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A. Lincoln Published in the
National Gazette - Philadelphia30 August 1831 PHILADELPHIA - Monday, August 29, 1831 Insurrection in Virginia Extract from a letter from a gentleman to his friend in Baltimore, dated Richmond, August 23. An express reached the governor this morning, informing him that an insurrection had broken out in Southampton, and that, by the last accounts, there were seventy whites massacred, and the militia retreating. Another express to Petersburg says that the blacks are continuing their destruction; that three-hundred militia were retreating in a body, before six or eight hundred blacks. A shower of rain coming up as the militia were making an attack, wet the powder so much that they were compelled to retreat, being armed only with shotguns. The negroes were armed with muskets, scythes, axes, &c, &c. Out volunteers are marching to the scene of action. A troop of cavalry left at four o'clock P.M. The artillery, with four field pieces, start in the steamboat Norfolk, at 6 o'clock, to land at Smithfield, Southampton county lies 80 miles south of us, beloe Petersburg. Disagreeable rumors having reached this city of an insurrection of the slaves in Southampton county, with loss of life, in order to correct exaggeration, and at the same time to induce all salutary caution, we state the following particulars: An express from the Hon. James Trezvant states that an insurrection had broken out, that several families had been murdered, and that the negroes were embodied, requiring a significant military force to reduce them. The names and precise numbers of families are not mentioned. A letter to the Post Master corroborates the information. Prompt and efficient measures are being taken by the Governor, to call out a sufficient force to put down the insurrection, and put lower Virginia on its guard. Serious danger of course there is none. The deluded wretches have rushed on assured destruction. The Fayette Artillery and the Light Dragoons will leave here this evening for Southampton; the artillery will go by steamboat, and the troop by land. We are indebted to the kindness of our friend Lyford for the following extract of a letter from the editors of the Norfolk Herald, containing the particulars of a most murderous insurrection among the blacks of Southampton County, Virginia. Norfolk, 24th Aug., 1831 I have a horrible, a heart rending tale to relate, and least even its worst features might be distorted by rumor and exaggeration, I have thought it proper to give you all and the worst information, that has as yet reached us through the best sources of intelligence which the nature of the case will admit. A gentleman arrived here yesterday express from Suffolk, with intelligence from the upper part of Southampton county, stating that a band of insurgent slaves (some of them believed to be runaways from the neighbouring swamps) had turned out on Sunday night last, and murdered several whole families, amounting to forty or fifty individuals. Some of the families were named, and among them was that of Mrs. Catherine Whitehead, sister of our worthy townsman, Dr. N.C. Whitehead, -- who with her son and five daughters fell a sacrifice to the savage ferocity of these demons in human shape. The insurrection was represented as one of the most alarming character, though it is believed to originated only in a design to plunder, and not a view to a more important object--as Mrs. Whitehead, being a wealthy lady was supposed to have a large sum of money in her house. Unfortunately a large number of effective male population was absent at Camp Meeting, in Gates county, some miles off; a circumstance which gave a temporary security to the brigands in the perpetration of their butcheries; and the panic which they struck at the moment prevented the assembling of a force sufficient to check their career. As soon as this intelligence was received, our authorities met, and decided on making an immediate application to Col. House, commanding at Fortress Monroe, who at 6 o'clock this morning embarked on board the Steamboat Hampton, with three companies and a piece of artillery for Suffolk. These troops were re-inforced in the roads by detachments from U.S. ships to Warren and Natchez, the whole amounting to nearly 300 men. To-day another express arrived from Suffolk, confirming the disastrous news of the preceding one, adding still more to the number of slain. The insurgents are believed to have from 100 to 150 mounted men, and about the same number on foot. They are armed with fowling pieces, clubs, &c. and have had a rencounter with a small number of the militia, who killed six and took eight of them prisoners.--They are said to be on their way to South Quay, probably making their way to the Dismal Swamp, in which they will be able to remain for a short time in security. For my part, I have no fears of their doing much further mischief. There is very little disaffection in the slaves generally, and they cannot muster a force sufficient to effect any object of importance. The few who have thus rushed headlong into the arena, will be shot down like crows, or captured and made examples of. The militia are collecting in all the neighbouring counties, and the utmost vigilance prevails. -- I subjoin a list of the victims of their savage vengeance: Mrs. Waters and family, 14; Mrs. Whitehead, 7; Mrs. Vaughan, 5; Jacob Williams, 5; Mr. Travis, 5; Wm. Reese, 4; Mr. Williams, 3; Mr. Baines, 2; Mrs. Turner, 3; Unknown, 10 -- Total, 58. Besides these, a private lette adds the families of Mr. Barrow and Henry Bryant; numbers not mentioned. Muskkets, pistols, swords, and ammunition, have been forwarded to Suffolk to-day, by Com. Warrington, at the request of our civil authorities and a number of our citizens have accoutred and formed themselves as a troop of cavalry, and set off to assist their fellow citizens in Southampton. I trust the next news you hear will be that all is quiet again. In haste, yours. Extract from another letter to the same gentleman, dated at Norfolk, 5 o'clock P.M. -- "It is now 5 o'clock -- Thompson's stage has just arrived -- the above statement is confirmed; and in addition it is stated that 300 negroes, well mounted and armed, and headed by one or two white men, is the amount of the insurgent force. (Southampton is bounded by the counties of Isle of Wight on the North, and Northampton, in North Carolina, on the South.)
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