The citizen., 1906-08-31
BY CHARLES l.. SHIPLEY.
PART FIRST.

PART FIRST.
In the year lS3l-a year ever
memorable in the history of Vir-
ginia-Occurred the tragic negro
insurrectiOn in Southamp on
county, Virginia. Although Sla
very had existed as one of our in
stitutiOns for a period of over two
hundred years, this was the first
instance of any magnitude in our
history of an open rebellion of
the slaves against their masters,
and the same being attended with
such atrOclOuS circumstances OF
cruelty and destruction. as could
not fail to leave deep impression
not only upon the minds of the
community where the fearful |
tragedy was enacted, but through
ont every portion of the country
where the slave population of that
period could be found.
DiSmay filled every portion of
the State. Curiosity was on its
tiptoc 20 know the origin and pro-
gresS Of this fearful conspiracy
and the motives which influenced
its diabOlical actions. The inSur-
rcction had failed ignominiously
after shedding a fearful quantity
of innocent blood. the insurgent
slaves concerned in it had been
captured and either executed or
transported ont Of the country
with the exception of he LEADER
without making any revelation
concerning the conspiracy, or the
motives which governed it, or the
means by which they expected to
accomplish their object.
Everything connected with the
sad affair appeared to have been
shrouded i'll mystery, until Nat
Turner, the arch conSpirator,
murderer, and leader OF this terO-
ciOuS band, whose name had re-
sounded throughout the country,
was captured. This notorious
black was captured by single in.
dlrldual, i'll cave near the resi-
dence of his deceased owner. on
Sunday, October 30th, 1881, with
out attempting to make the slight
est resistance, and on the follow.
ing day safely lodged in the Jail
of Southampton county. His
captOrwas a Mr.. Benjamin Phipps,
who was armed with a shot gun.
Mats only weapon was a small
light sword, which he immediate
ly surrendered, and begged that
his life might be spared.
While in Jail he. made a full con
fessiOn of the origin, progress and
consummatiOn of the insurrectory
movements of the slaves of which
he was the leader. He was not
only the arch conspirator of the
uprising, but gave the first blow
towards its execution, of which
we will recount the details.
A SKETCH OF NAT TURNER.
Away down in the southwestern
section of Southampton county, in
the early part of the nineteenth
century, lived Joseph Travis,
the owner of large plantation
and number of negro slaves, aud
In whom he placed such con nfidence
that the doors and windows of his
house were left unlocked at night.
Among the slaves belonging to
Mr.. Travis, was one who was des.
tined to leave his name on the
page of history. He was born on
October 2nd 1900, and was at that
time the property of Benjamin
Turner, and being named in IN.
fancy "Nathaniel', he assumed
the name of his master, and went
by the name of "Nat Turner.
He was of pure Afrl can blood,
and had the thick lips, wooIly
hair, and the flattened nose of the
negro race. AS child he show
ed great quickness of mind, was
inquisitive, obseryant, and in
some manner learned to read and
write. The laws of Virginia did
not permit the slave to be schooled,
becOuse a little learning would
tend to make them dissatisfied
with their station in life in which
the laws of the State had placed
him.
In his childhood circumstance
occurred which made an indelible |
impression upon his mind, and
laid the fondation of the work of |
that "enthusiasm", as he termed
it, which terminated 80 fatally to
many blacks and whites, and for
which he was compelled to swing