The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1909-09-01
Senator TiIIman to the Red
Shirt Survivors.
SOME STORMY TINES
Recalled ss tho Stirring Days OF
Redemption Are Passed IN Re
ylew-What the Older People Did
TO Redeem South Carolina tn the
Hampton Campaign.

| Several thousand people ceaEc aoc
frequently heartily cheeTed Seaato'
Tilluan II his address at Aaderso.
OF Wednesday before the convention
OF the survivors OF what is know.
as tho Red Shirt organization. which
supported Gen. Hampton IN the
dangerous undertaking OF redeem!as
the State Of South Carolina from Re
publican rule and Reconstruction il
ilS7s. Senator Tillnaa was 2ar;icu.
| la7!y interesting In hia remarks
touching that memorable period IN
the States history. and what be had
| TO say was listened to with the clos
| es: attention. He appeared to carry
vivid pictures in his mind OF that
time. when be was young and in
questionable. What he had to say
IS also Of interest from the view
point Of his own politica! history
and personal character. He spoke
for the most part IN the high pitched
voice so characteristic OF him when
speaking on topic near to his feel
ings He said:
There has been more OF less dis
cussion in the papers OF the State
recently about the origin OF the red
shirts as the Democratic Uniform in
1875. I shall leave It to others
to sift the evidence and determine II
II can be done. Just where the credit
lies want to tel! what I know
about tae bloody shirt and It's et-
fectire use In that memorable crts-
Is. In my story Of the Hamburg
cto; lave mentioned the drunheac
court martial which condemned and
executed prisoners after the fighting
or firing had ceased.
The last man selected to be shot
was q notorious thief by the name
OF pcmp Curry whom had known
from boyhcod He had furnished
the names OF all whom he recognized
70 District Attorney Stone and this
evidence caused warrants to be is
sued against practically ali the mem
bers OF the Sweetwater Sabre club
and few others who were ro' mem
bers. We were charged with murder
and conspiracy 70 murder. and the
sheriff OF Aiken county was ordered
20 make the arrests. Like q wise
and prudent man be did not attempt
10 execute The warrants. but COM
mun!cated with Col. Butler. our cap
tain. and by common understanding
al! OF the men thus charged assem-
bled at Lower Cherokee pond. place
cear Col. Buffers home. and started
.or Aiken. The procession was led
by the sheriff in buggy. followed
by the so-cailed prisoners. armed to
tae teeth, and accompanied by bag
gage wagons with supplies for hors-
es and men. cooks and full camp
ing outat except tents Rev. Will
liam Shaw who owned a plantation
two miles west OF Aiken. the dwell
Ing house on which was occupied.
had kindly offered 1t for our use.
We reached this place some time be-
fore sundow1. TOOK up our quarters
for the night. Court was to con-
| vene two days later and We were
thus early on the ground n orce:
10 give the lawyers who had ouI
case in hand opportunity to draw VI
the papers and prepare for obtain
!us bail IL We were TO be allowed to
return home. Gen. Butler. who was
under indictment. Hon. George W
| Croft, Hon. D. S. Henderson o. the
Aiken ba. and Maj. William T. Gray
were acting as our attorneys.
Among those whose interest had
induced tkera TO accompany Us va:
my lro:her. Hon. George D. Till
usD. who had been nominated as G
candidate IN our congressional dis
:-ict. He had been in cor!espon
dence with Gen. afterwards Senate
J. 2. George. OF Mississippi. the mai
whose constructive statesmanship il
devis!ag means 10 safeguard South
e-n civilization by the eliminado.
OF the negro vote will cause his nam
10 shine for al! time as great con
S;itu,ioual lawyer aod benefactor o
the South Il was under him tha
Mississippi led OF II discranchis
ing the negro and practically ever