The weekly Anglo-African., 1859-12-31
THE NAT TURNER RESURRECTION


weeks, never leaving my hiding place but
for few minutes in the dead of the night
to get water which was very near; thinking
by this time j could venture out, | began
to go about in the night and eavesdrop the
houses in the neighborhood; pursuing this
course for about fortnight and gathering
little or no intelligence, afraid of speaking
to any human being, and returning every
morning to my avebefore the dawn of day.
| know not how long might Lave led this
life, If accident had not betrayed me. A
dog IN the neighborhood passing by my
hiding place, one night while | was out,
was attracted by some meat | had in my
cave, and crawled in and stole it, and was
coming out just as | returned. A few nights
after, two negroes having started to go hunt
ing with the same dog, and passed that way,
the dog came again to the place, and having
just gone out to walk about, discovered me
and barked, on which thinking myself dis
covered, spoke to them to beg concealment.
On making myself known, they fed from
me. Knowing then they would betray me,
Immediately left my hiding place, and was
pursued almost necessarily, until l was
taken, fortnight afterwards, by Mr. Ben
jamin Phipps, in little hole 1 had dug
out with sword, for the purpose of con-
cealment, under the top of a fallen
tree. On Mr.. Phipps' discovering the
place of my concealment, he cooked his
gun and aimed at me. l requested him
not to shoot, and | would give up, upon
which he demanded my sword. l de-
ivered it to him and he brought me to
prison. During the time was pursued,
had many r-breadth escapes, which
your time will not permit me to relate
am here, loaded with chains, and willing
to suffer the fate that awaits me.
here proceeded to make some inquiries
of him, after assuring him of the certain
death that awaited him, and that conceal
ment would only bring destruction on the
innocent, as we'll as the guilty, of his own
color, if he knew Of any extensive or con-
certed plan. His answer was, II do not"
When questioned him as to the insurrec-
ton in North Carolina happening about
the same time, he denied any knowledge
of it; and when / looked him in the face,
as though | wonld search his most Utmost
thoughts, he replied, II see, sir, you doubt
my word; but, can you not think the same
'eas; and strange appearances about this
lime, in the heavens, might prompt others,
as well as myself to this undertaking."
now had much conversation with him
and asked him many questions, having
forborne to do so previously, except in the
cases noted in parentheses; but during his
statement [ had, unnoticed by him, taken
notes as TO some particular circumstances,
and, having the advantage of having his
statement before me in writing, on the eve
ming of the third day that had been with
him, | began a ss-examination, and
found his statement corroborated by every
circumstance coming within my own know
ledge, or the confessions of others who had
been either killed or executed, and whom
he had not seen nor had any knowledge
of since the 22nd of August last He ex-
pressed himself fully satisfied as to the i'm
practicability of the attempt 1t has been
said that he was ignorant and cowardly,
and that his object was, to murder and rob,
for the purpose of obtaining money to make
his escape. 1t is notorious, that he was
never known to have a dollar in his life, to
swear an oath, or drink drop of spirits
As to his ignorance, he certainly never had
the advantages ofeducation; but he can
read and write, lit was taught him by his
parents) and, for natural intelligence and
quickness Of apprehension, is surpassed by
few men l have ever seen. As to his be-
ing coward, his reason, as given, for not
resisting Mr.. Phipps, shows 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 com
plete fanatic, or plays his part most ad-
mlrably. On other subjects he possesses
an uncommon share of intelligence, with a
mind capable Of attaining anything; but
warped and perverted by the influence of
early impressions. He is below the ordin-
airy stature. Rough strong and active,
having the true negro face, every feature
of which is strongly marked. | shall not
attempt to describe the effect of his nara
tive, as told aud commented on by himself,
in the condemned-hole of the prison. The
calm, deliberate composure with which he
spoke fhis late deeds and intentions, theex-
preston of his fend-like face, when excited
by enthusiasm, still bearing The stains ofthe
blood of helpless innocence about him,
clothed with rags and covered with chains,
yet daring to raise his manacled hands to
heaven, with spirit soaring above the at
tributes cf 'uan,-I looked on him, and the
blood curdled in my veins.
will not shock the feelings of humani-
ty, nor wound afresh the bosoms of the dis
consulate sufferers, in this unparalleled and
inhuman massacre, by detailing the deeds
Of their fend-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 reload when they charged on them.