The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1867-05-28

As the writer's recollection of the scenes oi
the latter period is still vivid, though not az
eyewitness to any of the horrible atrocities, i,
may oe interesting TO furnish rapid sketch oi
! some OF the prominent circumstances
Inc county OF Southampton, near the village
OF Jerusalem, was the scene of Turner's conspi
racy. lie had long been breeding over it, but
either his mind was undecided how to carry il
into execution, or he had not fully secured the
fidelity of his associates, when the supposed
omen happened which inspired both him and
them with fresh courage 1t was on Saturday,
near the close Of August, a coudless summers
day, when strange appearance Of the sun at.
tracted the attention of all the simple no less
than the wise. Though no, a cloud was visible
10 the heavens, the light was so sottened and
modified by the peculiar state Of the atmosphere
that the spectator could gaze at the sun without
pain or Inconvenience. Aud 10 gazing, thou
sands of fitting, fantastic shapes and streams of
light were observed round the disc, moving in
contrary directions, encircliog it, and surround
ing it with magic influence And as the sun
gradually oeared the HORIZON, its apparent size
became greatly maghifed it assumed q blood
red appearance, and numerous large spots we're
visible on the surface to the naked eye 1t may
be stated, in passing, that this singular phe-
men 10 various parts of the country, several of
whom attempted solution of the mystery
Among the rest, Professor IIallowel, of Alex
andria, subjected the rays OF light to numerous
experiments, such as decompCsng them by
means of the prism and published the results
10 the newspapers; but as nothing of the kind
had ever been seen before, and has never been
repeated since, explanation was accepted as
being at all satisfactory. 1t may, therefore, be
regarded as remaining to the present day
much a mystery as ever
The next day, being Sunday, Turner preached
to his congregation He labored with those
whose assistance he sought to enlist; aud having
made up bis gang, they were engaged in pre-
pairing for active operations during most Of the
night, and at length sailed forth on their des-
perate foray an hour or two before day on Mun
day morning. 1t bad been determined to nur-
der every white person on their line of march of
whatever Sex or age, and this carried out
almost to the letter. Some few, but very few,
escaped during the confusion while the houses
were being sacked, by hiding themselves in
secret places. For awhile the insurgents did
their work so quickly, and moved from house to
house, with such celebrity, that no intelligence
of their advance preceded them. Bu; as their
hands became more aud more stepped in blood
they abandoned themselves to eating and drink
ing from the arders and cellars of their victims,
and soon became SO completely debauched that
their march was easily arrested by the time the
sun was an hour high though not until they had
exterminated a number Of families, and de
stroyed about Sc lives.
The number of insurgents is not recollected
precisely, though it did not exceed 80 or 40
But such were their murderous excesses that,
4 h,to hon ful 10 all nd
that, the whole country, far and near, was seized
with panic surprising anything of the kind
ever witnessed before or since. The investment
of Petersburg two or three years ago by Fed
eral army of $4,000 or 100000 men, produced
effect comparable to it. In the one case the
enemy was in the dark and might be lurking in
every household; 10 the other the operations
were conducted in open day. Far from the
scene of action strong men afraid to absent
themselves moment from their homes; deli
cate women. even mothers with infants at their
breasts, were known to seek the woods for pro-
lection at the midnight hour, in some Cases
leaving their children behind them. Armed
men riding along the public highways in broad
day time were afraid of being waylaid by an
assassin concealed behind every bush. And
patrols were organized in every neishborbood,
who visited nj ghtly every negro cain within
their precincts, to see that the occupants were
at home, and to quell everything like disorder
That good deal of ri gor som, times exer
cised during their rounds cannot be gainsayed.
Among so many irresponsible persons, at such
time of excitement, nothing else could be ex-
pected.
And vet it has never been definitely ascer-
tanned that anything like general uprising was
contemplated. There was good reason, however,
to believe that the movement was known far
beyond the limits of Southampton; that secret
Intelligence had been conveyed TO the negroes
of all the adjoining counties to the distance of
100 miles more; and that ,hey Lad knowledge
of the outbreak before the whites obtained il
through the usual channels of information. Ii
is among the characteristics Of these people that
they have system OF telegrsphy among them
selves by which they Communicate with each
other between distant points 10 an incredible
short time. But they are great night-walkers,
travellers, visiting each other at remote places
between bed time and day-break, aud this may
account for the mystery. 1t can only be a
matter Of speculation, however, as their private
matters are kept with the most profound seeresy.
AS soon as the massacre was discovered, me :
sengers were dispatched to the Governor Of the
State imploring him to send troops TO the as
si.tance Of the people. Several companies of
infantry and cavalry were Immediately ordered
from Richmond. When they reached the scene
of carnage and beheld the horrible spectacle
their rage was uncontrollsblr. The poor ne
grocs who had no hand in the affair fed fol
safety, or, If discovered were pursued and sbo,
down without remorse. For some days reason
appeared to have fed to british beasts. Blu,