© 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 by Sarah N. Roth,

Meredith College

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THE NAT TURNER PROJECT

  • HOME

  • SETTING

  • REVOLT

  • AFTERMATH

  • IMPACT

  • More

    Suppression

     

    Early Tuesday morning, August 23, Virginia Governor John Floyd received word from Southampton County officials that the slaves in their county were in rebellion. As soon as possible, Governor Floyd called up militias from Richmond, Norfolk, Portsmouth, and Petersburg to march to Southampton and suppress the revolt. He put Brigadier General Richard Eppes of Sussex County in charge of the units that arrived on the scene. 

     

    Meanwhile, Southampton officials began arresting suspected slave rebels. The first trials took place on August 31, less than ten days after the revolt had begun. Newspapers, official documents, and the governor’s personal diary outline the course of events and reveal whites’ reactions as they attempted to put down the rebellion, find and punish the perpetrators, and restore order to their society.

    Militia

    Governor Floyd’s Diary, August 1831

    Governor’s Council, August 23,1831

    Governor’s Letters, August 24, 1831

    Militia Notes, August 24 and 25, 1831

    Newspaper Articles, August 24 - September 26, 1831

    Capture and Trial of Rebels

    Governor Floyd’s Diary, September 1831

    Reward, Capture of Nat Turner, September 17, 1831

    Receipt, Capture of Nat Turner, October 31, 1831

    Execution of Nat Turner, November 11, 1831

    Newspaper Articles, September 2 - November 15, 1831