Following a .
lengthy trial, Vesey and thirty-six others were hanged. On the day of Vesey's execution, state militia and federal troops had to be called out to contain a demonstration by black supporters. Despite arrests and beatings, many blacks defied authorities by wearing mourning black as they witnessed the executions of the chief co-conspirators. .
Nat Turner led the second major revolt. Nat Turner was born on October 2, 1800, in Southampton County, Virginia. While still a young child, Nat was overheard describing events that had happened before he was born. "This, along with his keen intelligence, and other signs marked him in the eyes of his people as a prophet" (Beaulieu 510). A deeply religious man, he "therefore studiously avoided mixing in society, and wrapped [him]self in mystery, devoting [his] time to fasting and praying"(Keegan 267). In 1821, Turner ran away from his overseer, returning after thirty days because of a vision in which the Spirit had told him to "return to the service of my earthly master" (Oates 163). The next year, following the death of his master Nat was sold to Thomas Moore. Three years later, Nat Turner had another vision. He saw lights in the sky and prayed to find out what they meant. Then .
while laboring in the field, I discovered drops of blood on the corn, as though it were dew from heaven, and I communicated it to many, both white and black, in the neighborhood; and then I found on the leaves in the woods hieroglyphic characters and numbers, with the forms of men in different attitudes, portrayed in blood, and representing the figures I had seen before in the heavens. .
On May 12, 1828, Turner had his third vision: .
I heard a loud noise in the heavens, and the Spirit instantly appeared to me and said the Serpent was loosened, and Christ had laid down the yoke he had borne for the sins of men, and that I should take it on and fight against the Serpent, for the time was fast approaching when the first should be last and the last should be first.