In the autumn of 1919, the nation’s coal fields were tense.
Across the country, miners were demanding better wages, shorter hours, and safer working conditions. Coal powered homes, factories, railroads, and nearly every corner of American industry, so when miners prepared to strike, the effects reached far beyond the mines.
To government officials and business owners, a coal strike was a threat to the nation’s fuel supply.
West Virginia, with its deep coal seams and long history of conflict between miners, operators, guards, and authorities, became one of the places watched most closely. The state’s coal fields had already seen violence in earlier labor struggles, and officials feared that another strike could bring unrest.
By the end of October 1919, troops were being readied.
According to reports, men of the First Division, U.S. Infantry, stationed at Camp Taylor in Kentucky, were ordered toward the West Virginia coal fields for strike duty. Military officials would only confirm that “some troops” had been sent, refusing to say how many.
Other reports were more specific, stating that a special train carrying 800 men of the “Riot Battalion” was preparing to leave for Huntington, West Virginia, at midnight.
The short article below captures one tense moment before the strike, when soldiers were being placed on trains and sent into coal country.
Troops Are Entraining For Strike
It was learned tonight that the First Division, U.S. Infantry, comprising 3,000 men, have been ordered to proceed to the West Virginia coal fields for strike duty.
The division, it is reported, is to entrain at Louisville at midnight tonight.
“Some Troops” Ordered
Col. E.L.L. Melnick, chief of staff under Maj. Gen. Wood, said tonight that “some troops” have been ordered to West Virginia from Camp Taylor, Kentucky. He would not state how many men were in the contingent, explaining it would be against military rules to do so.
A dispatch from Louisville said that a special train carrying 800 men of the “Riot Battalion” of the First Division under command of Col. W.S. Harrell, are entrained at Camp Taylor and will depart at midnight for Huntington, W. Va., for guard duty in the West Virginia coal fields.
Source: The Washington Herald. Washington, D.C. October 31, 1919,
