TRANSCRIPT 🔗
WEBVTT
1
00:00:00.280 --> 00:00:03.399
You know, we've talked about the
mind Wars in West Virginia, the labor
2
00:00:03.480 --> 00:00:06.839
unrest of Bloody Harlan in the thirties, and of course the Civil War.
3
00:00:07.679 --> 00:00:11.880
In all of these instances, the
word insurrection has been used for good or
4
00:00:11.919 --> 00:00:16.839
bad. Did you know, though, that a true insurrection almost happened in
5
00:00:16.879 --> 00:00:21.559
the coal fields of southwest Virginia in
nineteen seventeen, at the same time as
6
00:00:21.600 --> 00:00:27.280
the Bolshevik Revolution happened in Russia and
with many of the same objectives as the
7
00:00:27.320 --> 00:00:33.920
Bolsheviks. Today we tell about the
homegrown populist revolution that almost happened in Appalachia.
8
00:00:34.840 --> 00:00:38.439
Hello, folks, I'm Steve Gilly. Along with Rock LLINs. This
9
00:00:38.520 --> 00:00:44.600
is another one of the stories of
Appalachia. Yeah, a lot of people
10
00:00:44.640 --> 00:00:50.439
don't know that there was a near
insurrection, as you mentioned, that took
11
00:00:50.479 --> 00:00:56.320
place in central Appalachia. More,
I guess, narrowing it down southwest Virginia
12
00:00:56.600 --> 00:01:00.240
and we're talking about the town,
the small little town that's still in existence
13
00:01:00.280 --> 00:01:06.200
today of Saint Paul, Virginia where
all of this took place. And Steve,
14
00:01:07.280 --> 00:01:12.040
this is just an amazing story of
how something like this took place on
15
00:01:12.040 --> 00:01:18.719
our own shores. Here in the
United States are almost took place. You
16
00:01:18.799 --> 00:01:23.359
know, amazing is the right word. Rot I mean this is you wouldn't
17
00:01:23.359 --> 00:01:27.640
never think of hearing about anything like
this in this part of the country,
18
00:01:27.959 --> 00:01:36.040
you know, particularly at that time. But it all goes to all things.
19
00:01:36.640 --> 00:01:41.359
The draft. Wow. You see, in the spring of nineteen seventeen,
20
00:01:41.400 --> 00:01:44.359
the United States under World War One
on the side of the British and
21
00:01:44.400 --> 00:01:48.959
French against Germany. At the time, the American Army was a volunteer army,
22
00:01:49.280 --> 00:01:53.519
and it soon became apparent to the
military that this army would not have
23
00:01:53.640 --> 00:01:57.680
enough manpower to fight the Germans in
France. A draft was necessary to fight
24
00:01:57.760 --> 00:02:02.280
the war. So President would Roll
Wilson set that process in motion, and
25
00:02:02.560 --> 00:02:07.800
that set off a firestorm across the
country. Now to say the new draft
26
00:02:07.879 --> 00:02:14.919
was unpopular, well that was an
understatement. There were protests against the draft,
27
00:02:15.039 --> 00:02:19.759
or conscription as it was termed in
and anti conscription movement began to gain
28
00:02:19.800 --> 00:02:24.560
momentum all around America. Some though, had bigger plans in mind than simply
29
00:02:24.599 --> 00:02:30.919
protesting the draft, and the most
notorious plan was hatched and as we said
30
00:02:30.960 --> 00:02:37.680
earlier, Saint Paul Virginia Wow a
sixty year old man by the name of
31
00:02:37.800 --> 00:02:44.039
William Vernon McCoy, the name Sales
Familiar, was a cobbler who ran a
32
00:02:44.039 --> 00:02:47.759
shoe repair shop in the town.
Well, if it sounded familiar, you're
33
00:02:47.800 --> 00:02:54.360
probably right. He claimed to be
ken to the family of Random McCoy of
34
00:02:54.479 --> 00:03:00.719
Hatfield and McCoy feud fame. In
fact, it was said that he was
35
00:03:00.800 --> 00:03:04.639
involved in that famous feud back in
the eighteen hundreds as a young man.
36
00:03:05.400 --> 00:03:10.120
He also claimed to have traveled to
Missouri, where he supposedly spent time with
37
00:03:10.199 --> 00:03:15.639
Frank and Jesse James and their gang
of outlaws and Steve. I can attest
38
00:03:15.719 --> 00:03:20.319
to this one also. It's one
of those other tales that we just hear
39
00:03:20.400 --> 00:03:24.400
so much of of all these people
left here and they traveled to join Jesse
40
00:03:24.560 --> 00:03:30.199
and Frank James as they went across
the country, robbing banks and so forth.
41
00:03:30.240 --> 00:03:36.759
But anyway, William Vernon McCoy claimed
a colorful life, soon to be
42
00:03:36.879 --> 00:03:43.639
made even more interesting with the addition
of an acquaintance named John Walter Phipps,
43
00:03:44.120 --> 00:03:50.520
a foreman at the wood extract plant
in Saint Paul. Phipps referred to as
44
00:03:51.319 --> 00:03:57.639
General Phipps and McCoy were opposed to
the new draft laws, much like many
45
00:03:57.719 --> 00:04:01.800
others in America. They were also
opposed to the military and those who held
46
00:04:02.039 --> 00:04:10.960
vast tracks of Appalachian land, the
government and yes, the wealthy well rod.
47
00:04:11.039 --> 00:04:14.360
They soon came up with a plan
to not only end the draft,
48
00:04:14.879 --> 00:04:19.879
but also to change the world.
Starting with their corner of Appalachian they began
49
00:04:19.920 --> 00:04:24.759
to gather like minded men of the
area into a militia, one that would
50
00:04:24.800 --> 00:04:29.680
blow up bridges, railroad tunnels,
communications facilities, public buildings, things like
51
00:04:29.759 --> 00:04:34.600
that. They also planned to murder
Virginia National guardsmen and all the rich people
52
00:04:34.839 --> 00:04:41.839
starting in Saint Paul, then seize
their assets and divide those assets up amongst
53
00:04:41.879 --> 00:04:49.519
themselves the insurrectionists. These wealthy people
included property holders and their term the capitalists.
54
00:04:50.279 --> 00:04:57.360
Among those property holders targeted for execution
was Virginia Governor Henry C. Stewart.
55
00:04:58.480 --> 00:05:01.720
Now more than three hundred men living
near Saint Paul signed o swearing allegiance
56
Load full transcript
00:05:01.759 --> 00:05:05.439
to the cause, with the attack
planned for the day after conscription day.
57
00:05:06.279 --> 00:05:11.399
Each of the three hundred was to
receive fifteen thousand dollars for their work,
58
00:05:11.399 --> 00:05:15.720
and what was called the Military Organization
now right. I got to ask you
59
00:05:15.759 --> 00:05:19.959
this, If they were so much
against the draft, why were they starting
60
00:05:20.040 --> 00:05:27.079
up a military organization. Yeah,
more than anything else, I guess,
61
00:05:27.160 --> 00:05:31.759
just to maim and you know,
be able to control everybody else that you
62
00:05:31.800 --> 00:05:35.680
know, maybe didn't see eye to
eye with them. So I guess you
63
00:05:35.759 --> 00:05:39.920
were saying that, you know,
they were kind of constructing their own draft,
64
00:05:40.000 --> 00:05:43.800
so to speak, but forcing people
to kind of join in with them.
65
00:05:43.800 --> 00:05:46.000
I'd say, that's probably the best
way I can explain them. Well,
66
00:05:46.000 --> 00:05:49.839
that's true, that's true. Anyway, those men meant regularly at a
67
00:05:49.879 --> 00:05:54.560
cabin in the mountain there Saint Paul, which is where they signed their Ohs
68
00:05:54.600 --> 00:06:00.000
of allegiance. Those members went so
far as to use coded messages to communicate
69
00:06:00.079 --> 00:06:02.399
amongst themselves, similar to the way
guerrilla groups did during the Civil War.
70
00:06:03.240 --> 00:06:08.120
And here is the text of the
oath. The men sign and swarna uphold.
71
00:06:09.160 --> 00:06:14.399
I pledge and consecrate my body and
limbs to devote my life to obedience
72
00:06:14.439 --> 00:06:19.480
to my superiors, that no peril
shall deter me from executing their order.
73
00:06:20.079 --> 00:06:27.800
That I will submit to every possible
means of my power for the extermination of
74
00:06:27.959 --> 00:06:34.680
our enemies and big freeholders. And
before violating a single clause or implied pledge
75
00:06:34.680 --> 00:06:42.600
of this obligation, I will permit
the separation of my head and body.
76
00:06:43.639 --> 00:06:46.680
Boy, they didn't mess around with
that oath, did they. No,
77
00:06:46.839 --> 00:06:49.759
I mean, gosh, this is
more serious than joining in a fraternity.
78
00:06:50.959 --> 00:06:55.439
I mean it is. I mean
just the way. I never would have
79
00:06:55.480 --> 00:06:59.839
pictured ever saying something like I permit
the separation of my head and body.
80
00:07:00.240 --> 00:07:03.879
May not be in the same kind
of way or something due to spirits,
81
00:07:03.959 --> 00:07:12.000
but no, I wouldn't do swear
to something like this. Gosh. Well,
82
00:07:12.120 --> 00:07:16.199
anyway, Phillips personally persuaded every employee
at that Extract plant. Must have
83
00:07:16.240 --> 00:07:21.720
been a very persuasive kind of guy
the plant where he was formed to take
84
00:07:21.759 --> 00:07:29.120
that oath and join the insurrection.
Well, not everyone approached wanted to be
85
00:07:29.160 --> 00:07:32.600
a part of this group, afraid
of incurring the wrath of what could become
86
00:07:32.639 --> 00:07:40.160
a powerful organization, though many simply
put off a decision. Then, when
87
00:07:40.199 --> 00:07:44.399
they were able to do so,
they contacted the authorities. Well, the
88
00:07:44.480 --> 00:07:49.319
authorities included the National Guard, and
these folks soon tipped off the commanders of
89
00:07:49.319 --> 00:07:57.399
the second Virginia Infantry Guard units serving
at Cedar Bluff and Saint Paul along the
90
00:07:57.439 --> 00:08:03.279
Norfolk and Western Railroad line. The
commanders in turn contacted the US Department of
91
00:08:03.360 --> 00:08:09.519
Justice to ask for an investigation,
you know, the proper channels into the
92
00:08:09.600 --> 00:08:15.079
allegations that they had received. There
was so much concern about the plot that
93
00:08:15.120 --> 00:08:20.000
the regimental commander ordered his men to
take action against the conspirators if it was
94
00:08:20.120 --> 00:08:28.959
necessary to protect themselves, and that
investigation soon led to William McCoy portrayed as
95
00:08:28.040 --> 00:08:35.440
the ringleader of the plot. Well, Rod McCoy denied he was in charge,
96
00:08:35.960 --> 00:08:39.120
pointing the finger over It is buddy
General Phipps as the actual head of
97
00:08:39.120 --> 00:08:43.799
the organization. It was McCoy,
though, who had gotten the three hundred
98
00:08:43.960 --> 00:08:48.159
other men involved in the plan,
giving them the oath of allegiance that Rod
99
00:08:48.279 --> 00:08:52.799
read to you a few minutes ago. Meanwhile, detectives had discovered that the
100
00:08:52.879 --> 00:08:58.480
group had already secretly declared war on
the Virginia Militia and quote the wealthy,
101
00:09:00.080 --> 00:09:05.039
and were only waiting for Conscription day
to launch their attack. In preparation for
102
00:09:05.080 --> 00:09:09.320
that day, the group had stolen
a thousand pounds of blasting powder from the
103
00:09:09.399 --> 00:09:13.279
DuPont Magazine at Norton, Virginia,
in the middle of May nineteen seventeen.
104
00:09:16.320 --> 00:09:20.960
Well, the revolution was not to
be. McCoy and Phips were arrested in
105
00:09:20.000 --> 00:09:24.960
Saint Paul on Saturday May twenty six, nineteen seventeen by federal authorities. The
106
00:09:26.000 --> 00:09:31.080
two prisoners were held without bail in
solitary confinement in Roanoke for fear their followers
107
00:09:31.159 --> 00:09:35.480
would break them out of jail if
they were held in Wise County. They
108
00:09:35.480 --> 00:09:41.000
were arraigned on June twenty first on
charges including conspiracy, resisting the draft,
109
00:09:41.080 --> 00:09:45.240
and treason. They were said to
be tried in the Federal Court in Big
110
00:09:45.240 --> 00:09:50.600
Stone Gap during the August term of
that court. Also held as a witness
111
00:09:50.120 -->
00:09:56.600
was McCoy's son, Calvin McCoy,
seventeen years old. He and some of
112
00:09:56.639 --> 00:10:01.080
his friends had attempted to come up
with a plan to break dear old dad
113
00:10:01.159 --> 00:10:07.360
out of jail. Well. The
trial was set to begin on August fifteenth,
114
00:10:07.480 --> 00:10:13.519
nineteen seventeen. Well, early that
morning, John Phipps was reported to
115
00:10:13.519 --> 00:10:20.000
have faded faint in his jail cell
after other inmates told him he was going
116
00:10:20.080 --> 00:10:24.159
to be hanged at daybreak. I
guess I would fate too. At that
117
00:10:24.279 --> 00:10:26.919
point, Well, physicians had to
be called in to revive him, and
118
00:10:26.960 --> 00:10:33.120
the trial began as scheduled that afternoon. A large crowd of people attended the
119
00:10:33.159 --> 00:10:37.440
trial, filling the Federal courthouse at
big Stone Gap to capacity, with folks
120
00:10:37.559 --> 00:10:43.000
eager to get a glimpse at the
two insurrectionists. Now, Steve, I've
121
00:10:43.000 --> 00:10:46.639
seen the actual courtroom. I'm sure
you've been in that courtroom too. It's
122
00:10:48.120 --> 00:10:50.840
well, I guess by today's standards, it's kind of small, isn't it.
123
00:10:52.000 --> 00:10:54.960
It's not exactly a very big room, is it. It is just
124
00:10:56.039 --> 00:11:01.720
an average size courtroom, to be
honest with you. Yeah, if if
125
00:11:01.799 --> 00:11:05.679
there are people all over the place, they are going to be all around
126
00:11:05.679 --> 00:11:09.679
the hall, all the way down
the steps, all the way outside.
127
00:11:09.720 --> 00:11:13.720
I mean, it's not a huge
courthouse. So you know, the filled
128
00:11:13.720 --> 00:11:16.080
a capacity. I could see it
and see people lined up outside too.
129
00:11:16.240 --> 00:11:22.360
Wow. Well. On the witness
stand, Steve Calvin McCoy explained his understanding
130
00:11:22.399 --> 00:11:28.559
of the movement, which many of
the people brought into the plot agreed with
131
00:11:28.440 --> 00:11:33.039
the way I understand the movement is
a plan to cut down the high cost
132
00:11:33.080 --> 00:11:37.440
of living. Is a plan to
equal things up and make living easier for
133
00:11:37.480 --> 00:11:41.039
the people. There are men and
Wise, Dickinson and Russell Counties who on
134
00:11:41.159 --> 00:11:45.399
more Land, and they know what
to do with all winds. Haven't got
135
00:11:45.480 --> 00:11:50.960
enough to eat well. William McCoy
and John Phipps were later convicted of conspiring
136
00:11:52.039 --> 00:11:56.799
to seize by force the property of
the United States. Now nothing in there
137
00:11:56.879 --> 00:12:01.759
about, you know, attempting to
kill people or anything like that. And
138
00:12:01.799 --> 00:12:07.600
they ended up being sentenced to five
years in prison instead of the death penalty
139
00:12:07.679 --> 00:12:11.559
which would have resulted if they had
been convicted of treason. They were sent
140
00:12:11.600 --> 00:12:18.639
to the Federal Penitentiary in Atlanta.
Now, Phipps appealed his conviction, which
141
00:12:18.759 --> 00:12:24.120
was upheld by the Court of Appeals
in January nineteen eighteen. McCoy just gave
142
00:12:24.200 --> 00:12:28.200
up. He didn't bother to appeal
that point, John Phipps disappears in the
143
00:12:28.200 --> 00:12:33.159
pages of history. William Vernon McCoy, though, returned to Virginia after his
144
00:12:33.240 --> 00:12:39.159
sentence was served, and he died
at age sixty seven on May eighteenth,
145
00:12:39.600 --> 00:12:45.120
nineteen twenty five. His son,
Calvin died in nineteen twenty three, a
146
00:12:45.200 --> 00:12:50.600
young age I think what twenty three
years old at that point, although I've
147
00:12:50.639 --> 00:12:52.879
not been able to find out what
his cause of death was I assume it
148
00:12:52.960 --> 00:12:58.519
was either some kind of a tragic
accident or well, we won't go any
149
00:12:58.519 --> 00:13:03.120
farther than a but I think you
can guess that maybe he just fell apart
150
00:13:03.159 --> 00:13:07.039
after all this stuff happened to his
family. Yeah, well, you know
151
00:13:07.200 --> 00:13:11.679
here's another thing too. I mean, you've brought it up, you made
152
00:13:11.720 --> 00:13:13.600
mention of it. You know,
I heard that name in there, du
153
00:13:13.720 --> 00:13:20.519
Punt to Punt. I had no
idea to Punt was into explosives back in
154
00:13:20.600 --> 00:13:24.759
those days and everything I think of
du Paunt, chemical and so forth.
155
00:13:24.759 --> 00:13:28.440
But then when I started thinking about
it and saying, well, I guess
156
00:13:28.519 --> 00:13:31.679
it's possible they could have been involved
in such a thing. But you know
157
00:13:31.799 --> 00:13:37.600
what amazes me is you got this
information. You found this information by just
158
00:13:37.679 --> 00:13:46.279
simply going back and digging into copies
of you know, the events, the
159
00:13:46.360 --> 00:13:50.559
happenings and everything that was put together
about all this. And I started wondering,
160
00:13:52.440 --> 00:13:56.879
what in the world would it be
like, you know, in nineteen
161
00:13:56.960 --> 00:14:01.240
seventeen, nineteen eighteen, when they
had this time, the trial and so
162
00:14:01.320 --> 00:14:09.279
forth, if they had the media
coverage of today everything, Oh my gosh,
163
00:14:09.320 --> 00:14:13.440
it would be unreal the way that
it would be thrown out there publicized,
164
00:14:13.559 --> 00:14:18.080
such a big deal made and I'm
sure people still heard a lot about
165
00:14:18.120 --> 00:14:24.360
it. But they didn't have such
things as radio, they didn't have TV
166
00:14:24.559 --> 00:14:28.720
or anything, and I guess they
very limited on phones. Probably at that
167
00:14:28.799 --> 00:14:31.960
time they could, they mostly had
to call in stuff if it was lucky
168
00:14:33.039 --> 00:14:37.200
enough to get into another newspaper,
and this stuff was kind of transcribed that
169
00:14:37.240 --> 00:14:41.360
way. No computers know nothing at
this time. This was nineteen seventeen,
170
00:14:41.399 --> 00:14:46.559
and still people, like we said, filled the courtroom in Big Stone Gap
171
00:14:46.600 --> 00:14:50.399
for this trial. Wow, it
must have been what could have been,
172
00:14:50.799 --> 00:14:54.200
in our terms, a media event. Well, this was a big story,
173
00:14:54.320 --> 00:14:58.759
right, I mean it was in
newspapers all over the country. Now,
174
00:14:58.799 --> 00:15:01.480
it was one of those things that
in the papers for maybe two or
175
00:15:01.480 --> 00:15:05.480
three days, but it was nationwide
news. And you're right, if there
176
00:15:05.519 --> 00:15:11.759
were radio stations, then if there
were TV stations, cable networks or god
177
00:15:11.799 --> 00:15:18.600
forbid, social media, this would
have been one of the biggest stories on
178
00:15:18.639 --> 00:15:22.720
the planet, to be honest.
Yeah, And all of this taking place,
179
00:15:22.399 --> 00:15:28.200
and of all places, central Appalachia, in a small town called Saint
180
00:15:28.240 --> 00:15:33.600
Paul, Virginia, and folks,
that's the story of a homegrown Appalachian Insurrection.
181
00:15:35.039 --> 00:15:37.679
Now that one of the Stories of
Appalachia. Thanks for listening. Be
182
00:15:37.759 --> 00:15:41.759
sure to subscribe to the Stories podcast
on your favorite podcast apps so you know
183
00:15:41.919 --> 00:15:46.559
miss any of our stories of Appalachia. All on YouTube and TikTok at Stories
184
00:15:46.559 --> 00:15:52.440
of Appalachia and on Instagram at story
Appalachia. There you'll find short video stories
185
00:15:52.440 --> 00:15:58.840
of Appalachi to watch the next we
meet. Ye'll take care So long, everybody,