The Confessions Of Nat Turner by Nat Turner
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Nat Turner >> The Confessions Of Nat Turner
I here proceeded to make some inquiries of him, after assuring him of
the certain death that awaited him, and that concealment would only
bring destruction on the innocent as well as guilty, of his own color,
if he knew of any extensive or concerted plan. His answer was, I do not.
When I questioned him as to the insurrection in North Carolina happening
about the same time, he denied any knowledge of it; and when I looked
him in the face as though I would search his inmost thoughts, he
replied, "I see sir, you doubt my word; but can you not think the same
ideas, and strange appearances about this time in the heaven's might
prompt others, as well as myself, to this undertaking." I now had much
conversation with and asked him many questions, having forborne to do so
previously, except in the cases noted in parenthesis; but during his
statement, I had, unnoticed by him, taken notes as to some particular
circumstances, and having the advantage of his statement before me in
writing, on the evening of the third day that I had been with him, I
began a cross examination, and found his statement corroborated by every
circumstance coming within my own knowledge or the confessions of others
whom had been either killed or executed, and whom he had not seen nor
had any knowledge since 22d of August last, he expressed himself fully
satisfied as to the impracticability of his attempt. It has been said he
was ignorant and cowardly, and that his object was to murder and rob for
the purpose of obtaining money to make his escape. It is notorious, that
he was never known to have a dollar in his life; to swear an oath, or
drink a drop of spirits. As to his ignorance, he certainly never had the
advantages of education, but he can read and write, (it was taught him
by his parents,) and for natural intelligence and quickness of
apprehension, is surpassed by few men I have ever seen. As to his being
a coward, his reason as given for not resisting Mr. Phipps, shews the
decision of his character. When he saw Mr. Phipps present his gun, he
said he knew it was impossible for him to escape as the woods were full
of men; he therefore thought it was better to surrender, and trust to
fortune for his escape. He is a complete fanatic, or plays his part most
admirably. On other subjects he possesses an uncommon share of
intelligence, with a mind capable of attaining any thing; but warped and
perverted by the influence of early impressions. He is below the
ordinary stature, though strong and active, having the true negro face,
every feature of which is strongly marked. I shall not attempt to
describe the effect of his narrative, as told and commented on by
himself, in the condemned hole of the prison. The calm, deliberate
composure with which he spoke of his late deeds and intentions, the
expression of his fiend-like face when excited by enthusiasm, still
bearing the stains of the blood of helpless innocence about him; clothed
with rags and covered with chains; yet daring to raise his manacled
hands to heaven, with a spirit soaring above the attributes of man; I
looked on him and my blood curdled in my veins.
I will not shock the feelings of humanity, nor wound afresh the bosoms
of the disconsolate sufferers in this unparalleled and inhuman massacre,
by detailing the deeds of their fiend-like barbarity. There were two or
three who were in the power of these wretches, had they known it, and
who escaped in the most providential manner. There were two whom they
thought they left dead on the field at Mr. Parker's, but who were only
stunned by the blows of their guns, as they did not take time to re-load
when they charged on them. The escape of a little girl who went to
school at Mr. Waller's, and where the children were collecting for that
purpose, excited general sympathy. As their teacher had not arrived,
they were at play in the yard, and seeing the negroes approach, she ran
up on a dirt chimney, (such as are common to log houses,) and remained
there unnoticed during the massacre of the eleven that were killed at
this place. She remained on her hiding place till just before the
arrival of a party, who were in pursuit of the murderers, when she came
down and fled to a swamp, where, a mere child as she was, with the
horrors of the late scene before her, she lay concealed until the next
day, when seeing a party go up to the house, she came up, and on being
asked how she escaped, replied with the utmost simplicity, "The Lord
helped her." She was taken up behind a gentleman of the party, and
returned to the arms of her weeping mother. Miss Whitehead concealed
herself between the bed and the mat that supported it, while they
murdered her sister in the same room, without discovering her. She was
afterwards carried off, and concealed for protection by a slave of the
family, who gave evidence against several of them on their trial. Mrs.
Nathaniel Francis, while concealed in a closet heard their blows, and
the shrieks of the victims of these ruthless savages; they then entered
the closet where she was concealed, and went out without discovering
her. While in this hiding place, she heard two of her women in a quarrel
about the division of her clothes. Mr. John T. Baron, discovering them
approaching his house, told his wife to make her escape, and scorning to
fly, fell fighting on his own threshold. After firing his rifle, he
discharged his gun at them, and then broke it over the villain who first
approached him, but he was overpowered, and slain. His bravery, however,
saved from the hands of these monsters, his lovely and amiable wife, who
will long lament a husband so deserving of her love. As directed by him,
she attempted to escape through the garden, when she was caught and held
by one of her servant girls, but another coming to her rescue, she fled
to the woods, and concealed herself. Few indeed, were those who escaped
their work of death. But fortunate for society, the hand of retributive
justice has overtaken them; and not one that was known to be concerned
has escaped.
The Commonwealth, }
vs. } Charged with making insurrection,
Nat Turner. } and plotting to take away the lives of
divers free white persons, &c.
on the 22d of August, 1831.
The court composed of----, having met for the trial of Nat Turner, the
prisoner was brought in and arraigned, and upon his arraignment pleaded
_Not guilty_, saying to his counsel, that he did not feel so.
On the part of the Commonwealth, Levi Waller was introduced, who being
sworn, deposed as follows: (_agreeably to Nat's own Confession_.) Col.
Trezvant[Footnote: The committing Magistrate.] was then introduced, who
being sworn, numerated Nat's Confession to him, as follows: (_his
Confession as given to Mr. Gray_.) The prisoner introduced no evidence,
and the case was submitted without argument to the court, who having
found him guilty, Jeremiah Cobb, Esq. Chairman, pronounced the sentence
of the court, in the following words: "Nat Turner! Stand up. Have you
any thing to say why sentence of death should not be pronounced against
you?"
_Ans._ I have not. I have made a full confession to Mr. Gray, and I have
nothing more to say.
Attend then to the sentence of the Court. You have been arraigned and
tried before this court, and convicted of one of the highest crimes in
our criminal code. You have been convicted of plotting in cold blood,
the indiscriminate destruction of men, of helpless women, and of infant
children. The evidence before us leaves not a shadow of doubt, but that
your hands were often imbrued in the blood of the innocent; and your own
confession tells us that they were stained with the blood of a master;
in your own language, "too indulgent." Could I stop here, your crime
would be sufficiently aggravated. But the original contriver of a plan,
deep and deadly, one that never can be effected, you managed so far to
put it into execution, as to deprive us of many of our most valuable
citizens; and this was done when they were asleep, and defenceless;
under circumstances shocking to humanity. And while upon this part of
the subject, I cannot but call your attention to the poor misguided
wretches who have gone before you. They are not few in number--they were
your bosom associates; and the blood of all cries aloud, and calls upon
you, as the author of their misfortune. Yes! You forced them unprepared,
from Time to Eternity. Borne down by this load of guilt, your only
justification is, that you were led away by fanaticism. If this be true,
from my soul I pity you; and while you have my sympathies, I am,
nevertheless called upon to pass the sentence of the court. The time
between this and your execution, will necessarily be very short; and
your only hope must be in another world. The judgment of the court is,
that you be taken hence to the jail from whence you came, thence to the
place of execution, and on Friday next, between the hours of 10 A.M. and
2 P.M. be hung by the neck until you are dead! dead! dead! and may the
Lord have mercy upon your soul.
_A list of persons murdered in the Insurrection, on the 21st and 22d of
August, 1831._
Joseph Travers and wife and three children, Mrs. Elizabeth Turner,
Hartwell Prebles, Sarah Newsome, Mrs. P. Reese and son William, Trajan
Doyle, Henry Bryant and wife and child, and wife's mother, Mrs.
Catharine Whitehead, son Richard and four daughters and grand-child,
Salathiel Francis, Nathaniel Francis' overseer and two children, John T.
Barrow, George Vaughan, Mrs. Levi Waller and ten children, William
Williams, wife and two boys, Mrs. Caswell Worrell and child, Mrs.
Rebecca Vaughan, Ann Eliza Vaughan, and son Arthur, Mrs. John K.
Williams and child, Mrs. Jacob Williams and three children, and Edwin
Drury--amounting to fifty-five.
_A List of Negroes brought before the Court of Southampton, with their
owners' names, and sentence._
Daniel, Richard Porter, Convicted.
Moses, J.T. Barrow, Do.
Tom, Caty Whitehead, Discharged.
Jack and Andrew, Caty Whitehead, Con. and transported.
Jacob, Geo. H. Charlton, Disch'd without trial.
Isaac, Ditto, Convi. and transported.
Jack, Everett Bryant, Discharged.
Nathan, Benj. Blunt's estate, Convicted.
Nathan, Tom, and
Davy, (boys,) Nathaniel Francis, Convicted and transported.
Davy, Elizabeth Turner, Convicted.
Curtis, Thomas Ridley, Do.
Stephen, Do. Do.
Hardy and Isham, Benjamin Edwards, Convicted and transp'd.
Sam, Nathaniel Francis, Convicted.
Hark, Joseph Travis' estate. Do.
Moses, (a boy,) Do. Do. and transported
Davy, Levi Waller, Convicted.
Nelson, Jacob Williams, Do.
Nat, Edm'd Turner's estate, Do.
Jack, Wm. Reese's estate, Do.
Dred, Nathaniel Francis, Do.
Arnold, Artist, (free,) Discharged.
Sam, J.W. Parker, Acquitted.
Ferry and Archer, J.W. Parker, Disch'd without trial.
Jim, William Vaughan, Acquitted.
Bob, Temperance Parker, Do.
Davy, Joseph Parker,
Daniel, Solomon D. Parker, Disch'd without trial.
Thomas Haithcock, (free,) Sent on for further trial.
Joe, John C. Turner, Convicted.
Lucy, John T. Barrow, Do.
Matt, Thomas Ridley, Acquitted.
Jim, Richard Porter, Do.
Exum Artes, (free,) Sent on for further trial.
Joe, Richard P. Briggs, Disch'd without trial.
Bury Newsome, (free,) Sent on for further trial.
Stephen James Bell, Acquitted.
Jim and Isaac, Samuel Champion, Convicted and trans'd.
Preston, Hannah Williamson, Acquitted.
Frank, Solomon D. Parker, Convi'd and transp'd.
Jack and Shadrach, Nathaniel Simmons, Acquitted.
Nelson, Benj. Blunt's estate, Do.
Sam, Peter Edwards, Convicted.
Archer, Arthur G. Reese, Acquitted.
Isham Turner, (free,) Sent on for further trial.
Nat Turner, Putnam Moore, dec'd, Convicted.