Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1831-09-01
A letter froua yyin,on III. G. ) to d : edftor

OF tue N0rfeik Herald describes the onset vi
this horrible bntcheryiu the following manner.
"From the best Information have had.
three Waite men aHd four slaves Of gentle
man near the Cross KEYS. rose upon Inn
bout an heur before day on Monday MORN
nag, and killed him and all his white family
They then proceeded to Mrs Cstharine
( Nhitchead's and murdered the whsis of the
white family, consisting ef Z persons. This
tsok place about day hight, Mr. Williams, a
near nelshoor to Mrs w hearing their cries.
ran ever, and found Mrs w butchercd with
an axe. her son "a minister of the Gsspel,l
with has head severed from his body, and a
ysung lady lying dead in the fire place of hen.
chamber. Mr.. Williams Immediately return
ed to has own dwelling, when he was met by
one of his own negro boys with the horrible
| tidings that his wife and children had been
murdered in his absence"
The Herald says,--we have intimated that
this lnsurrectisn was not the result of concert
10 any extent, nor rested on any combina
| ton to give II the least chance of success -
This is evident from the small number ef
| adhercnts which the nnsleaders, with all
| their threats and persuasions. were able 10
enlist in their cause The slaves throughout
the country are generally well affected, and
| even faithful to their employers A pleasing
| instance OF this Is said 10 have occurred wh.le
| the black demons oil slaughter were execu
| ting their horrid work Before they had re
ceived any considerable Increase. and in the
early stage OF their butchsries. they approach
ed the dwelling of DIR Rlount, with the fell
purpose of numbering him and his familf,
when they were met by the Doctors own SER
wants, who resolutely opposed their entrance,
decianng they would lese every drop Of
blood in defence of their master and his lami.
". The brigands still persisting, battle en-
sued in which they were finally routed. ieay.
Ing one Of their party and two horses behind
them. We give the stery as il was related
TO Us; If true, great indeed will be the de sert
of these noble hearted Africans
Herald Office, I
NORFOLK, 2eth Aug.-5 P. NJ. {
The volunteers who left here and Ports.
mouth yesterday in the steam boat Constitu-
ton, pursuant to orders from the Executive.
returned to day at IL O'Clock by the same
conveyance, the commanding stiicerat Smith.
field percevng no occasion for their ser
vices. The Richmond Artillery company
has also been sent back for the same reassn,
the local militia being considered amply com
petent to preserve tranquility and take up
the misereants whs have imoued their hands
IN innocent blood.
We have last received the following com.
muhicatlon by the Fayetteville Stage, from
Mr. John Wheeler, Post Master at Murfrees-
borough, about 10 miles from the scene of
action:
MISREPRESENTATION, n G Aug 25.
"You have no doubt heard ssmethng OF
| the horrld conduct of tue blacks in Southamp
ten this week. and from the deep interest that
all must feel and the very extravaganza stsries
that have been circulated, | have been in
duced to think brief statement Of the case
necessary TO be made public.
at is not known that any mischief has been
done in North Carolina; and although strong
suspicious are entertained that there existed
an understanding among the blacks, yet no
evidence has been found TO confirm them.
"On Monday merning last, al bout o'clock,
the massacre commenced at Mr.. John Ira
vers's--the exact order in which they pro
ceeded is pot stated, and probably not known
Unfortunately for us, it was at The time Of
ear County Court, and tho principal part of
the citizens OF this place was there, (at Win
TOM about IL miles off, SO that it was late
the day before we were apprised of j. gene
rally The few men who were In town I'M
mediately collected, and about Z NJ Capt.
| Camp, oftbe Governors Guards, arrived and
instantly maze the proper arrangements for
| the protection of the town
In the mean time, the Colonel was not l.
die, and so soon as sufficient number was
organized, party composed OF horse and
foot, say company OF each, was ordered to
the scene OF action, whele they arrived on
Tuesday evening. The massacre Of the
whites was over, and the white people had
commenced the q. sructIon of the negroes,
which was continued alter our men got there,
from time 10 time as they could fall in with
them, all day yesterday
We have heard nothing from them 10 day
From the best information nearly 50 nsgraess
have been killed, and the Jai at Jerusalem
IS fullto overhswing. Wesuppose them en-
tirCiy suppressed IF they are moi all killed and
taken'-1he great force in arms from tir-
gina reneered any further aid from us un
necessary Oui people describe the situation
OF the country, there IN the most gloomy CO.
lors. The dead bodies Of white and black
lay just as they were slain, unbuied. How
ever, preparation for their Ihterment was ma
king annex list oil the dead whites. but
II is supposed there are many dead, of whom
ne account mas beer received do net pre-
tend TO vouch for the correctness Of their
statement, but il is such as we have receiy-
Cd. Respectfully yours,
JOHN WHEELER"