The Confessions of Nat Turner by Nat Turner

Knowing the influence I had obtained over the minds of my fellow servants, (not by the means of conjuring and such like tricks-for to them I always spoke of such things with contempt) but by the communion of the Spirit whose revelations I often communicated to them, and they believed and said my wisdom came from God. Now finding I had arrived to man's estate, and was a slave, and these revelations being made known to me, I began to direct my attention to this great object, to fulfill the purpose for which, by this time, I felt assured I was intended. At this time I reverted in my mind to the remarks made of me in my childhood, and the things that had been shewn me-and as it had been said of me in my childhood by those by whom I had been taught to pray, both white and black, and in whom I had the greatest confidence, that I had too much sense to be raised, and if I was, I would never be of any use to any one as a slave. Several years rolled round, in which many events occurred to strengthen me in this my belief. and then again I had the same revelation, which fully confirmed me in the impression that I was ordained for some great purpose in the hands of the Almighty. The insurrection of Nat Turner was monumental in two ways: slaveholders in the South tightened the constraints on their slaves because of their heightened fear of slave revolt and slaves who managed to escape from slavery gained a template for writing a narrative of experience to expose the slave institution of the South. The repercussions of the rebellion in the South were severe because many slaves who had no involvement in the rebellion were punished out of suspicion or revenge. In fact, many anti-slavery advocates prophesied the justified potential of a slave revolt and Nat Turner fulfilled that prophesy.

Nat Turner was not the first slave to think about rebelling against his slave owners. Despite this fact, the important elements of the story remain factual and reliable, corroborated by witness testimony. However, because Gray had full control of it, some of the wording is attributable to Gray and not Turner.

The 'Confession,' recorded by Gray is in the first person and appeared to be the words and testimony of Turner. The result of the interview was the 'The Confessions of Nat Turner, The Leader of the Late Insurrection in South Hampton, VA.,' and this document was used against Turner during his trial.

The Confessions of Nat Turner by Nat Turner