In 1921, the federal government deployed the US Army and Air Corps against 10,000 armed American coal miners in what became the largest domestic military intervention since the Civil War, revealing how far Washington would go to crush worker resistance.
Coal Miners Rise Against Corporate Control
The Battle of Blair Mountain erupted after decades of coal company tyranny in West Virginia’s southern counties. Mine operators controlled entire communities through company towns, paid workers in worthless scrip, and employed private “mine guards” to enforce brutal working conditions. The United Mine Workers faced violent resistance since the early 1900s, with coal barons using evictions, blacklisting, and armed intimidation to prevent unionization. This corporate stranglehold represented everything our founders warned against when powerful interests subvert individual liberty and workers’ basic rights.
The Redneck Army Marches for Justice
The assassination of union organizer Sid Hatfield on August 1, 1921, triggered an unprecedented worker uprising. Led by Bill Blizzard, Frank Keeney, and Fred Mooney, approximately 10,000 armed miners organized into the “Redneck Army” and marched toward Logan and Mingo Counties. These were largely World War I veterans who understood military tactics and believed they were fighting for constitutional rights against corporate feudalism. The multiracial force of white, black, and immigrant workers demonstrated remarkable unity against their common oppressor, embodying the American spirit of standing together against tyranny.
Five Days of Armed Resistance
From August 31 to September 3, 1921, intense fighting raged across Blair Mountain’s ridgeline as miners faced 3,000 deputies, mine guards, and state police led by Sheriff Don Chafin. The coal operators funded Chafin’s forces directly, creating a private army to protect their anti-union territory. Nearly one million rounds were fired during the conflict, with miners using military tactics learned in France to advance against machine-gun positions. The miners nearly broke through Chafin’s defenses before federal intervention ended their advance, proving that determined Americans could challenge entrenched corporate power when pushed too far.
Federal Government Crushes American Workers
President Harding’s deployment of four Army regiments and Air Corps planes represented an unprecedented federal assault on American workers exercising their constitutional rights. The Air Corps dropped leaflets and gas bombs, marking the first use of military aircraft against domestic targets in US history. When federal troops arrived on September 3, the miners peacefully surrendered their weapons and withdrew, respecting federal authority even while being betrayed by their own government. This shameful episode demonstrates how Washington has historically sided with corporate interests over working Americans, a pattern that should concern every patriot who values individual liberty over elite power.
The aftermath proved equally disturbing, with approximately 100 miners indicted while not a single coal operator or mine guard faced prosecution despite years of documented violence and constitutional violations. The federal intervention successfully halted United Mine Workers organizing in southern West Virginia until 1933, giving coal companies over a decade of continued exploitation. This selective enforcement of law reveals how government power can be weaponized against ordinary Americans while protecting wealthy elites, a lesson that resonates strongly in today’s struggles against corporate overreach and government favoritism toward special interests.
Sources:
Battle of Blair Mountain – Wikipedia
Battle of Blair Mountain – Zinn Education Project
Battle of Blair Mountain – WV Mine Wars
The Battle of Blair Mountain – National Park Service