The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1889-12-20
1.-THE BLOODY SHIRT"
A Phrase That May Have Sprung from an
Incident In Scottish History.

Phrase That May Have Sprung from an
Incident In Scottish History.
A short time since my attention was
attracted to an inquiry in the Louis
vile Courier-J Journal as to the origin
Of the popular phrase 1.-THE Bloody
Shirt" The answer given to the
query ascribes it to the recent period
Of reconstruction. Contrary to the
prevailing belief, this political weapon
was forged and effectively used long
before any differences had arisen be-
tween certain portions of our Union,
and before, in fact, union of states
existed.
The incident which gave the ex-
preston birth is to some extent leg
endary, and is related by Sir Walter
Scott in the preface to his novel Rob
Roy" and briefly is as follows: The
clan MacGregor possessed lands and
focks which excited the cupidity of
their less fortunate neighbors, who, by
force and other methods, gradually
despoiled them Of their property and
drove them from their homes. The
clan, thus impoverished resisted the
encroachments upon their rights, and
in the frequent collisions that occurred
used every temporary advantage
they gained cruelty enough. Their
conduct, which was perhaps not un-
natural under the circumstances, was
studiously represented at the capital
as arising from an innate and untam-
able ferocity, for which the only rem
edy was determination.
These suggestions resulted in the
prescription of the clan by act of the
privy council at Sterling, and per
mission was given certain powerful
chieftains to pursue the MacGregors
with fire and sword, and all persons
were prohibited from affording them
meat, drink or shelter As might be
expected, civilization progressed very
slowly during this period, and the
MacGregors, feeling all the severity of
the law and none of its protection, be-
came wilder and more lawless than
ever. As the legend runs, two men
of the clan MacGregor, overtaken by
night, asked shelter from dependent
of the Colquhouns, and, on being re-
fused, retired to an clubhouse, seized a
wedder from the fold, and supped fru-
gally off the carcass, for which they
offered payment. The laird of Luss,
hearing of this enforced hospitality,
caused the offenders to be apprehended
and summarily executed.
To avenge this act the MacGregors
assembled to the number of several
hundred, and marched toward Luss.
Sir Humphrey Colquhoun received
early notice of the raid, and as
sembled an army of superior numbers
to meet them. A battle took place in
the valley of Glenfruin (Glen of Sor-
row where, encouraged by the proph-
ecy of a seer, and aided by superior
position and skillful generalship, the
MacGregors were victorious, pursuing
the enemy furiously, and mercilessly
slaughtering all who were unable to
escape.
This battle and the fury of the pro-
scribed clan were reported to King
James vi in a manner most unfavora-
bic to that unfortunate clan, and. more
strongly to impress that IMPRESSIONS
bic monarch, the widows of the slain
to the number of eleven score, dressed
in mourning, riding on white pal
freys, and each bearing her husbands
bloody shirt upon the point of a
spear, appeared before the king at
Sterling, and demanded vengeance
upon those who had made their homes
desolate. By act of privy council A.
D. 1913, the old acts against the clan
were revived, and others of the great
est severity enacted. The bloody
shirt had unquestionably accom-
plished its purpose.-New York Tri-
bune.