Cassius (Red Rebel)

Cassius (d.1917) was the huntsman for the Marshlands Plantation in St. Matthews, South Carolina, owned by the Colleton family. He was also head of the Marxist underground in the area. When the Red Rebellion of 1915-16 broke out, Cassius became the leader of the Congaree Socialist Republic and was responsible for ordering the execution of many “enemies of the people,” both black and white. He escaped the crushing of the Republic in 1916 and with his female companion, Cherry, continued guerilla operations against the Confederacy, and in particular against Anne Colleton. Cassius was killed by Tom Colleton shortly after the Armistice of 1917.