University of Virginia Library

1. APPENDIX I.

NAT TURNER'S CONFESSIONS.

As an illustration of the character and views ascribed to Dred, we make
a few extracts from the Confessions of Nat Turner, as published by T. R.
Gray, Esq., of Southampton, Virginia, in November, 1831. One of the
principal conspirators in this affair was named Dred.

We will first give the certificate of the court, and a few sentences from
Mr. Gray's introductory remarks, and then proceed with Turner's own
narrative.

“We, the undersigned, members of the court convened at Jerusalem, on
Saturday, the fifth day of November, 1831, for the trial of Nat, alias Nat
Turner, a negro slave, late the property of Putnam Moore, deceased, do
hereby certify, that the confession of Nat, to Thomas R. Gray, was read to
him in our presence, and that Nat acknowledged the same to be full, free,
and voluntary; and that furthermore, when called upon by the presiding
magistrate of the court to state if he had anything to say why sentence of
death should not be passed upon him, replied he had nothing further than
he had communicated to Mr. Gray. Given under our hands and seals at
Jerusalem, this fifth day of November, 1831.

Jeremiah Cobb, (Seal.)

James W. Parker, (Seal.)

Samuel B. Hines, (Seal.)

Thomas Pretlow, (Seal.)

Carr Bowers, (Seal.)

Orris A. Browne, (Seal.)”

“Everything connected with this sad affair was wrapt in mystery, until
Nat Turner, the leader of this ferocious band, whose name has resounded
throughout our widely-extended empire, was captured.

“Since his confinement, by permission of the jailer, I have had ready
access to him; and, finding that he was willing to make a full and free confession
of the origin, progress, and consummation, of the insurrectory movements
of the slaves, of which he was the contriver and head, I determined,
for the gratification of public curiosity, to commit his statements to writing,
and publish them, with little or no variation, from his own words.

“He was not only the contriver of the conspiracy, but gave the first blow
towards its execution.

“It will thus appear, that whilst everything upon the surface of society
wore a calm and peaceful aspect, whilst not one note of preparation was
heard to warn the devoted inhabitants of woe and death, a gloomy fanatic
was revolving in the recesses of his own dark, bewildered, and overwrought
mind, schemes of indiscriminate massacre to the whites. Schemes too fearfully
executed, as far as his fiendish band proceeded in their desolating
march. No cry for mercy penetrated their flinty bosoms. No acts of remembered
kindness made the least impression upon these remorseless murderers.
Men, women, and children, from hoary age to helpless infancy,
were involved in the same cruel fate. Never did a band of savages do their
work of death more unsparingly.

“Nat has survived all his followers, and the gallows will speedily close
his career. His own account of the conspiracy is submitted to the public,
without comment. It reads an awful, and, it is hoped, a useful lesson, as
to the operations of a mind like his, endeavoring to grapple with things
beyond its reach. How it first became bewildered and confounded, and
finally corrupted and led to the conception and perpetration of the most
atrocious and heartrending deeds.

“If Nat's statements can be relied on, the insurrection in this county
was entirely local, and his designs confided but to a few, and these in his immediate
vicinity. It was not instigated by motives of revenge or sudden
anger; but the result of long deliberation, and a settled purpose of mind —
the offspring of gloomy fanaticism acting upon materials but too well prepared
for such impressions.”

“I was thirty-one years of age the second of October last, and born the
property of Benjamin Turner, of this county. In my childhood a circumstance
occurred which made an indelible impression on my mind, and laid
the groundwork of that enthusiasm which has terminated so fatally to
many, both white and black, and for which I am about to atone at the
gallows. It is here necessary to relate this circumstance. Trifling as it
may seem, it was the commencement of that belief which has grown with
time; and even now, sir, in this dungeon, helpless and forsaken as I am,
I cannot divest myself of. Being at play with other children, when three
or four years old, I was telling them something, which my mother, overhearing,
said it had happened before I was born. I stuck to my story,
however, and related some things which went, in her opinion, to confirm it.
Others being called on, were greatly astonished, knowing that these things
had happened, and caused them to say, in my hearing, I surely would be a
prophet, as the Lord had shown me things that had happened before my
birth. And my father and mother strengthened me in this my first impression,
saying, in my presence, I was intended for some great purpose,
which they had always thought from certain marks on my head and breast.
(A parcel of excrescences, which, I believe, are not at all uncommon,
particularly among negroes, as I have seen several with the same. In this
case he has either cut them off, or they have nearly disappeared.)

“My grandmother, who was very religious, and to whom I was much
attached — my master, who belonged to the church, and other religious
persons who visited the house, and whom I often saw at prayers, noticing
the singularity of my manners, I suppose, and my uncommon intelligence
for a child, remarked I had too much sense to be raised, and, if I was, I
would never be of any service to any one as a slave. To a mind like mine,
restless, inquisitive, and observant of everything that was passing, it is
easy to suppose that religion was the subject to which it would be directed;
and, although this subject principally occupied my thoughts, there was
nothing that I saw or heard of to which my attention was not directed.
The manner in which I learned to read and write, not only had great influence
on my own mind, as I acquired it with the most perfect ease, — so much
so, that I have no recollection whatever of learning the alphabet; but, to
the astonishment of the family, one day, when a book was shown me, to
keep me from crying, I began spelling the names of different objects. This
was a source of wonder to all in the neighborhood, particularly the blacks
— and this learning was constantly improved at all opportunities. When I
got large enough to go to work, while employed I was reflecting on many
things that would present themselves to my imagination; and whenever
an opportunity occurred of looking at a book, when the school-children
were getting their lessons, I would find many things that the fertility of my
own imagination had depicted to me before. All my time, not devoted to
my master's service, was spent either in prayer, or in making experiments

in casting different things in moulds made of earth, in attempting to make
paper, gunpowder, and many other experiments, that, although I could not
perfect, yet convinced me of its practicability if I had the means.[1]

“I was not addicted to stealing in my youth, nor have ever been; yet
such was the confidence of the negroes in the neighborhood, even at this
early period of my life, in my superior judgment, that they would often
carry me with them when they were going on any roguery, to plan for
them. Growing up among them with this confidence in my superior judgment,
and when this, in their opinions, was perfected by Divine inspiration,
from the circumstances already alluded to in my infancy, and which belief
was ever afterwards zealously inculcated by the austerity of my life and
manners, which became the subject of remark by white and black; having
soon discovered to be great, I must appear so, and therefore studiously
avoided mixing in society, and wrapped myself in mystery, devoting my
time to fasting and prayer.

“By this time, having arrived to man's estate, and hearing the Scriptures
commented on at meetings, I was struck with that particular passage
which says, `Seek ye the kingdom of heaven, and all things shall be
added unto you.' I reflected much on this passage, and prayed daily for
light on this subject. As I was praying one day at my plough, the Spirit
spoke to me, saying, `Seek ye the kingdom of heaven, and all things shall
be added unto you.' Question. `What do you mean by the Spirit?'
Answer. `The Spirit that spoke to the prophets in former days,' — and I
was greatly astonished, and for two years prayed continually, whenever my
duty would permit; and then again I had the same revelation, which
fully confirmed me in the impression that I was ordained for some great
purpose in the hands of the Almighty. Several years rolled round, in
which many events occurred to strengthen me in this my belief. At this
time I reverted in my mind to the remarks made of me in my childhood,
and the things that had been shown me; and as it had been said of me in
my childhood, by those by whom I had been taught to pray, both white and
black, and in whom I had the greatest confidence, that I had too much
sense to be raised, and if I was I would never be of any use to any one as a
slave; now, finding I had arrived to man's estate, and was a slave, and
these revelations being made known to me, I began to direct my attention
to this great object, to fulfil the purpose for which, by this time, I felt
assured I was intended. Knowing the influence I had obtained over the
minds of my fellow-servants — (not by the means of conjuring and such-like
tricks — for to them I always spoke of such things with contempt), but by
the communion of the Spirit, whose revelations I often communicated to
them, and they believed and said my wisdom came from God, — I now began to

prepare them for my purpose, by telling them something was about to happen
that would terminate in fulfilling the great promise that had been
made to me.

“About this time I was placed under an overseer, from whom I ran away,
and, after remaining in the woods thirty days, I returned, to the astonishment
of the negroes on the plantation, who thought I had made my escape
to some other part of the country, as my father had done before. But the
reason of my return was, that the Spirit appeared to me and said I had my
wishes directed to the things of this world, and not to the kingdom of
heaven, and that I should return to the service of my earthly master —
`For he who knoweth his Master's will, and doeth it not, shall be beaten
with many stripes, and thus have I chastened you.' And the negroes
found fault, and murmured against me, saying that if they had my sense
they would not serve any master in the world. And about this time I had
a vision — and I saw white spirits and black spirits engaged in battle, and
the sun was darkened — the thunder rolled in the heavens, and blood
flowed in streams — and I heard a voice saying, `Such is your luck, such
you are called to see; and let it come rough or smooth, you must surely
bear it.'

“I now withdrew myself as much as my situation would permit from
the intercourse of my fellow-servants, for the avowed purpose of serving
the Spirit more fully; and it appeared to me, and reminded me of the
things it had already shown me, and that it would then reveal to me the
knowledge of the elements, the revolution of the planets, the operation of
tides, and changes of the seasons. After this revelation in the year 1825,
and the knowledge of the elements being made known to me, I sought more
than ever to obtain true holiness before the great day of judgment should
appear, and then I began to receive the true knowledge of faith. And from
the first steps of righteousness until the last, was I made perfect; and the
Holy Ghost was with me, and said, `Behold me as I stand in the heavens.'
And I looked and saw the forms of men in different attitudes; and there
were lights in the sky, to which the children of darkness gave other names
than what they really were; for they were the lights of the Saviour's hands,
stretched forth from east to west, even as they were extended on the cross
on Calvary for the redemption of sinners. And I wondered greatly at these
miracles, and prayed to be informed of a certainty of the meaning thereof;
and shortly afterwards, while laboring in the field, I discovered drops of
blood on the corn, as though it were dew from heaven; and I communicated
it to many, both white and black, in the neighborhood — and I then
found on the leaves in the woods hieroglyphic characters and numbers,
with the forms of men in different attitudes, portrayed in blood, and representing
the figures I had seen before in the heavens. And now the Holy
Ghost had revealed itself to me, and made plain the miracles it had shown
me; for as the blood of Christ had been shed on this earth, and had

ascended to heaven for the salvation of sinners, and was now returning to
earth again in the form of dew, — and as the leaves on the trees bore the
impression of the figures I had seen in the heavens, — it was plain to me
that the Saviour was about to lay down the yoke he had borne for the sins
of men, and the great day of judgment was at hand.

“About this time I told these things to a white man (Etheldred T. Brantley),
on whom it had a wonderful effect; and he ceased from his wickedness,
and was attacked immediately with a cutaneous eruption, and blood
oozed from the pores of his skin, and after praying and fasting nine days
he was healed. And the Spirit appeared to me again, and said, as the
Saviour had been baptized, so should we be also; and when the white people
would not let us be baptized by the church, we went down into the water
together, in the sight of many who reviled us, and were baptized by the
Spirit. After this I rejoiced greatly, and gave thanks to God. And on the
12th of May, 1828, I heard a loud noise in the heavens, and the Spirit
instantly appeared to me and said the Serpent was loosened, and Christ
had laid down the yoke he had borne for the sins of men, and that I should
take it on and fight against the Serpent, for the time was fast approaching
when the first should be last and the last should be first. Ques. `Do you
not find yourself mistaken now?' — Ans. `Was not Christ crucified?' And
by signs in the heavens that it would make known to me when I should
commence the great work, and until the first sign appeared I should conceal
it from the knowledge of men; and on the appearance of the sign
(the eclipse of the sun, last February), I should arise and prepare myself,
and slay my enemies with their own weapons. And immediately on the
sign appearing in the heavens, the seal was removed from my lips, and I
communicated the great work laid out for me to do, to four in whom I had
the greatest confidence (Henry, Hark, Nelson, and Sam). It was intended
by us to have begun the work of death on the 4th of July last. Many
were the plans formed and rejected by us, and it affected my mind to such
a degree that I fell sick, and the time passed without our coming to any
determination how to commence — still forming new schemes and rejecting
them, when the sign appeared again, which determined me not to wait
longer.

“Since the commencement of 1830 I had been living with Mr. Joseph
Travis, who was to me a kind master, and placed the greatest confidence
in me; in fact, I had no cause to complain of his treatment to me. On
Saturday evening, the 20th of August, it was agreed between Henry,
Hark, and myself, to prepare a dinner the next day for the men we expected,
and then to concert a plan, as we had not yet determined on any.
Hark, on the following morning, brought a pig, and Henry brandy; and
being joined by Sam, Nelson, Will, and Jack, they prepared in the woods a
dinner, where, about three o'clock, I joined them.”

“Q. Why were you so backward in joining them?”

“A. The same reason that had caused me not to mix with them for
years before.

“I saluted them on coming up, and asked Will how came he there.
He answered, his life was worth no more than others, and his liberty as
dear to him. I asked him if he thought to obtain it. He said he would,
or lose his life. This was enough to put him in full confidence. Jack, I
knew, was only a tool in the hands of Hark. It was quickly agreed we
should commence a home (Mr. J. Travis') on that night; and until we had
armed and equipped ourselves, and gathered sufficient force, neither age
nor sex was to be spared — which was invariably adhered to. We remained
at the feast until about two hours in the night, when we went to the house
and found Austin.”

We will not go into the horrible details of the various massacres,
but only make one or two extracts, to show the spirit and feelings of
Turner:

“I then went to Mr. John T. Harrow's; they had been here and murdered
him. I pursued on their track to Capt. Newit Harris', where I found
the greater part mounted and ready to start. The men, now amounting to
about forty, shouted and hurraed as I rode up. Some were in the yard, loading
their guns; others drinking. They said Captain Harris and his family
had escaped; the property in the house they destroyed, robbing him of
money and other valuables. I ordered them to mount and march
instantly; this was about nine or ten o'clock, Monday morning. I proceeded
to Mr. Levi Waller's, two or three miles distant. I took my station
in the rear, and, as it was my object to carry terror and devastation where-ever
we went, I placed fifteen or twenty of the best armed and most to be
relied on in front, who generally approached the houses as fast as their
horses could run. This was for two purposes — to prevent their escape, and
strike terror to the inhabitants; on this account I never got to the houses,
after leaving Mrs. Whitehead's, until the murders were committed, except
in one case. I sometimes got in sight in time to see the work of death
completed; viewed the mangled bodies as they lay, in silent satisfaction, and
immediately started in quest of other victims. Having murdered Mrs.
Waller and ten children, we started for Mr. Wm. Williams', — having killed
him and two little boys that were there; while engaged in this, Mrs. Williams
fled and got some distance from the house, but she was pursued,
overtaken, and compelled to get up behind one of the company, who
brought her back, and, after showing her the mangled body of her lifeless
husband, she was told to get down and lay by his side, where she was
shot dead.

“The white men pursued and fired on us several times. Hark had his
horse shot under him, and I caught another for him as it was running by
me; five or six of my men were wounded, but none left on the field. Finding
myself defeated here, I instantly determined to go through a private

way, and cross the Nottoway River at the Cypress Bridge, three miles
below Jerusalem, and attack that place in the rear, as I expected they
would look for me on the other road, and I had a great desire to get there
to procure arms and ammunition. After going a short distance in this
private way, accompanied by about twenty men, I overtook two or three,
who told me the others were dispersed in every direction.

“On this, I gave up all hope for the present; and on Thursday night,
after having supplied myself with provisions from Mr. Travis', I
scratched a hole under a pile of fence-rails in a field, where I concealed
myself for six weeks, never leaving my hiding-place but for a few minutes
in the dead of the night to get water, which was very near. Thinking by
this time I could venture out, I began to go about in the night, and cavesdrop
the houses in the neighborhood; pursuing this course for about a
fortnight, and gathering little or no intelligence, afraid of speaking to any
human being, and returning every morning to my cave before the dawn of
day. I know not how long I might have led this life, if accident had not
betrayed me. A dog in the neighborhood passing by my hiding-place one
night while I was out, was attracted by some meat I had in my cave, and
crawled in and stole it, and was coming out just as I returned. A few nights
after, two negroes having started to go hunting 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
discovered, I spoke to them to beg concealment. On making myself known,
they fled from me. Knowing then they would betray me, I immediately
left my hiding-place, and was pursued almost incessantly, until I was taken,
a fortnight afterwards, by Mr. Benjamin Phipps, in a little hole I had dug
out with my sword, for the purpose of concealment, under the top of a fallen
tree.

“During the time I was pursued, I had many hair-breadth escapes, which
your time will not permit you to relate. I am here loaded with chains, and
willing to suffer the fate that awaits me.”

Mr. Gray asked him if he knew of any extensive or concerted plan. His
answer was, I do not. When I questioned him as to the insurrection in
North Carolina happening about the same time, he denied any knowledge
of it; and when I looked him in the face, as though I would search his inmost
thoughts, he replied, “I see, sir, you doubt my word; but can you
not think the same ideas, and strange appearances about this time in the
heavens, might prompt others, as well as myself, to this undertaking?” I
now had much conversation with and asked him many questions, having
forborne to do so previously, except in the cases noted in parenthesis; but
during his statement, I had, unnoticed by him, taken notes as to some particular
circumstances, and, having the advantage of his statement before me
in writing, on the evening of the third day that I had been with him, I
began a cross-examination, and found his statement corroborated by every

circumstance coming within my own knowledge, or the confessions of others
who had been either killed or executed, and whom he had not seen or had
any knowledge of since the 22d of August last. He expressed himself fully
satisfied as to the impracticability of his attempt. It has been said he was
ignorant and cowardly, and that his object was to murder and rob for the
purpose of obtaining money to make his escape. It is notorious that he
was never known to have a dollar in his life, to swear an oath, or drink a
drop of spirits. As to his ignorance, he certainly never had the advantages
of education, but he can read and write (it was taught him by his parents),
and for natural intelligence and quickness of apprehension is surpassed by
few men I have ever seen. As to his being a 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 a complete fanatic,
or plays his part most admirably. 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 ordinary stature, though strong and active, having the true negro
face, every feature of which is strongly marked. I shall not attempt to describe
the effect of his narrative, as told and commented on by himself, in
the condemned hole of the prison. The calm, deliberate composure with
which he spoke of his late deeds and intentions; the expression of his fiend-like
face when excited by enthusiasm, still bearing the stains of the blood
of helpless innocence about him; clothed with rags and covered with chains,
yet daring to raise his manacled hands to heaven, with a spirit soaring
above the attributes of man. I looked on him, and my blood curdled in
my veins.