Read The Resurrection of Nat Turner, Part 2: The Testimonial for Free Online

from Norfolk and Portsmouth. The Light Artillery had under their care one thousand stand of arms for Southampton and Sussex, with a good supply of ammunition. All these things were dispatched in a few hours.’”
    She looked up from her reading to meet her husband’s eyes. “You recall, Professor, that Congressman James Trezvant had sent notice to the public that an army of two hundred or more runaway slaves from the Great Dismal Swamp had attacked Southampton.”
    Calvin nodded. “Go on.”
    â€œOn the twenty-fourth: ‘This day was spent in distributing arms to the various counties below this where it was supposed it would be wanted.’”
    Harriet turned the page. “But on the twenty-fifth the governor receives word from the general in command: ‘I received dispatches from Brigadier Richard Eppes, stating that with local militia those I sent him were more than enough to suppress the insurrection.’
    â€œThe next day the governor continues to receive requests for arms from other counties like Brunswick, Nansemond, Surry, and towns, including Greenville.
    â€œOn the third of September, he mentions trials and names I have heard before—Moses, Daniel, Andrew, and Jack. He seems to find the distance they were purported to cover astounding. ‘The insurgents progressed twenty miles before they were checked, yet all this horrid work was accomplished in two days.’”
    Harriet sighed and forced herself to take a sip of tea. “Governor Floyd finds the twenty miles incredible. What must he have thought when by the end of things the rebels were said to have covered fifty miles in two days?” She began to search the pages. “Over the days, he received records of scores of slaves condemned to hang in Southampton and other counties. Then on September 17th, I begin to sense some doubt.
    â€œâ€˜Received an express from Amelia today, asking arms as families have been murdered in Dinwiddie near the Nottoway line. Colonel Davidson of the 39th Regiment Petersburgh states the same by report. I do not exactly believe the report.’
    â€œThe governor was so sympathetic when he first heard of the rebellion, or the insurrection, as he called it. But on the nineteenth Floyd writes, ‘News from the Colonel of the 39th says the whole isfalse as it relates to the massacre of Mrs. Cousins and family in Dinwiddie. The slaves are quiet and evince no disposition to rebel.’ The next day he writes: ‘The alarm of the country is great in the counties between this and the Blue Ridge Mountains. I am daily sending them a portion of arms though I know there is no danger as the slaves were never more humbled and subdued.’
    â€œOn September 23rd, he mentions two trials in particular that troubled him: ‘I received the record of the trial of Lucy and Joe of Southampton. They were of the insurgents.’”
    Calvin leaned forward in his chair, his fingers steepled, his elbows on the table.
    â€œDo you remember me telling you of them, Professor? Lucy and Joe belonged to the widow Mary Barrow and to John Clarke Turner, respectively. I remember when I was told of the trials that my heart was filled with doubt. The governor appears to have been doubtful also. He wrote, ‘What can be done, I yet know not, as I am obliged by the Constitution first to require the advice of the council, then to do as I please. This endangers the lives of these negroes, though I am disposed to reprieve for transportation I cannot do it until I first require advice of council and there are no councillors now in Richmond, nor will there be unless Daniel comes to town in time enough.’”
    Harriet pushed her toast away. She had no appetite. People died for no reason. She continued, forcing her way through the reading, “Then on September 27th, ‘I have received record of the trial of three slaves for treason in Southampton. Am recommended to mercy, which I