St. Luke's Church

St. Luke's Church. Militia Muster Site. , The local militia mustered here on August 22, 1831, after the news of Nat Turner's uprising spread throughout Southampton County., Governor John Floyd , Governor John Floyd, a War of 18 12 veteran, held a militia commission as brigadier general. He ordered six armed militia companies, artillery, and cavalry from Richmond, Petersburg, and Norfolk to Southampton County to put down the rebellion. Floyd also mobilized militia regiments in Southampton and Sussex counties. North Carolina sent troops as well. The militia was under the overall command of Brigadier General Richard Eppes., Militia Response , When the mayor of Norfolk learned of the insurrection, he mustered the city's militia and sent an urgent plea for federal assistance. By the time troops arrived, the rebellion was over; however, they were able to stem the violent militia reprisals against many innocent Blacks. Even though the governor wished to rely on the militia and not federal forces to stop the insurrection, the rapid response indicated the long-held fear of a slave revolt had become a reality. Every available resource was utilized to defeat Nat Turner and his followers., Help from Hampton Roads , Fort Monroe's commander, Col. James House, dispatched Lt. Col. William J. Worth with three companies of men to quell the rebellion. Commodore Lewis Warrington, commandant of the Gosport Navy Yard in Portsmouth, dispatched sailors and marines from USS Natchez and USS Warren, led by Commodore Stephen Elliot. The steamer Hampton transported these forces to Suffolk, where they marched on to Southampton County, returning to their respective bases after serving six days., [Sidebar:] , Historic St. Luke's Episcopal Church , This historic church dates its origins to Nottoway Parish's formation in August 1734. The first church stood near Flowers Bridge, close to the present Southampton County Courthouse. The Episcopal congregation of Jerusalem purchased this three-acre tract in 1873 to build a new church and provide a cemetery. The town of Courtland purchased the cemetery property in 1903, and the money received was used to erect this Gothic-style church in 1906., [Captions:] , Portrait of John Floyd, 25th governor of Virginia, ca. 1846-1873. William Garl Brown, artist., Detail from montage of images of Southampton County, Virginia. Photograph of woodcut, published 1831. Caption reads: "4. A comp. of mounted Dragoons in pursuit of the Blacks.", The uniforms depicted above resemble those worn by Virginia and North Carolina militia units that helped quell Nat Turner's Rebellion. Illustration by Donald L. Long.