The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1895-09-24
THE RED SHIRT aovEMENr.
A. j. Sitton OF Anderson Count
Named as Its Originator.

A. j. Sitton of Anderson Count
Named as Its Originator.
Editor Register: In yours of the
18th inst. Is q special" from Homes
Path, boosting the proposed new coun-
ty, with lionea Path as the county
seat. At that time it was intended to
call b new county "Gary," and your
correspondent said: sit is proposed
to name the new county Gary, after
the immortal hero of 1876. the old
Bald Eagle of Edgetield,' the man
who did 30 much to free us from egr
domination, who inaugurated the red
shirt movement, and helped to drive
the Radicals and the carpet baggers
from the borders of the State"
Far be 1T from me to detract in the
slightest degree from the need of
praise due to Martin Witherspoon
Gary, the intrepid leader of the EIge-
field Democracy in that famous cam
paign. He was my friend for twenty
years prior to that great event in our
history, and during the campaign of
76 we conferred many times and oft
as to the means of gaining the redemp-
ton of u beloved State. But it Ia
not right, at this late day, to give him
credit for moro than he did, and to
ascribe praise for anything which is
not justly done. His over. Jealous
friends and admirers would do him an
Injustice In making such a claim.
General Gary did not.inaugurate the
req shlrt movement. and is not en-
titled to the credit of it. He used IL to
very great advantage in the campaign,
u This movement originated in An
aetson county, and there we're red
shirts at Honea Path by the hundreds
In the campaign meeting held there.
at which Hampton spoke, and this was
long before tho meeting at Edgeield.
NOT q red shirt vas in South Caro-
INA until after Hampton was nominal.
cd. In q lew days after he became the
standard-bearer of the Democracy, O
ratification meeting was held at Amber.
son, and there was an Immense torch.
light procession. The Democracy OF
Anderson County was thorough,
organized at that time, with upwards
OF twenty-five CLUBS, and in each clut
there was u company Of mounted mer
who were regularly Differed, and who
were subject to the orders of the count,
chairman. The company at PendletoI
was commanded by Augustus j. SittoL
VINO served rs a private in the Con
iederate army, and he is the man VIII
introduced the red shirt into th,
politics of South Carolina lie wen
TO Anderson clad in the first rcd shir
that was ever made for this purpos,
In u State, and a few of his men were
n like costume. The idea at ono,
became popular in Anderson County
and when the campaign opened a
Anderson, not only did Captain Sittol
bring his company fully unifurme,
In tie red shirt, but there wer,
hundreds of others in the long process
sion, which was headed by Hampton
who greeted their leader in this pictu
+ sque costume.
General Carp was one Of the speak
ers at the opening in Anderson, an
he saw the red shirts there for tn,
hrst time. He expressed great ad
miration for the uniform, and lost n,
time In putting the Edgeield Democ
racy into red shirts, so that when tn,
campaign got down that way he hat
thousands of men in this historic garb
This correction is made simply t,
give honor where 1t is due. Mr.. Sit
ton was the originator Of the red shir
beyond question, and is entitled t,
whatever credit attaches to that fea
ture OF '76. He is q modest, unassum
ing man, and is leading a quiet lif,
near Pendletcn His claim to thi,
honor was recognized by Governor
Hampton, who made him an aide-L.
camp in the spring Of 1877, and tn,
writer hereof knows the fact tina
Governor Hampton's appointment was
based upon Mr.. SittOn's being the
originator of the red shirts. The files
OF the executive office will show tina
this is true history. 1t was Anderson
and not Edgefeld that inaugurate6
this style of campaign. VERITAs.
Greenville, S. c., Sept. 10.