Label
Recovered shell casings, Battle of Blair Mountain
Defenders and attackers alike left much evidence of the fighting at Blair Mountain. These shell casings, found near Crooked Creek Gap, demonstrate the variety of guns used as well as Chafin's defenders' advantage in firepower. While the miners tended to use whatever rifles they possessed or could find, many of Chafin's men were equipped with machine guns and "Tommy guns". With defensive positions on the high ground and superior firepower, Chafin and his forces were able to hold the Red Neck Army at bay until the arrival of Federal Troops.
These artifacts are divided into two display cases based on which side of the fighting they were discovered on, and include casings from: .30-06 (Springfield), .45 ACP (Thompson sub-machine), .25 Remington, .30-40 Krag, .250 Savage, .45 Colt, .22 HP, .38 Remington.
Also shown: modern .30-06 handload stripper clip
collection of Kenneth King
