor, he was dispatched by repeatedblows on the head; there was no otherwhite person in the family. We startedfrom there for Mrs. Reese's, maintainingthe most perfect silence on our march,where finding the door unlocked, weentered, and murdered Mrs. Reese in herbed, while sleeping; her son awoke, but it

was only to sleep the sleep of death, hehad only time to say who is that, and hewas no more. From Mrs. Reese's we wentto Mrs. Turner's, a mile distant, which wereached about sunrise, on Mondaymorning. Henry, Austin, and Sam, went tothe still, where, finding Mr. Peebles, Austinshot him, and the rest of us went to thehouse; as we approached, the familydiscovered us, and shut the door. Vainhope! Will, with one stroke of his axe,opened it, and we entered and found Mrs.Turner and Mrs. Newsome in the middle ofa room, almost frightened to death. Willimmediately killed Mrs. Turner, with oneblow of his axe. I took Mrs. Newsome bythe hand, and with the sword I had when Iwas apprehended, I struck her severalblows over the head, but not being able tokill her, as the sword was dull. Will turningaround and discovering it, despatched heralso. A general destruction of property and

search for money and ammunition, alwayssucceeded the murders. By this time mycompany amounted to fifteen, and ninemen mounted, who started for Mrs.Whitehead's, (the other six were to gothrough a by way to Mr. Bryant's, andrejoin us at Mrs. Whitehead's,) as weapproached the house we discovered Mr.Richard Whitehead standing in the cottonpatch, near the lane fence; we called himover into the lane, and Will, theexecutioner, was near at hand, with hisfatal axe, to send him to an untimely grave.As we pushed on to the house, Idiscovered some one run round thegarden, and thinking it was some of thewhite family, I pursued them, but finding itwas a servant girl belonging to the house, Ireturned to commence the work of death,but they whom I left, had not been idle; allthe family were already murdered, butMrs. Whitehead and her daughter

Margaret. As I came round to the door Isaw Will pulling Mrs. Whitehead out of thehouse, and at the step he nearly severedher head from her body, with his broadaxe. Miss Margaret, when I discoveredher, had concealed herself in the corner,formed by the projection of the cellar capfrom the house; on my approach she fled,but was soon overtaken, and afterrepeated blows with a sword, I killed herby a blow on the head, with a fence rail. Bythis time, the six who had gone by Mr.Bryant's, rejoined us, and informed methey had done the work of death assignedthem. We again divided, part going to Mr.Richard Porter's, and from thence toNathaniel Francis', the others to Mr. HowellHarris', and Mr. T. Doyles. On my reachingMr. Porter's, he had escaped with hisfamily. I understood there, that the alarmhad already spread, and I immediatelyreturned to bring up those sent to Mr.

Doyles, and Mr. Howell Harris'; the party Ileft going on to Mr. Francis', having toldthem I would join them in thatneighborhood. I met these sent to Mr.Doyles' and Mr. Harris' returning, havingmet Mr. Doyle on the road and killed him;and learning from some who joined them,that Mr. Harris was from home, Iimmediately pursued the course taken bythe party gone on before; but knowingthey would complete the work of deathand pillage, at Mr. Francis' before I couldget there, I went to Mr. Peter Edwards',expecting to find them there, but they hadbeen here also. I then went to Mr. John T.Barrow's, they had been here andmurdered him. I pursued on their track toCapt. Newit Harris', where I found thegreater part mounted, and ready to start;the men now amounting to about forty,shouted and hurraed as I rode up, somewere in the yard, loading their guns,

others drinking. They said Captain Harrisand his family had escaped, the propertyin the house they destroyed, robbing himof money and other valuables. I orderedthem to mount and march instantly, thiswas about nine or ten o'clock, Mondaymorning. I proceeded to Mr. Levi Waller's,two or three miles distant. I took my stationin the rear, and as it 'twas my object tocarry terror and devastation wherever wewent, I placed fifteen or twenty of the bestarmed and most to be relied on, in front,who generally approached the houses asfast as their horses could run; this was fortwo purposes, to prevent their escape andstrike terror to the inhabitants--on thisaccount I never got to the houses, afterleaving Mrs. Whitehead's, until themurders were committed, except in onecase. I sometimes got in sight in time tosee the work of death completed, viewedthe mangled bodies as they lay, in silent

satisfaction, and immediately started inquest of other victims--Having murderedMrs. Waller and ten children, we startedfor Mr. William Williams'--having killedhim and two little boys that were there;while engaged in this, Mrs. Williams fledand got some distance from the house, butshe was pursued, overtaken, andcompelled to get up behind one of thecompany, who brought her back, and aftershowing her the mangled body of herlifeless husband, she was told to get downand lay by his side, where she was shotdead. I then started for Mr. Jacob Williams,where the family were murdered--Here wefound a young man named Drury, who hadcome on business with Mr. Williams--hewas pursued, overtaken and shot. Mrs.Vaughan was the next place wevisited--and after murdering the familyhere, I determined on starting forJerusalem--Our number amounted now to

fifty or sixty, all mounted and armed withguns, axes, swords and clubs--Onreaching Mr. James W. Parkers' gate,immediately on the road leading toJerusalem, and about three miles distant, itwas proposed to me to call there, but Iobjected, as I knew he was gone toJerusalem, and my object was to reachthere as soon as possible; but some of themen having relations at Mr. Parker's it wasagreed that they might call and get hispeople. I remained at the gate on the road,with seven or eight; the others goingacross the field to the house, about half amile off. After waiting some time for them,I became impatient, and started to thehouse for them, and on our return we weremet by a party of white men, who hadpursued our bloodstained track, and whohad fired on those at the gate, anddispersed them, which I new nothing of,not having been at that time rejoined by

any of them--Immediately on discoveringthe whites, I ordered my men to halt andform, as they appeared to be alarmed--Thewhite men, eighteen in number,approached us in about one hundredyards, when one of them fired, (this wasagainst the positive orders of CaptainAlexander P. Peete, who commanded, andwho had directed the men to reserve theirfire until within thirty paces) And Idiscovered about half of them retreating, Ithen ordered my men to fire and rush onthem; the few remaining stood theirground until we approached within fiftyyards, when they fired and retreated. Wepursued and overtook some of them whowe thought we left dead; (they were notkilled) after pursuing them about twohundred yards, and rising a little hill, Idiscovered they were met by anotherparty, and had haulted, and werere-loading their guns, (this was a small

party from Jerusalem who knew thenegroes were in the field, and had just tiedtheir horses to await their return to theroad, knowing that Mr. Parker and familywere in Jerusalem, but knew nothing of theparty that had gone in with Captain Peete;on hearing the firing they immediatelyrushed to the spot and arrived just in timeto arrest the progress of these barbarousvillians, and save the lives of their friendsand fellow citizens.) Thinking that thosewho retreated first, and the party who firedon us at fifty or sixty yards distant, had allonly fallen back to meet others withamunition. As I saw them re-loading theirguns, and more coming up than I saw atfirst, and several of my bravest men beingwounded, the others became panickstruck and squandered over the field; thewhite men pursued and fired on us severaltimes. Hark had his horse shot under him,and I caught another for him as it was

running by me; five or six of my men werewounded, but none left on the field;finding myself defeated here I instantlydetermined to go through a private way,and cross the Nottoway river at theCypress Bridge, three miles belowJerusalem, and attack that place in therear, as I expected they would look for meon the other road, and I had a great desireto get there to procure arms andamunition. After going a short distance inthis private way, accompanied by abouttwenty men, I overtook two or three whotold me the others were dispersed inevery direction. After trying in vain tocollect a sufficient force to proceed toJerusalem, I determined to return, as I wassure they would make back to their oldneighborhood, where they would rejoinme, make new recruits, and come downagain. On my way back, I called at Mrs.Thomas's, Mrs. Spencer's, and several

other places, the white families havingfled, we found no more victims to gratifyour thirst for blood, we stopped at Majr.Ridley's quarter for the night, and beingjoined by four of his men, with the recruitsmade since my defeat, we mustered nowabout forty strong. After placing outsentinels, I laid down to sleep, but wasquickly roused by a great racket; startingup, I found some mounted, and others ingreat confusion; one of the sentinelshaving given the alarm that we were aboutto be attacked, I ordered some to rideround and reconnoitre, and on their returnthe others being more alarmed, notknowing who they were, fled in differentways, so that I was reduced to abouttwenty again; with this I determined toattempt to recruit, and proceed on to rallyin the neighborhood, I had left. Dr. Blunt'swas the nearest house, which we reachedjust before day; on riding up the yard,

Hark fired a gun. We expected Dr. Bluntand his family were at Maj. Ridley's, as Iknew there was a company of men there;the gun was fired to ascertain if any of thefamily were at home; we wereimmediately fired upon and retreated,leaving several of my men. I do not knowwhat became of them, as I never saw themafterwards. Pursuing our course back andcoming in sight of Captain Harris', wherewe had been the day before, wediscovered a party of white men at thehouse, on which all deserted me but two,(Jacob and Nat,) we concealed ourselvesin the woods until near night, when I sentthem in search of Henry, Sam, Nelson, andHark, and directed them to rally all theycould, at the place we had had our dinnerthe Sunday before, where they would findme, and I accordingly returned there assoon as it was dark and remained untilWednesday evening, when discovering

white men riding around the place asthough they were looking for some one,and none of my men joining me, Iconcluded Jacob and Nat had been taken,and compelled to betray me. On this Igave up all hope for the present; and onThursday night after having suppliedmyself with provisions from Mr. Travis's, Iscratched a hole under a pile of fence railsin a field, where I concealed myself for sixweeks, never leaving my hiding place butfor a few minutes in the dead of night toget water which was very near; thinkingby this time I could venture out, I began togo about in the night and eaves drop thehouses in the neighborhood; pursuing thiscourse for about a fortnight and gatheringlittle or no intelligence, afraid of speakingto any human being, and returning everymorning to my cave before the dawn ofday. I know not how long I might have ledthis life, if accident had not betrayed me, a

dog in the neighborhood passing by myhiding place one night while I was out, wasattracted by some meat I had in my cave,and crawled in and stole it, and wascoming out just as I returned. A few nightsafter, two negroes having started to gohunting with the same dog, and passedthat way, the dog came again to the place,and having just gone out to walk about,discovered me and barked, on whichthinking myself discovered, I spoke tothem to beg concealment. On makingmyself known they fled from me. Knowingthen they would betray me, I immediatelyleft my hiding place, and was pursuedalmost incessantly until I was taken afortnight afterwards by Mr. BenjaminPhipps, in a little hole I had dug out withmy sword, for the purpose of concealment,under the top of a fallen tree. On Mr.Phipps' discovering the place of myconcealment, he cocked his gun and

aimed at me. I requested him not to shootand I would give up, upon which hedemanded my sword. I delivered it to him,and he brought me to prison. During thetime I was pursued, I had many hairbreadth escapes, which your time will notpermit you to relate. I am here loaded withchains, and willing to suffer the fate thatawaits me.

I here proceeded to make some inquiriesof him, after assuring him of the certaindeath that awaited him, and thatconcealment would only bring destructionon the innocent as well as guilty, of his owncolor, if he knew of any extensive orconcerted plan. His answer was, I do not.When I questioned him as to theinsurrection in North Carolina happeningabout the same time, he denied anyknowledge of it; and when I looked him inthe face as though I would search his

inmost thoughts, he replied, "I see sir, youdoubt my word; but can you not think thesame ideas, and strange appearancesabout this time in the heaven's mightprompt others, as well as myself, to thisundertaking." I now had muchconversation with and asked him manyquestions, having forborne to do sopreviously, except in the cases noted inparenthesis; but during his statement, Ihad, unnoticed by him, taken notes as tosome particular circumstances, and havingthe advantage of his statement before mein writing, on the evening of the third daythat I had been with him, I began a crossexamination, and found his statementcorroborated by every circumstancecoming within my own knowledge or theconfessions of others whom had beeneither killed or executed, and whom hehad not seen nor had any knowledge since22d of August last, he expressed himself

fully satisfied as to the impracticability ofhis attempt. It has been said he wasignorant and cowardly, and that his objectwas to murder and rob for the purpose ofobtaining money to make his escape. It isnotorious, that he was never known to havea dollar in his life; to swear an oath, ordrink a drop of spirits. As to his ignorance,he certainly never had the advantages ofeducation, but he can read and write, (itwas taught him by his parents,) and fornatural intelligence and quickness ofapprehension, is surpassed by few men Ihave ever seen. As to his being a coward,his reason as given for not resisting Mr.Phipps, shews the decision of hischaracter. When he saw Mr. Phippspresent his gun, he said he knew it wasimpossible for him to escape as the woodswere full of men; he therefore thought itwas better to surrender, and trust tofortune for his escape. He is a complete

fanatic, or plays his part most admirably.On other subjects he possesses anuncommon share of intelligence, with amind capable of attaining any thing; butwarped and perverted by the influence ofearly impressions. He is below theordinary stature, though strong and active,having the true negro face, every featureof which is strongly marked. I shall notattempt to describe the effect of hisnarrative, as told and commented on byhimself, in the condemned hole of theprison. The calm, deliberate composurewith which he spoke of his late deeds andintentions, the expression of his fiend-likeface when excited by enthusiasm, stillbearing the stains of the blood of helplessinnocence about him; clothed with ragsand covered with chains; yet daring toraise his manacled hands to heaven, with aspirit soaring above the attributes of man; Ilooked on him and my blood curdled in

my veins.

I will not shock the feelings of humanity,nor wound afresh the bosoms of thedisconsolate sufferers in this unparalleledand inhuman massacre, by detailing thedeeds of their fiend-like barbarity. Therewere two or three who were in the powerof these wretches, had they known it, andwho escaped in the most providentialmanner. There were two whom theythought they left dead on the field at Mr.Parker's, but who were only stunned bythe blows of their guns, as they did nottake time to re-load when they charged onthem. The escape of a little girl who wentto school at Mr. Waller's, and where thechildren were collecting for that purpose,excited general sympathy. As theirteacher had not arrived, they were at playin the yard, and seeing the negroesapproach, she ran up on a dirt chimney,

(such as are common to log houses,) andremained there unnoticed during themassacre of the eleven that were killed atthis place. She remained on her hidingplace till just before the arrival of a party,who were in pursuit of the murderers,when she came down and fled to a swamp,where, a mere child as she was, with thehorrors of the late scene before her, shelay concealed until the next day, whenseeing a party go up to the house, shecame up, and on being asked how sheescaped, replied with the utmostsimplicity, "The Lord helped her." She wastaken up behind a gentleman of the party,and returned to the arms of her weepingmother. Miss Whitehead concealed herselfbetween the bed and the mat thatsupported it, while they murdered hersister in the same room, withoutdiscovering her. She was afterwardscarried off, and concealed for protection

by a slave of the family, who gaveevidence against several of them on theirtrial. Mrs. Nathaniel Francis, whileconcealed in a closet heard their blows,and the shrieks of the victims of theseruthless savages; they then entered thecloset where she was concealed, and wentout without discovering her. While in thishiding place, she heard two of her womenin a quarrel about the division of herclothes. Mr. John T. Baron, discoveringthem approaching his house, told his wifeto make her escape, and scorning to fly,fell fighting on his own threshold. Afterfiring his rifle, he discharged his gun atthem, and then broke it over the villainwho first approached him, but he wasoverpowered, and slain. His bravery,however, saved from the hands of thesemonsters, his lovely and amiable wife, whowill long lament a husband so deserving ofher love. As directed by him, she

attempted to escape through the garden,when she was caught and held by one ofher servant girls, but another coming toher rescue, she fled to the woods, andconcealed herself. Few indeed, were thosewho escaped their work of death. Butfortunate for society, the hand ofretributive justice has overtaken them; andnot one that was known to be concernedhas escaped.

The Commonwealth, } vs.} Charged with making insurrection,

Nat Turner. } and plotting to takeaway the lives ofdivers free white persons, &c. on the 22d of August, 1831.

The court composed of----, having met forthe trial of Nat Turner, the prisoner wasbrought in and arraigned, and upon his

arraignment pleaded _Not guilty_, sayingto his counsel, that he did not feel so.

On the part of the Commonwealth, LeviWaller was introduced, who being sworn,deposed as follows: (_agreeably to Nat'sown Confession_.) Col. Trezvant[Footnote:The committing Magistrate.] was thenintroduced, who being sworn, numeratedNat's Confession to him, as follows: (_hisConfession as given to Mr. Gray_.) Theprisoner introduced no evidence, and thecase was submitted without argument tothe court, who having found him guilty,Jeremiah Cobb, Esq. Chairman,pronounced the sentence of the court, inthe following words: "Nat Turner! Stand up.Have you any thing to say why sentence ofdeath should not be pronounced againstyou?"

_Ans._ I have not. I have made a full

confession to Mr. Gray, and I have nothingmore to say.

Attend then to the sentence of the Court.You have been arraigned and tried beforethis court, and convicted of one of thehighest crimes in our criminal code. Youhave been convicted of plotting in coldblood, the indiscriminate destruction ofmen, of helpless women, and of infantchildren. The evidence before us leavesnot a shadow of doubt, but that your handswere often imbrued in the blood of theinnocent; and your own confession tells usthat they were stained with the blood of amaster; in your own language, "tooindulgent." Could I stop here, your crimewould be sufficiently aggravated. But theoriginal contriver of a plan, deep anddeadly, one that never can be effected,you managed so far to put it into execution,as to deprive us of many of our most

valuable citizens; and this was done whenthey were asleep, and defenceless; undercircumstances shocking to humanity. Andwhile upon this part of the subject, I cannotbut call your attention to the poormisguided wretches who have gonebefore you. They are not few innumber--they were your bosomassociates; and the blood of all cries aloud,and calls upon you, as the author of theirmisfortune. Yes! You forced themunprepared, from Time to Eternity. Bornedown by this load of guilt, your onlyjustification is, that you were led away byfanaticism. If this be true, from my soul Ipity you; and while you have mysympathies, I am, nevertheless calledupon to pass the sentence of the court. Thetime between this and your execution, willnecessarily be very short; and your onlyhope must be in another world. Thejudgment of the court is, that you be taken

hence to the jail from whence you came,thence to the place of execution, and onFriday next, between the hours of 10 A.M.and 2 P.M. be hung by the neck until youare dead! dead! dead! and may the Lordhave mercy upon your soul.

_A list of persons murdered in theInsurrection, on the 21st and 22d ofAugust, 1831._

Joseph Travers and wife and threechildren, Mrs. Elizabeth Turner, HartwellPrebles, Sarah Newsome, Mrs. P. Reeseand son William, Trajan Doyle, HenryBryant and wife and child, and wife'smother, Mrs. Catharine Whitehead, sonRichard and four daughters andgrand-child, Salathiel Francis, NathanielFrancis' 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, AnnEliza Vaughan, and son Arthur, Mrs. JohnK. Williams and child, Mrs. Jacob Williamsand three children, and EdwinDrury--amounting to fifty-five.

_A List of Negroes brought before theCourt of Southampton, with their owners'names, and sentence._

Daniel, Richard Porter,Convicted. Moses, J.T. Barrow,

Do. Tom, Caty Whitehead,Discharged. Jack and Andrew, Caty

Whitehead, Con. and transported.Jacob, Geo. H. Charlton,Disch'd without trial. Isaac, Ditto,

Convi. and transported. Jack,Everett Bryant, Discharged.

Nathan, Benj. Blunt's estate,Convicted. Nathan, Tom, and Davy,(boys,) Nathaniel Francis, Convictedand transported. Davy, ElizabethTurner, Convicted. Curtis,Thomas Ridley, Do. Stephen,

Do. Do. Hardy and Isham,Benjamin Edwards, Convicted andtransp'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 andArcher, J.W. Parker, Disch'dwithout trial. Jim, WilliamVaughan, Acquitted. Bob,

Temperance Parker, Do. Davy,Joseph Parker, Daniel, Solomon

D. Parker, Disch'd without trial. ThomasHaithcock, (free,) Sent on forfurther trial. Joe, John C. Turner,

Convicted. Lucy, John T.Barrow, Do. Matt, ThomasRidley, Acquitted. Jim,Richard Porter, Do. Exum Artes,(free,) Sent on for furthertrial. Joe, Richard P. Briggs,Disch'd without trial. Bury Newsome,(free,) Sent on for furthertrial. Stephen James Bell,Acquitted. Jim and Isaac, SamuelChampion, Convicted and trans'd.Preston, Hannah Williamson,Acquitted. Frank, Solomon D.Parker, Convi'd and transp'd. Jack andShadrach, Nathaniel Simmons,Acquitted. Nelson, Benj. Blunt'sestate, Do. Sam, Peter

Edwards, Convicted. Archer,Arthur G. Reese, Acquitted. IshamTurner, (free,) Sent on forfurther trial. Nat Turner, PutnamMoore, dec'd, Convicted.