The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-10-19
THE NEGRO RESURRECTION IN 1881.

1t is now some twenty eight years since the people
OF the southern tier of in Virginia were thrown
into terrible CONSERVATION and alarm by negro nsur
rection outbreak which was inaugurated there under
the most brutal and bloody auspices The negroes
to select Sunday night the best time for commencing
active measures. It was on Sunday evening that the
aboonists and negroes OF Hapers Ferry exposed their
plans by sezng upon the armory and taking possession
Of the town. and also Sabbath evening that tho
negroes Of Southampton county commenced their de-
moniaca work.
Southampton county the frontier between Virginia
and North Carolina and is distant eighty miles from
Richmond. The first intelligence that reached the capital
Of Virginia in regard the outbreak Of 1881 represented
the existence Of most frightul condition Of things in
Southampton county. One Of the editors Of the Norfolk
Herald, writing the oath Of August, thus tells the
story
have horrible and heartrendng tale 10 relate, and
lest its worst feature should be distorted by
exaggcration, have thought it proper give you
all and the worst information that has as vet reached us
through the best sources Of intelligence which the nature
Of the case will admit.
Suffolk with intelligence from the upper part Of South
ampton county stating that band Of nsurgent slaves
(some Of them believed TO be runaways from the neigh
boring swamps) had turned out on Sunday night last,
and murdered several whole families amounting to forty
or fifty individuals. Some Of the families were named
and among them was that of Mrs. Caharine Whitehead
sister of our worthy townsman, DR.. N. c. Whitehead,
who with her and five daughters, fell sacrifice to
the savage ferocity Of these demons in human shape
The insurrection represented Of most
alarming character though is believed to have original
cd only IN design TO plumber, and not With view to
more important Object-as Mrs. Whitehead, being o
wealthy lady, supposed to have had large Of
money in her house Unfortunately, large number Of
the effective male population absent at camp meet
ing tn Gates county, miles off, circumstance which
gave temporary security the brgands In the perpe
uation Of their butcheres and the panic which they
struck at the moment prevented the assembling Of force
sufficient to check their career
As soon as this intelligence received, our auho-
rites met, and decided on making an immediate applica-
ton TO Colonel House. commanding at Fortress Monroe,
who at six O'Clock this morning, embarked board the
steamboat Hampton, with three companies and piece
Of artillery, for Suffolk. These troops reinforced
in the Roads by detachmens from the United States ships
Warren and Natchez the whole amounting to nearly 800
To-day another express arrived from Suffolk, con-
frmng the disastrous of the preceding one, and
adding still To the number of the slain. The in
believed to have from 100 TO $50 mounted
men, and about the same number on foot They are
armed with fowlng pieces, clubs &c, and have had a
killed six and took eight Of them prisoners. They
said to be their way to South Quay, probably making
their way for the Dismal Swamp, in which they will be
able TO remain for short time in security. For my
part have fears Of their doing much further mischief
There is very little dsafacon in the slaves generally
and they cannot muster force sufficient to effect any
object of importance The few who have thus rushed
headong into the arena will be shot down like OF
captured and made examples OF. The militia are col
lecting in all the neghboring counties, and tho utmost
vigilance prevails suboin list of the victims of their