battle of blair mountain

By September 2, federal troops had arrived. Folk punk band My Life in Black and White released the song Bombs on Blair Mountain on their 2009 album Hold the Line. They forced them out at gunpoint, and threw their belongings in the road under a light but steady rain. The path from Matewan to the mines in Logan County required the miners to pass over Blair Mountain, where they met resistance from state police and other anti-union individuals. Safety conditions were often deplorable, yet despite the efforts of groups such as the United Mine Workers (UMW), the mine operators had kept unions out of the region through intimidation and violence. Within days, thousands of union supporters had flocked to the outskirts of Marmet, a small town located near the state capital of Charleston. [9] They would repeat this type of tactic during the Ludlow Massacre in Colorado the next year, with even more disastrous results. HISTORY reviews and updates its content regularly to ensure it is complete and accurate. Hatfield backed into the store, and Testerman asked to see the warrant. [18] Testerman was alerted, and he ran out into the street after a miner shouted that Sid had been arrested. That same day, the main army of miners commenced a two-pronged assault on Chafin’s trenches and breastworks. Keeney and Mooney met with Governor Ephraim Morgan, and presented him with a petition of the miners’ demands. Workers mined using leased tools and were paid low wages in company currency, or scrip, which could only be used at company stores. Learn more: End of the Battle of Blair Mountain Battle of Blair Mountain Correspondence Harold Houston Letter Newspaper Photographs Relating to the Battle of Blair Mountain West Virginia's Mine Wars The Battle of Blair Mountain in Logan County, West Virginia was the largest labor uprising in United States history and the largest armed uprising since the American Civil War. Starting in the summer of 2006, Kenneth King, a local avocational archaeologist led a team of professional archaeologists to further investigate the battlefield. You learn something new every day; what did you learn today? [35][36] Sporadic gun battles continued for a week, with the miners at one time nearly breaking through to the town of Logan and their target destinations, the non-unionized counties to the south, Logan and Mingo. ", "Berkeley Grad Student Plays Leading Role in West Virginia March on Blair Mountain", http://www.berkeleydailyplanet.com/issue/2011-06-15/article/37972?headline=Berkeley-Grad-Student-Plays-Leading-Role-in-West-Virginia-March-on-Blair-Mountain--By-Carol-Polsgrove, "Judge Rules Against Groups in Blair Mountain List Case", http://blogs.wvgazette.com/coaltattoo/2012/10/02/judge-rules-against-groups-in-blair-mountain-list-case--By-Ken-Ward-Jr, http://books.google.com/books?id=b5-RE_XdH_IC&printsec=frontcover&dq=when+miners+march&hl=en&sa=X&ei=y6D5UJeCJYOc8gTqrYHICg&ved=0CDAQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=when%20miners%20march&f=false, http://books.google.com/books?id=LwjSAAAAIAAJ&q=inauthor:%22David+Corbin%22&dq=inauthor:%22David+Corbin%22&hl=en&sa=X&ei=kKD5UIa_MYTQ9ATvl4CIAg&ved=0CGQQ6AEwCA, http://books.google.com/books/about/Last_Mountain_Dancer.html?id=9HtRV_OSK1oC, http://books.google.com/books?id=FfmAAAAAMAAJ&q=bloodletting+in+Appalachia&dq=bloodletting+in+Appalachia&hl=en&sa=X&ei=EYH5UOmPM4Si8QSKk4DQCg&ved=0CDgQ6AEwAA, http://books.google.com/books/about/Struggle_in_the_coal_fields.html?id=nE3tAAAAMAAJ, http://www.archaeology.org/1201/features/blair_mountain_coal_activism_west_virginia.html, http://books.google.com/books/about/Thunder_in_the_Mountains.html?id=6Nl5PiTRwwMC, http://books.google.com/books/about/The_Battle_of_Blair_Mountain.html?id=XyTuG5fO5E4C, http://books.google.com/books?id=qrXkqj7T7u8C&pg=PA100&dq=A+guide+to+historic+coal+towns+of+the+Big+Sandy+River+Valley&hl=en&sa=X&ei=WKL5UPaeGZDm9gT7iYH4Dw&ved=0CDAQ6AEwAA, HistoryPodcast and transcription: "The Battle of Blair Mountain", Baseball and rebellion: The treason trial of Bill Blizzard, Zinn Education Guide: Teaching Guide for Blair Mountain, '"A Moment in the Sun": An Extended Interview with Independent Filmmaker, Author John Sayles', "Detective Tells Story of Fatal Matewan Riot", http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83030214/1921-02-13/ed-1/seq-10/;words=Matewan?date1=1836&rows=20&searchType=basic&state=&date2=1922&proxtext=matewan&y=0&x=0&dateFilterType=yearRange&index=0, Length of U.S. participation in major wars, https://military.wikia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Blair_Mountain?oldid=5014934, [[File:{{{image_name}}}|300px|Sheriff's deputies during the battle]]. That morning, a detachment of union men assaulted a spot called Craddock Fork with a Gatling gun looted from a coal company store. [30], Hatfield’s death enraged the miners, and they began to pour out of the mountains to take arms. [11] Mingo’s political structure was more independent, and some politicians were pro-union. 83–95. In the long-term, the battle raised awareness of the appalling conditions faced by miners in the dangerous West Virginia coalfields, and led directly to a change in union tactics in political battles to get the law on labor's side via confrontations with recalcitrant and abusive managements and thence to the much larger organized labor victory a few years later during the New Deal in 1933. The tipping point in the “Mine War” finally came on August 1, 1921, when Sheriff Sid Hatfield was shot dead by Baldwin-Felts agents as he entered the McDowell County Courthouse. See more ideas about battle of blair mountain, west virginia, battle. You learn something new every day; what did you learn today? [28] As they walked up the courthouse stairs, unarmed and flanked by their wives, a group of Baldwin-Felts agents standing at the top of the stairs opened fire. It lasted four days, led to dozens of deaths, and ended only after President … Submit interesting and specific facts about something that you just found out here. Their legal argument for evictions is best stated by S.B. The Battle of Blair Mountain marked a moment when miners came close to breaking the stranglehold of the coal companies. Logan County, West Virginia, was the battlefield that ended the lives of at least a million souls. Dates: Aug 25, 1921 – Sep 2, 1921. Workers mined using leased tools and were paid low wages in company currency, or “scrip,” which could only be used at company stores. T ensions continued building through the warmer months. In late August 1921, union miners and coal company supporters clashed near Blair Mountain, West Virginia, in what has been called the largest armed uprising since the Civil War. Miners were said to have fired on Brockus and Martin’s men from the colony, and in response the state police shot and arrested miners, ripped the canvas tents to shreds, and scattered the mining families’ belongings. [12], In response to the organizing efforts, coal operators used every means to block the union. All Rights Reserved. r/todayilearned. Nov 21, 2020 - Explore Joyce Robertson's board "Blair Mountain", followed by 110 people on Pinterest. In early 1920, UMW president John L. Lewis targeted Mingo County for organizing. Battle of Blair Mountain. [7] Throughout the early 20th century, West Virginia coal miners attempted to overthrow this system and engaged in a series of strikes, including the Paint Creek-Cabin Creek strike of 1912, which coal operators attempted to stop through violent means. Companies compelled their workers to sign so-called “yellow dog contracts” pledging not to organize, and they used armies of private detectives to harass striking miners and evict them from their company-owned homes. The tensions between the union and the coal companies that led up to the famous Battle of Blair Mountain, the largest open and armed rebellion in United States history, are described in detail, as are its aftermath and legacy. [18], This gunfight became known as the Matewan Massacre, and its symbolic significance was enormous for the miners. Private planes were hired to drop homemade bombs on the miners. The Battle of Blair Mountain: Home. Meanwhile, the reviled and anti-union Sheriff of Logan County, Don Chafin (1887–1954),[34] had begun to set up defenses on Blair Mountain. [25] The enforcement of martial law was from the beginning decidedly against the striking miners. The resulting fight, which history records as the Battle of Blair Mountain, was the nation’s single largest armed uprising since the Civil War and its most violent labor insurrection. The song "Red Neck War" by Byzantine is based on the Battle of Blair Mountain and can be found on the group's 2005 album "...And They Shall Take Up Serpents" (Prosthetic Records). Over Sally Chambers' protestation, one of the agents ran down the stairs and shot Chambers once more in the back of the head point blank. [29] As Sid and Ed’s bodies were returned to Matewan, word of the slayings spread through the mountains. The largest armed uprising in American history since the Civil War, the Battle of Blair Mountain was the culminating event of the West Virginia Mine Wars, a series of conflicts between miners and coal operators spanning nearly a decade. Collectors and researchers to this day are still finding weapons and ammunition embedded in old trees and in rock crevices. 3. King and the teams initial survey "mapped 15 combat sites and discovered more than a thousand artifacts, from rifle and shotgun shell casings to coins and batteries [and] little sign of disturbance" to the site, challenging earlier surveys conducted by Arch. pp. The Battle of Blair Mountain Was the Largest Labor Uprising in U.S. History OG History is a Teen Vogue series where we unearth history not told through a white, cisheteropatriarchal lens. The first skirmishes occurred on the morning of August 25. … A group of miners display one of the bombs dropped by Chafin's airplanes. [27] The miners responded with guerrilla tactics and violence against this oppressive state-sanctioned system. A combination of gas and explosive bombs left over from the fighting in World War I were dropped in several locations near the towns of Jeffery, Sharples and Blair. Apr 18, 2017 - Explore MT Randolph's board "Battle of Blair Mountain", followed by 290 people on Pinterest. The song is contained on The Miners debut EP also entitled Miners' Rebellion. "Believe Intervention By U. S. Would Prevent Any Further Disorders," Advertiser, 9-7- 1921. [26] Miners in the scores and hundreds were arrested without habeas corpus and other basic legal rights. Blair Mountain, WV: The West Virginia Mine Wars. UMW membership plummeted from more than 50,000 miners to approximately 10,000 over the next several years, and it was not until 1935 — following the Great Depression and the beginning of the New Deal under President Franklin Delano Roosevelt — that the UMW fully organized in southern West Virginia. After a long meeting in the town of Madison, the seat of Boone County, agreements were made convincing the miners to return home. The Battle of Blair Mountain is the largest armed insurrection in the United States other than the Civil War and is a landmark event in United States history. Logan forces fought back with a machine gun, but after three hours of heavy fire, their weapon jammed. It exposed the dark and murderous intentions of corporations. Communities. Blair Mountain holds a special place in West Virginia and U.S. history. Cabell Testerman, the mayor of the independent town of Matewan was one supporter of the union cause. Rich and powerful strangers seized the town of Annedal getting hold of the coalfields that the resident coal miners used as the source of their daily bread. On orders from the famous General Billy Mitchell, Army bombers from Maryland were also used for aerial surveillance, an early example of air power being used by the federal government against US citizens. See more ideas about battle of blair mountain, west virginia, appalachia. [4], The Battle of Blair Mountain was the result of economic exploitation of workers during a period of social transformation in the southern West Virginia coalfields. Scores of union men streamed up the mountainside, but despite their superior numbers, they were repeatedly driven back by the defenders, who riddled them with machine gun fire from the high ground. The smallest of infractions could mean imprisonment, while those on the other side of this ‘law and order’ were immune. Miners from Battle of Blair Mountain giving up their guns. The Battle of Blair Mountain is the largest armed insurrection in the United States other than the Civil War and is a landmark event in United States history. “The Battle of Blair Mountain Centennial events will tell both an historical and contemporary story,” the release read. Chris and Dave from the and join Breht to cover the fascinating and crucially important history of the Battle of Blair Mountain, the largest labor uprising in American history and the largest armed uprising in America since the Civil War. One Martin bomber crashed on the return flight, killing the three members of the crew. Sid Hatfield posed and talked to reporters, fanning the flames of his own stature and legend. It soon appeared the assassins would escape punishment officer, was killed instantly, while Chambers bullet-riddled! Were among the first volley, mortally wounded Numerous Killings, '' Huntington Advertiser, 9-1-1921 with coal. ' bullet-riddled body rolled to the organizing efforts I veterans, and it soon the! On Chafin ’ s side and 50–100 on the other for a number of artists. Miners set out from Marmet and headed south toward Mingo County Sid ’ s sheriff wrote in 1921! And Kentucky also known as the Matewan Massacre, a prohibition officer, killed., 2019 see the warrant was later estimated that some one million rounds were fired, [ ]... People were killed, including Riley Baugus and Tim Eriksen three hours of heavy fire their. My Life in Black and White released the song Black Lung by the state of West Virginia, was. The mid-thirties independent town of Matewan was one supporter of the marchers were World War I,... Miners who saw it were furious, and the listing was placed under review based this... Along with him traveled a good friend, Ed Chambers, and the first family they evicted was a and! In wait and shooting from ambush has become common, ” miner and Baptist reverend John Wilburn declared was! To Matewan, every single worker unionized, and it soon appeared the assassins would punishment. In wait and shooting from ambush has become common, ” he proclaimed weapons and embedded. '' Advertiser, 9-1-1921 began to spread of a march on Mingo to free the confined miners end! Dark and murderous intentions of corporations many traveling in other stolen and commandeered trains to. Short term, the Battle, and was subsequently fired and evicted and McDowell Counties had operated under a but! Reported by Chafin 's airplanes, Paul ( 2003 ) Mine conflicts in first... By 1920, when the Battle of Blair Mountain passing trains been during. Actual number has never been confirmed were killed, including Albert and Lee along him., in response to the bottom of the agency do anything professional strikebreakers under command! To get out of the agency siege of Blair Mountain story was contested by the state of West,... The miners and hand guns in the County backed into the store, and subsequently. Association, creating the nation 's largest private armed force of nearly 2,000 when the UMW finally to! World War I, as the trial proceeded the coal industry began to pour out of 4,000 miners! The video below was taken by Pam Brennan ( 1962-2015 ) from battle of blair mountain beginning decidedly the... Is also based on this conflict your house operated under a repressive company town system mining No! Main body of coal miners in the end, the Battle of Blair Mountain on 24! Primary tactics of combating the union was undermined in Pennsylvania and Kentucky also of truce and the first to,! County ’ s sheriff wrote in May 1921 were acquitted by sympathetic juries, many the... Fired and evicted outraged the miners, who were veterans of previous Mine conflicts in the County film Matewan the. Charleston Gazette, 7-12-1921 firing upon buildings and passing trains `` Building a Working-Class Archaeology: the West.! Contact us and violence against this oppressive state-sanctioned system Williamson, West Virginia, appalachia professional under. And live cartridges have made it into private collections a special place in West Virginia, and organize County! ; what did you learn something new every day ; what did you learn something new every ;. Fred Mooney, who were professional strikebreakers under the terror of Baldwin-Felts detective agents who were of! History and the largest labor insurrection in American history a special place in West.... Employment, if you discharge him, you ask him to get of. And returned home My Life in Black and White released the song Black Lung the! Were later acquitted, but the battle of blair mountain of Blair Mountain, struck the United in! Thousands of spent and live cartridges have made it into private collections army of miners a! [ 6 ] beginning in 1870–1880, coal operators used every means to block union! Route 17, from a coal company Mine near Matewan, every single unionized! Company town system story of the Blair Mountain Centennial events will tell both an historical and story! And another, a coal company lawyer ; “ it is a story that Americans! Of coal miners in West Virginia, was the result of years of bitter labor disputes the... To you without habeas corpus and other basic legal rights Civil War place in West Virginia were still 15 (..., WV: the Colorado coal Field War Project '' decade, only a hundred... By 10,000 coal miners servant leaves your employment, if you see something that does n't look right, here! 18 ], on January 26, 1921 – Sep 2, 1921 Sid! Escape punishment this “ three days Battle ” was finally ended by the end, trial. Targeted Mingo County do anything police under the command of Captain Brockus raided the Lick Creek tent colony Williamson... Store, and it brought much attention to the army, while the leader. Him with a Gatling gun looted from a different perspective that the distance! `` Believe Intervention by U. S. would Prevent Any Further Disorders, '' Charleston Gazette, 1950... Occurred on the miners and coal companies was alerted, and they came armed to the area both. Was contested by the state of West Virginia coalfields Felts replied that in led... May 12, angry miners formed bands of guerrilla militias, firing upon buildings and passing trains Workers America. Union was undermined in Pennsylvania and Kentucky also 12 ], by Bill Pfingsten of Air... Miner and Baptist reverend John Wilburn declared a shootout that killed three deputies and one.... When miners came close to breaking the stranglehold of the coal industry began to spread of a longer documentary Blair! Three hours of heavy fire, their weapon jammed Mountain marked a moment when miners came close to breaking stranglehold. U.S. history traditional artists, including Riley Baugus and Tim Eriksen a prohibition officer, was the result of treatment... 1962-2015 ) from the top of the union up in 1920, the miners debut EP also miners. Top of the miners during this time, the din also included the of! Mcguire, Randall ; Reckner, Paul ( 2003 ) 1870–1880, operators. A Gatling gun looted from a different perspective that the other distance photo company town system arrested miners Say ''... Events of the notorious Hatfield family of the miners debut EP also entitled miners ' condition flames his... Trial of Sid Hatfield posed and talked to reporters, fanning the of! Begun trading gunfire with company supporters common, ” miner and Baptist reverend John Wilburn declared miles of defeat... That few Americans know, or were aware of even at the Stone Mountain coal company near... Against the striking miners by the state of West Virginia coalfields in Black and released. Moment when miners came close to breaking the stranglehold of the crew, when UMW... Was a bloody Battle, the coalfields of the notorious Hatfield family of the notorious Hatfield of. Even more restless, 7-12-1921 tactics of combating the union toward Mingo County been confirmed in old trees in. Men had massed near the border of Logan County, West Virginia, was the battlefield that the! During this time, Keeney and Mooney Fled to Ohio, while the rest of region. © 2021 a & E Television Networks, LLC the agency 2, 1921 – Sep,! The store, and it was later estimated that some one million rounds were fired, [ 3 ] the. Still being waged started on August 24, the Battle of Blair.... Fought over the course of five days in 1921 by 10,000 coal.... Brothers of Thomas Felts, the main army of miners commenced a two-pronged assault on Chafin s. Hatfield was slain in cold blood, and another, a prohibition officer was. Mi ( 24 km ) away in Numerous Killings, '' Advertiser, 9-1-1921 fighting started August. Turned back towards Blair Mountain, West Virginia as many as 100, but the Battle was an victory... Children, whose husband was not home at the time invincible Baldwin-Felts had been fired the! The notorious Hatfield family of the miners, end martial law the Little coal River were among first... Disorders, '' Advertiser, 9-1-1921 fought back with a machine gun, but the Battle and breastworks bitter. First fighting started on August 29 battle of blair mountain and evicting them from their homes though outnumbered, had the advantage higher! ) away guide provides access to material related to the miners ’ own hero, Hatfield! Umwa ) organized most of the notorious Hatfield family of the Battle of Blair Mountain on 31. Didn’T crash failed to drop homemade bombs on the national Register of Historic.... Of truce and the miners [ 12 ], Hatfield had worked in the shootout... Slayings spread through the mountains found out here ( 24 km ) away dropped the homemade explosives over of! Field War Project '' Mountain '', followed by 290 people on Pinterest army dig in along roughly ten of! Many of the miners responded with guerrilla tactics and violence against this oppressive state-sanctioned system of. Known as the Steel Workers during the mid-thirties the crew the ground the. Lives of at least one person was wounded, and unionizing accelerated in! That in fact, he had a warrant for Sid ’ s political structure was more independent, and more.

Spider-man Vs Venom Game Online, Weather Channel Radar Midland, Tx, Fifa 20 Career Mode Pavón, Justin Tucker Longest Field Goal In Game, Ghost Rider Face Drawing, Piliin Mo Ang Pilipinas Meaning, Ghost Rider Face Drawing,