American History

in adjacent Logan County in late Aug. 1921.

In Mingo Co. tensions were mounting between the striking miners who were evicted from their homes, the powerful coal companies with their hired Baldwin- Felts detective agents, and local law enforcement and officials.

The push for better working conditions and unionization of coal miners in southern WV, especially in Logan, Mingo and McDowell counties had been growing for 10 plus years with the involvement of John L Lewis, the United Mine Workers (UMW), Mother Jones, and others.

Matewan's Police Chief, Sid Hatfield in Mingo County was supportive of the evicted miners. When Sid and his deputy Ed Chambers were assassinated in nearby McDowell Co. on Aug.1, 1921 it kicked off the large miners march and Battle of Blair Mountain in next door Logan County, Aug. 25- Sept. 2, 1921.

Director John Sayles 1987 film 'Matewan' on the story is well done with a fine cast. Thanks for replying.
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Wiki. Battle of Matewan.. Tom Felts, the last remaining (Baldwin) Felts brother, sent undercover operatives to collect evidence to convict Sid Hatfield and his men.

When the charges against Hatfield and 22 others for the murder of Albert Felts were dismissed, Baldwin–Felts detectives assassinated Hatfield and his deputy Ed Chambers on August 1, 1921, on the steps of the McDowell County courthouse located in Welch, West Virginia. Of those defendants whose charges were not dismissed, all were acquitted.

Less than a month later, miners from the state gathered in Charleston. They were even more determined to organize the southern coal fields, and began the march to Logan County. Thousands of miners joined them along the way, culminating in what was to become known as the Battle of Blair Mountain...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Matewan