May 26, 2009
BOOK REVIEWS: Woodland Press Publishes 'The Blair Mountain War,' and 'Princess Aracoma,' Standalone Books from G.T. Swain's 'The History of Logan County'
By David M. Kinchen
Huntingtonnews.net Book Critic
Devotees of West Virginia's colorful history have reason to cheer with the publication of two books that originally appeared in G.T. Swain's 1927 "The History of Logan County."
Publisher Keith Davis of Woodland Press in Chapmanville, WV, has taken two segments from Swain's book and published them as standalone quality paperbacks. Both are available on Amazon.com.
"The Blair Mountain War: Battle of the Rednecks" (Woodland Press, 84 pages, $12.50) is Swain's take on the 1921 Blair Mountain War, the largest organized armed uprising in U.S. labor history. In his introduction, Davis points out that Swain, a reporter for the Logan County Banner, wasn't exactly an unbiased observer. Swain was basically on the side of the coal mine operators and was a fan of Logan County Sheriff Don Chafin, who also supported the mine operators.
There's a movement underway to ask the National Park Service to remove the mountain near Logan in Logan County from the National Register of Historic Places, Davis says, adding that "Objectors seem to be a coordinated campaign by landowning and coal companies that are gathering signatures of property holders to oppose the nomination."
"The Blair Mountain War: Battle of the Rednecks" is a reprinting of the writings of George T. Swain," added Davis, "and it has great historic significance to southern West Virginia. It will certainly appeal to all lovers of history."
If you're looking for a modern, less biased account of the struggle between the coal operators and the miners from the southern half of the state, calling themselves "rednecks" because of the red bandannas they wore, I would recommend three books:
There is disagreement about the origin of the word "redneck," but there's no disagreement that the protesting armed miners called themselves by that term.
"For historic purposes, this volume has great importance," Davis added, "and it specifically describes what was happening in the City of Logan, and throughout the county, after the miners' march began. Supporters rallied to Logan's defense at the time, and, eventually, federal troops were sent into the city by US President Warren Harding. This bit of West Virginia has national significance."
* * *
The second volume, "Princess Aracoma and the Settling of West Virginia" (Woodland Press, 120 pages, $12.95) is less controversial but still of interest to history buffs.
The story of the beautiful Princess Aracoma, daughter of Indian chief Cornstalk and her love for and marriage to white soldier Boling Baker, is also the subject of a popular outdoor drama (link: http://aracoma2009.com/) that this year will be presented July 21-Aug. 8 at The Liz Spurlock Amphitheatre at Chief Logan State Park.
Davis says the book is based on Swain's account of the death of Chief Cornstalk in 1774 near present-day Point Pleasant, WV, and the subsequent trek of the Shawnees following Cornstalk’s daughter, Princess Aracoma, into present-day Midelburg Island in Logan County.
"This book aptly describes the settling of the Mountain State and explains how Princess Aracoma resolved a difficult conflict between the American Indian population and the region’s earliest settlers," Davis added.
Swain was a student of H. Clay Ragland, a Confederate veteran, renowned attorney, accomplished historian and the first publisher of The Logan County Banner—Logan County’s newspaper. Swain’s own research is skillfully merged with an earlier work by Ragland. The result is a true story and an exciting adventure, involving Indian Princess Aracoma, that takes place upon the immense backdrop of American history.
Publisher's web site: www.woodlandpress.com
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BOOK REVIEWS: Woodland Press Publishes 'The Blair Mountain War,' and 'Princess Aracoma,' Standalone Books from G.T. Swain's 'The History of Logan County'
By David M. Kinchen
Huntingtonnews.net Book Critic
Devotees of West Virginia's colorful history have reason to cheer with the publication of two books that originally appeared in G.T. Swain's 1927 "The History of Logan County."
Publisher Keith Davis of Woodland Press in Chapmanville, WV, has taken two segments from Swain's book and published them as standalone quality paperbacks. Both are available on Amazon.com.
"The Blair Mountain War: Battle of the Rednecks" (Woodland Press, 84 pages, $12.50) is Swain's take on the 1921 Blair Mountain War, the largest organized armed uprising in U.S. labor history. In his introduction, Davis points out that Swain, a reporter for the Logan County Banner, wasn't exactly an unbiased observer. Swain was basically on the side of the coal mine operators and was a fan of Logan County Sheriff Don Chafin, who also supported the mine operators.
There's a movement underway to ask the National Park Service to remove the mountain near Logan in Logan County from the National Register of Historic Places, Davis says, adding that "Objectors seem to be a coordinated campaign by landowning and coal companies that are gathering signatures of property holders to oppose the nomination."
"The Blair Mountain War: Battle of the Rednecks" is a reprinting of the writings of George T. Swain," added Davis, "and it has great historic significance to southern West Virginia. It will certainly appeal to all lovers of history."
If you're looking for a modern, less biased account of the struggle between the coal operators and the miners from the southern half of the state, calling themselves "rednecks" because of the red bandannas they wore, I would recommend three books:
- Lee, Howard B. Bloodletting in Appalachia: The Story of West Virginia's Four Major Mine Wars and Other Thrilling Incidents of Its Coal Fields. Morgantown, W.Va.: West Virginia University Press, 1969. ISBN 0-87012-041-7
- Savage, Lon. Thunder in the Mountains: The West Virginia Mine War, 1920-21. Pittsburgh: University of Pittsburgh Press, 1990. ISBN 0-8229-3634-8
- Shogan, Robert. The Battle of Blair Mountain: The Story of America's Largest Union Uprising. Boulder, Colo.: Westview Press, 2004. ISBN 0-8133-4096-9
There is disagreement about the origin of the word "redneck," but there's no disagreement that the protesting armed miners called themselves by that term.
"For historic purposes, this volume has great importance," Davis added, "and it specifically describes what was happening in the City of Logan, and throughout the county, after the miners' march began. Supporters rallied to Logan's defense at the time, and, eventually, federal troops were sent into the city by US President Warren Harding. This bit of West Virginia has national significance."
* * *
The second volume, "Princess Aracoma and the Settling of West Virginia" (Woodland Press, 120 pages, $12.95) is less controversial but still of interest to history buffs.
The story of the beautiful Princess Aracoma, daughter of Indian chief Cornstalk and her love for and marriage to white soldier Boling Baker, is also the subject of a popular outdoor drama (link: http://aracoma2009.com/) that this year will be presented July 21-Aug. 8 at The Liz Spurlock Amphitheatre at Chief Logan State Park.
Davis says the book is based on Swain's account of the death of Chief Cornstalk in 1774 near present-day Point Pleasant, WV, and the subsequent trek of the Shawnees following Cornstalk’s daughter, Princess Aracoma, into present-day Midelburg Island in Logan County.
"This book aptly describes the settling of the Mountain State and explains how Princess Aracoma resolved a difficult conflict between the American Indian population and the region’s earliest settlers," Davis added.
Swain was a student of H. Clay Ragland, a Confederate veteran, renowned attorney, accomplished historian and the first publisher of The Logan County Banner—Logan County’s newspaper. Swain’s own research is skillfully merged with an earlier work by Ragland. The result is a true story and an exciting adventure, involving Indian Princess Aracoma, that takes place upon the immense backdrop of American history.
Publisher's web site: www.woodlandpress.com
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