Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 182?-183?, 1831-12-23
THE CONFESSIONS OF NAT
TURNER.
From Me Richmond E1nllirer.

Mr. L. K. Gray's pamphlet of "The
Confessions of Nat Turner, the leader
OF the late Insurrection in SOUTHAMPTON: -
has been published at Baltimore. 1t
makes % pages. 1t processes to give
from the Bandits own lips, the circnm-
stances which formed him leader and a
fanatic. 1t sketches the commence
ment, progress and termination, of an
instruction, the bare recital of which
makes the blood run cold. The descrip
ton OF the butchery Of the whites is ter
rifle. We CANNOT make copious ex-
tracts from it, because it is put under a
COPYRIGHT But we may be permitted,
without infringing on the authors pri-
vilege' to copy the following incidents.
"And by signs in the heavens that it
would make known to me when should
commence the great work-and until the
first sign appeared, should conceal it
from the knowledge of men.-And on
the appearance of the sign (the eclipse Of
the sun last February should arise and
prepare myself, and Stay my enemies
with their own weapons. And immedi-
ately on the sign appearing in the hea-
vens, the seal was removed from nv Inns
and | communicated the great work laid
out for me to do, TO four, in whom had
the greatest confidence (Henrv. Hank.
Nelson, and Sam. 1T was intended by
us to have begun the work of death on
the 4th July last. Many were the plans
formed and rejected by US, and it affected
my mind to such a degree, that | fell
sick, and the time passed without our
coming to any determination how to com.
mence.-Still forming new schemes and
rejecting them, when the sign appeared
again, which determined me not to wait
longer" the strange appearance of the
sun
clark got ladder and set it against
he chimney, on which assembled. and
hosting a window, entered and came
down stairs, unbarred the door. and re-
moved the guns from their places. 1t
was then observed that must spilI the
first blood. On which, armed with a
Ratchet, and accompanied by VIII, 1 en-
tered my masters chamber: it being
dark, l could not give death-blow, the
Ratchet glanced from his head, he sprann
from the bed and called his wife: Il
was his last word. VIII laid him dead.
with blow of his axe, and Mrs. Travis
shared the same fate, as she lay in her
bed. The murder ofthis family, five in
number, was the work OF moment, not
one of them awoke; there was little
infant sleeping in cradle, that was for
gotten until we had left the house and
gone some distance, when Henry and
VIII returned and killed it we got here.
Atour guns that would shoot, and several
loid muskets, with pound or two OF
powder"
"From Mr. Rcese's we went to Mrs
Turner's, mile distant, which we reach
ed about sunrise, on Monday morning.
|denry Austin and Sam, went to the still
swhere, finding Mr. PEBBLES, Austin shot
Ahim, and the rest of us went to the house.
/ as we approached, the family discovered
us, and shut the door. Vain hone
Twin, with one stroke Of his axe onen-
bed it, and we entered and found Mrs.
Turner and Mrs. Newsomc in the mid
die of a room, almost frightened TO death
VIII Immediately killed Mrs. Turner
with one blow Of his axe. tool RIrs
Newsome by the hand, and with the
sword had when was apprebended
IL struck her several blows over tho
wa, but not being able to kill her. as
me sword was dull, VIII turned round
and discoveringit, dispatched her also,
"A general destruction of property and
search for money and ammunition, al
ways succeeded the murders"
"All the family were already murder