AHC: Battle of Blair Mountain

What would be the worst case scenario for the Battle of Blair Mountain miner uprising? How much potential did it have to be more devastating and larger scale than what it ultimately was?

WI: President Warren G. Harding sent in federal troops to suppress the fighting in West Virginia?

Basically, what changes need to be made to make this a bigger, badder, bloodier movement?

ASB's need not apply.
 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Blair_Mountain

Looking for PODs in the Wiki is generally a good place to start.

1. The miners' militia does not disperse--earlier battle, possibly in conditions more favorable to the miners because they're at full strength.

2. The miners break through to Logan--the Wiki said they nearly did. That could be a consequence of #1, or a later POD. They might still be defeated by the deputies and strikebreakers in the town itself and the threat of federal military intervention is still likely to make the miners disperse, but it'll be even more of a Pyrrhic victory for the mine owners than OTL if they can't even defend themselves.
 

pnyckqx

Banned
What would be the worst case scenario for the Battle of Blair Mountain miner uprising? How much potential did it have to be more devastating and larger scale than what it ultimately was?

WI: President Warren G. Harding sent in federal troops to suppress the fighting in West Virginia?

Basically, what changes need to be made to make this a bigger, badder, bloodier movement?

ASB's need not apply.
Have the miners use slightly different tactics. Set up a feint toward Logan, and have a team attack execute some of the mine owners at their homes, killing them, and burning down the property. If a couple of the owners die, the situation escalates into a far longer lasting situation.
 
If federal troops get sent in, things get messy.

I understand one of the people likely to be called in for an armed response was really eager to test air power.
 

pnyckqx

Banned
If federal troops get sent in, things get messy.

I understand one of the people likely to be called in for an armed response was really eager to test air power.
That would be an interesting butterfly. It would show the limits of air power and air support, and possibly reduce the influence of Billy Mitchell.

It would also force the miners to resort to more of an unconventional warfare style. This would familiarise US Forces with unconventional warfare tactics, and possibly change the face of tactics used in other Vietnam like conflicts.
 
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