Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-12-18
THE vEsEY INsURREOTIoN.
A History of the Great Charleston Con
spirRcy sixty Years Ago.


reiterated again and again that our PEG.
pie were in constant dread of slave in.
surrections. In spite of the loyalty and
devotion Of the negroes to their masters
families during the civil war, when every
opportunity was afforded the negro for
Instruction, none took place. But the
old charge is still trumped up, and an ac-
count of the only attempted insurrectiou
OF any Importance which took place in
south Carolina will be Of interest. 1t is
timely, too, as showing how quickly and
thoroughly stern justice was visited upon
the leaders of the insurrection, and how
IDLE ana wicked was the threat OF the me-
gro ministers Of Charleston in their re-
cent address, that the scenes of st. Do.
mingo might be re-enacted in this State
should their tancied grievances be disre-
garded.
THE VEsEY INsURRECTION.
Denmark Nesey, a negro carpenter who
had bought his freedom In 1900 with $500
OF $1,000 prize drawn from the East
Bay Lottery" was the originator of the
intended instruction in and around
Charleston in 1922. Trusted by the
whites, well-tO-dO in the world, intelli-
gent and endowed with great cunning,
personal magnetism and insightinto char
acter, he was well fitted by nature To he
the leader of such plot. For several
years be was secretly working for the full
hllment of his schemes, touching the ne
gro on the weakest point, his emotional
religious nature. Nesey made himself
perfectly familiar with all those parts of
Scripture which he could pervert to his
| purpose. He selected class-leaders of the
African church as his chief subordinates,
and persuaded them, however bloody the
| consequences, that an attempt at eman-
cipatiOn would not only be pleasing to,
but was absolutely enjOined by, the Al
mighty. He distributed inflammatOry
pamphlets which, since 1909, had been
readily furnished by some of our sister
States; so garbled the debates in Con-
gress on the admission of Missouri as to
persuade the negroes that Congress had
actually set them free, and cheered them
with the assurance that armies from Al
RIGA and st. Domingo would come to their
| assistance.
INFLAMING THE PASSIONS OF THE
SLAVES.
| In order to induce the colored popula-
ton to join the conspiracy, every princi-
! pie which could operate on the mind of
man was arttully employed. Religion,
! hope, fear, deception, were resorted to as
occasion required. Exposure of his plans
was to be punished by instant death. BY
the winter of 1921 he had not only obtain
ed incredible influence amongst the
blacks, but many feared him more than
their owners, and one OF them declared
even more than his God. At this period
| he sounded and secured the services of
ROlla and Ned, two slaves Of the then
Governor Thomas Bennett; Jack, belong
| ing to Mrs. Purcell, and Peter, belonging
| to Mrs, POyas. Later, he enlisted Soul
lab Jack" and Monday, belonging to Mr..
Pritchard ana Mr.. Cell, all living in
Charleston. These, his principal officers,
with Lot Forester, Frank Ferguson, and
other recruiting agents. canvassed the
country adjacent to Charleston and en-
gagged great numbers to join in the plan
OF Insurrection. Meanwhile nocturnal
meetings were held at Nesey's house on
Bull street and at Buckeyes farm on
Charleston neck; collections were taken
up for the purchase of arms and ammuni-
ton, and Nesey heard reports and gave or.
/ ders to his subOrdlnates.
The area of country around Charleston
embraced IN this attempt extended to the
north of Charleston many miles towards
Santee, and PROFESSIONALLY into St.
Johns parish; to the south to James and
Johns islands, and to the west beyond
BacOn's bridge, over Ashley river; though
all who inhabited this country were not
engaged in the plot. At the trial of the
conspiratOrs it was testified that 1900
names had been listed, though this was
probably, and perhaps designedly, an eX-
aggeratiOn.
THE PLAN OF ATTACK.
The plan of attack, as designed by We
sew, was as follows Peter was to lead a
party which was to assemble ON South
Bay, and be Joined by force from James
island; he was then TO march up and
seize the arsenal and guardhOuse oppO-
site st. MichaeFs church and secure the
arms.
From this force party was to be de-
tached to prevent the citizens from as
sembling at their alarm posts, by cutting
them OF as they arrived. A second body,
consisting partly of negroes from the
country and the neck, was to assemble on
the neck, under Ned, and to seize the ar
senal there. A third, to assemble at Ben
nctt's mills, to be headed by Rolla, and
after numbering the Governor and intend
ant, to march through the city, or take his
station at Cannon's bridge, and thus pre-
vent the inhabitants of Cannonsboro' from
entering the city.
A fourth, partly from the country and
partly from that portion OF the city, was
to rendezvous on Gadsden's wharf, march
and attack the upper guardhOuse. A fifth,
of country and Neck negroes, for whom
pixies had been provided, was TO assemble
at Buckeyes farm, about two miles and a
| halt from the city, seize the neighbOring
powder magazine and then march into
! the city; and a sixth, to assemble az We
sey's and, under his command, to march
down to the guardhOuse. Whilst these
attacks were going on, number of them
on horseback were to ride through the
streets, Kill every person they might meet
and prevent any from assembling or eX-
tending the alarm. Batteau and Vesey
were to seize the arms Of the Neck COM
pany; the city was to have been fired, and
an indiscriminate slaughter of the whites
to commence. and of all OF their own color
who had not joined or did not Immediate
ly join them.
The horses for the cavalry were TO be
furnished by the negro hostlers, butcher
boys, employees at stables and carriers en-
gagged in the plot.
The negroes were to be brought from
the islands in canoes, ofwhich there were
large numbers, ordinarily used for bring
ing vegetables, stock Of every kind and
the staple Of the country TO the Charles
ton market.
Vesey had originally fixed upon the night
Of the second Monday In July for the at
tack, as many of the citizens would then
have left the city for various summer re-
sorts, but IN consequence OF the excite
ment caused by the discoveries made on
May 80, and the apprehension OF Peter
and Mingo Harth, be thought IT prudent