I am writing this letter to explain my reasoning upon my slave revolt. I am not in favor of violence whatsoever, and actually I am a very religious person. I led this revolt because I experienced a prophetic vision, and it ordered me to gain freedom by using force, and by being violent. On August 21, 1831, I killed my master’s family while they were asleep. My accomplices and I moved from house to house, eventually killing over 50 slave owners with various different tools. I was so sick and tired of being a slave that I knew something had to be done. I was ready to be free, ready to be educated, ready to be able to do whatever I wanted on my own. I led this rebellion not because I wanted to be a rebel and cause a great amount of ruckus, but I wanted to stand up for what I believe in, and I wanted to be my own man. Something needed to be done, and it just so happened that I was the one to step up and take charge. You can thank the vision I had for that, because that is what motivated my rebellion. Since I am a very religious person, I knew that the message I was getting in my head was the right thing that needed to be done, and it was right then that I knew I was going to do it. I realized that God was speaking to me through my vision telling me to start a rebellion, even though it would involve much violence, and many killings.
Sincerely,
Nat Turner