Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1831-09-15

We have been astonishcd since Our return
from Southampton, (whIther we went m
Cant Harrison's Troop OF Horse, IN looking
over the mass Oi exchange papers accumu
lated in our absence, To see the number OF
false, absurd and Idle rumoTs, circulated by
the press, touching the insurrecuon IN That
county. Editors seem 10 have applied them
selves 10 the task Of alarming the public nllnd
as much as possible, and persuadInS the
slaves TO entertain high oPlnion OF ,heh
strength and consequence W nue. 'ru'h Is
always the best policy and ihe pest IetheoJ'
cxaggers tons 10 which we nave aiuueo, are
calculated TO give the slaves ia'se conceptions
~ tka;r numbers and capacity, by exhibit
-. ~. terror and coniususion vi the whites,
al 20 induce them 10 think that practabe,
49,, thcv see IS 50 much feared by their SUI
AZ have little TO say Of the Southampton
Te,oedy beyond what IS already known. The
oripin OF the conspiracy, ITS prime agents. IFS
e.fsnt. and universal opinion OF that part of
the country, is that Nat, a slave, preacher
and A pretended prophet, was the first con
friyer. and actual leader, and the most re-
uorseless of the execuiioners. According
10 the evidence of negro boy whom they
carried along to hold their horses, Nat com.
menced The scene Of murder at tie first
house frravis0with his own hand Having
called upofr tive others, to make good their
valiant boast,ngs SO often repeated. Of what
they would do, anG these shrinking from the
requisitlon, Nat proceeded to despatch sne Of
the family with his own hand. Animated
by the example and eXhortat'ons of their
leader, having a taste Of blood, and eonyinc-
ed that they Ind now gone too far to recede.
his followers dis nissed their qualms and be
-. - las, Il al,,,.lt TO-.
10 follow the bloody dogs from the capture
oC Travis house, before day, to their disper-
sion AT parker's corntield early in the after
noon. where they had traversed nearly TWEEN
ty miles. murdered 63 whites, and approach
ed within or 4 miles Of The village Of Jeru-
salem, the immediate object of their move
nneot-to describe the scenes nj each house
the circumstances OF the murders, the hair
breadth escapes OF the few who were lucky
enough to escape--wouid prove as il terest
ing as heart rending Many of the details
hay. reached US, bat not in so authentic a
shape as to Justify heir publication, nor have
ire the time or space Let few suffice -
o. the events AZ Dr. Blonnts we had a mar.
rative from the gallant old gentleman himself
and his son. lad about IS, distinguished for
his gallantry and modesty, and whom we
take leave to recommend to Gen Jackson
for warrant 10 the Navy or 1T West Point
The Docto, had received information Of the
insurrection, and that his house would he at,
tackled. short time before the attack was
made Crippled with the govt, and ndispo
red 10 fly. he resolved to defend his house -
Ills son, ovesseer and three other white nrn
Luckily there were six guns, and plenty oil
powder and shot IN the house. These were
barely loaded, his force posted, ADD the in
etrGctions given, when the negroes from Is
TO 80 strong. rode up ahout day break The
Doctors orders were that each man should
be particular in his aim, ard should fire one
at time: he himself reserved one gun. re-
solved if the house was forced, to sell his lirc
as dearly as he could. The remaining five
fred IN succession upon the assailants, at the
distance OF fifteen or twenty steps. The
blacks upon the fifth fire. retrea,ed, leaving
one killed I'VE believe) and one wounded, "a
fellow called Hark,) and were pursued 10y the
Doctors negroes with shouts and eAecrations
Had the shot been larger, more execution
would doubtless have been done.
Mrs Vanghan's was among the last hou
ses attacked. A venerable negro woman, de
scribed the scene which she had witncsseG
= with great emphasis. IL was near noon, anc
her mistress had been making some prepare
ton in the p 'rch for dinner, when happen
ing to look towards the road, she deserted q
dust and wondered what 1t could mean. IL
a second, the negroes mounted and armed
rnshed into view, and making an exclamation
indicative of her horror and agony, Mrs
Vaughan ran Into the house. The negroes
dsmounted and ran around the house, point.
,ng their guns at the doors and windows
Mrs. Vaughan appeared at a window, and
begged for her lie, inviting them TO take eve
w thing she had The prayer was answere j
BY one OF them firing at her, which was in
stantlv followed by another, and a fatal shot
In the mean time, Miss Vaughan, who was
up stairs, and unapprised of the terrible
vent until she heard the noise of the attack,
rushed down and begged for life, was shot
as she ran a few steps from the door son
OF Mrs. Vaughan, about 10, was at the still
house, when hearing gun, and con occurring
1t is supposed, that ais brother had come from
Jerusalem approached the house, and was
shot as lie got over the fence. Ii is difficult
for the imagination TO conceive situation so
truly and horribly awful, as that in which
these unfortunate ladies was placed Alone,
unprotected, and unconscious of danger, to
find themselves without moments notice
for escape or defence, in the power of band
OF ruthans, from whom instant death was the
least they could expect In most lively and
picturesque manner, did the old negress de-
scribe the horrors OF the scene: the blacks
riding up with ImprecatIons, the looks Of her
mistress, white a. sheet, her prayers for her
life, and the acuon Of the scoundrtl Is envl-
Foning the house aud pointing their guns al
the doors and windows, ready TO fire as oc
r. hpn he Z. 4