Rensselaer Republican, Volume 21, Number 20, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 January 1889 — ORIGIN OF "BLOODY SHIRT." [ARTICLE]

ORIGIN OF "BLOODY SHIRT."

Tli* Bzpresslon Said to Have Keen Derived Train an Old Custom. The origin of the expression of "bloody shirt” is said by a correspondent tp liei from a Corciean custom, uow nearly obJ soletc. In the days of the llcrce "vendefta" bloodshed was a common Qc.cur ence. Before lliC iburial of a murdered mau the “gridata” was celebrated. "Grids to. "'means crying around. Let n<| trans late it a "wake.” The laxly of life murdered was laid upon a plank/lben his weapons were place I near Ids baud mid his blood stained shirt hung over bis bead. Around the rude bier a circle of women, wtapi>cd in. tbeir black than ties, rocked themselves to uud fro, wjith vociferous wailing. The rnen, relatives and friends of the murdered man, armed to the teeth, stood uropiul, mad with thirst for revenge. One of the women—the wife, or mother, or aisley-of the murdered man—with a yell would snatch the bloody shirt, and, wav ingit aloft, begin the "vocero ". (Inin-inta lion howl). The rythmic howling was made up of expressions of love for the dead and alter nate bowls of haired of his enemies,and itstartling images anti tremendous oiiisc' were echoed in the faces and mutteiinef of the armed mourners. By trnusitfoi the jihraso ".bloody shirt” was applied tc the Southern rebellion.