(M.)
CONFESSION OF JOHN ENSLOW.
Monday Gell led me in it and took me to Vesey’s; there was a large meeting; Vesey told the meeting the people was to rise up and fight the white people for their liberty; we always went to Monday’s house afterwards; Monday did all the writing; I heard they were trying all round the country to Georgetown, Santee, and round to Combahee, &c. about to get people; Peter was also there, he was one; Peter named Poyas’ plantation, where he went to meet; Bellisle Yates I have seen at the meetings, and Adam Yates, Naphur Yates, Dean Mitchell, Cæsar Smith and George (a Stevedore.) At Vesey’s they wanted to make a collection to make pikes for the country people, but the men had no money! Monday Gell said Purcell was one to get horses to send men into the country; I heard a blacksmith was to make pikes. Jack M’Neil is engaged; I have seen them all at Monday’s; Jack said he was one and would try to get men; the plan was to take the Arsenals and Guard Houses for arms, and not to fire the town unless they failed; Monday was writing a letter to St. Domingo, to go by a vessel lying at Gibb’s and Harper’s wharf; the letter was about the sufferings of the blacks, and to know if the people of St. Domingo would help them if they made an effort to free themselves; he was writing this letter in March, I am not certain of the time; Perault was present when Monday wrote the letter, and also a painter, named Prince Righton; I have seen Pompey Haig at Monday’s, but he neither assented or dissented; Jerry Cohen was at Vesey’s, and said to me he was one; I heard from Vesey and Monday that they had engaged men from the country; Peter Poyas said he had sent into the country to his brother to engage men, who would send him an answer; a party was to attack the Guard-House and Arsenal; another the Arsenal on the Neck; another the Naval Stores on Mey’s wharf; another to attack the Magazine; another to meet at Lightwood’s Alley and then try to cut off the companies from meeting at their places of rendezvous; I belong to the African Congregation; on Saturday the 15th June, a man was to be sent into the country to bring down the people, and Rolla was to command the country people from Ashley River at the Bridge; Ned Bennett and John Horry to meet at Mr. Horry’s corner, and Batteau to come down with Vesey’s party.