Slave Rebellion Leader
On the night of August 21, 1831, following eclipses from the sun, which Turner took as a sign from God, he and four other slaves, launched the bloody insurrection of the Nat Turner Slave Rebellion. Turner states that he had many convictions from the Lord that it was his duty in life to rebel against slavery and do that task at whatever the cost. Tuner spent many years thinking about this calling to make sure it was a call from God and not his own personal desire. Turner states in regards to his calling, “I studiously avoided mixing in society, and wrapped myself in mystery, devoting my time to fasting and prayer"(1). During his time of fasting and prayer Tuner came across a scripture that would push his beliefs even more. The scripture is Matthew 6: 33, “Seek ye the kingdom of heaven, and all things shall be added unto you” (2). A few years passing Nat Turner was placed under an overseer in which he ran away from and hid from in the woods for about thirty days. Turner returned to his master after those thirty days because he heard to Lord say to him that his act in running away was things of this world, and not to the Kingdom of Heaven, and that he should return to the service of his earthly master (3). Soon after Turner returned he was laboring in the fields and discovered drops of blood on corn and believed it so be a sign from the heavens (4). In an interview, after turner was captured and brought to jail, Tuner said in regards to the blood on th corn, “The Holy Ghost had revealed itself to me, and made plain the miracles it had shown me; for as the blood of Christ has 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,--is was plain to me that the Savior was about to lay down the yoke he had borne for the sins of men, and the great day of judgment was at hand"(5). Turner recruiter several salves and on August 21, 1831, Turner and his followers took the first step to their revolt against white slave holders by killing Travis, Turners own master. Turners slave followers grew up to around fifty other black slaves and they ran house to house killing all the whites, including women and children who interfered in their paths. Turner and his followers used the arms as well as horses from the white people they killed. According to the Raleigh Register, “During that night an the following day, they succeeded in killing more than sixty whites”(6). Turners plan was to spread the attack to Jerusalem but his plan was ruined before hand(7). Turner and his followers came face to face with armed white men at a location near Jerusalem. Turner alone fled the scene and hid himself in the woods.
(1) PBS. "The Confessions of Nat Turner." PBS. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part3/3h500.html (accessed April 16, 2014).(2) Greenberg, Kenneth S.. Nat Turner: A Slave Rebellion in History and Memory. Oxford, NY: Oxford University Press, 2004.
(3) The Confessions of Nat Turner
(4) Nat Turner: A Slave Rebellion in History and Memory
(5) The Confessions of Nat Turner
(6)Raleigh Register. "9.5 Reporting on Nat Turner: The Raleigh Register, Sept. 1." Reporting on Nat Turner: The Raleigh Register, Sept. 1. http://www.learnnc.org/lp/editions/nchist-newnation/4545 (accessed April 15, 2014).
(7) Nat Turner: A Slave Rebellion in History and Memory
(1) PBS. "The Confessions of Nat Turner." PBS. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part3/3h500.html (accessed April 16, 2014).(2) Greenberg, Kenneth S.. Nat Turner: A Slave Rebellion in History and Memory. Oxford, NY: Oxford University Press, 2004.
(3) The Confessions of Nat Turner
(4) Nat Turner: A Slave Rebellion in History and Memory
(5) The Confessions of Nat Turner
(6)Raleigh Register. "9.5 Reporting on Nat Turner: The Raleigh Register, Sept. 1." Reporting on Nat Turner: The Raleigh Register, Sept. 1. http://www.learnnc.org/lp/editions/nchist-newnation/4545 (accessed April 15, 2014).
(7) Nat Turner: A Slave Rebellion in History and Memory