Inevitable: The Nat Turner Slave Rebellion of 1831
During the early morning hours of August 21, 1831, eight slaves led by lay preacher Nat Turner entered their owner’s home and murdered the entire family. This uprising in Southampton County, Virginia, kicked off the beginning of the bloodiest slave revolt in United States history.
Nat Turner was born a slave on October 2, 1800, in Southampton County, Virginia. He was deeply devoted to his Christian faith and believed God spoke to him through visions and signs. One sign compelled him to return to his master after an escape attempt; another inspired the insurrection that would leave at least 55 white people dead.
After Nat and his followers had killed the Travis family, they went from plantation to plantation, slaying every white person they encountered, regardless of age or sex. Eventually, Turner’s band of rebelling slaves numbered 70 or more. A young child who hid from the carnage in a fireplace was one of the very few to survive.
As Turner and his group were heading for the nearby town of Jerusalem, a white militia complete with artillery reinforcement appeared. The rebels scattered, and the insurrection was defeated. Nat Tuner managed to evade capture for two months hiding in the woods of Southampton but was eventually found by a farmer on Halloween. He surrendered peacefully.
