Coal Wars | The Battle of Blair Mountain | 4

American History Tellers

Wondery

Society & Culture, Kids & Family, History, Education For Kids

4.7 • 18.3K Ratings

🗓️ 6 January 2021

⏱️ 40 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

The Coal Wars reached an explosive climax in August 1921, as thousands of miners furious over the death of their hero Sid Hatfield shouldered their weapons and marched south. Their destination was Mingo County, where they hoped to free their fellow miners jailed under martial law.

But first, they would have to cross Blair Mountain and armed men led by Logan County’s ruthless anti-union Sheriff Don Chafin. With machine guns and private planes at his disposal, Chafin was prepared to defeat the miners at any cost. Soon, two civilian armies erupted in war, and Blair Mountain became the battleground for the largest armed uprising since the Civil War.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Hey, Prime members, you can listen to American History Tellers add free on Amazon Music,
0:05.6	download the app today.
0:09.4	Imagine it's August 31st, 1921.
0:21.2	You're clamoring up a rocky slope on the South crest of Blair Mountain West Virginia,
0:25.6	where you're leading a small company of fellow miners on a dawn control, including your
0:30.2	two sons.
0:31.9	Even though you're 70 years old, you still work part time in the mines.
0:35.8	The rest of the time, you're a pastor at your local church.
0:39.3	But a few days ago, you traded your collar for a red bandana and blue jeans and joined
0:43.8	the other miners marching on Mingo County.
0:46.4	You knew you couldn't sit on the sidelines any longer.
0:49.4	This fight is too important.
0:50.9	How much farther we got, Reverend?
0:53.6	The miner next to you is young enough to be your grandson.
0:56.4	Just keep walking and stay quiet.
0:58.7	I can barely see a thing with all this fog.
1:00.7	How are you supposed to know when we get there?
1:02.8	Just keep your voice down.
1:04.3	Come on, boys, stay alert.
1:06.3	To free the miners jailed in Mingo County, first you must get past Blair Mountain and the
1:11.1	cold company Goons defending it.
1:13.4	If you fail, your cause could be lost.
	...

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