The “Battle of Virden” was a defining moment in the Illinois coal fields and in the American labor movement. Here we explain the event so that the beautiful memorial in the town square of Virden can be understood.

In January 1898 a deal was struck between the young United Mine Workers of America union and Illinois coal operators. But the Chicago-Virden Coal Company was intransigent, even after a six-month strike against them, part of the nation-wide great strike of 1897. The CVCC decided to import African American miners from Alabama to break the strike. Those men would be scabs. Not only did this pit union miners against bosses, it pitted whites against blacks. The company built a wood stockade around its mine and hired armed guards from Chicago and private detectives from St. Louis to protect the mine and its newly recruited black miners.

On October 12, 1898 armed union miners spotted the train that was carrying the black miners who would work at the CVCC mine. A gun battle broke out between union men and the company men. The train sped past – but eight miners were dead (four of whom were from Mt. Olive) as well as five mine guards. On both sides there also were non-fatal gun injuries. One month later the CVCC capitulated. The union had won, albeit at a human cost.

CLICK to listen to John Alexander’s presentation about the Battle of Virden, introduced by Professor Helaine Silverman. CLICK to watch John Alexander’s presentation of the Union Miners Cemetery.

WATCH OUR BATTLE OF VIRDEN WEBINAR (recorded December 7, 2023), a collaboration between the Mythic Mississippi Project of the University of Illinois and the Union Miners Cemetery Perpetual Care Association, with the assistance of ICOMOS-USA: CLICK HERE

Also watch Joann Condellone speak about the labor heritage of the Battle of Virden in a separate presentation: CLICK

On October 13, 2024 the 125th anniversary of the Battle of Virden was celebrated at the Union Miners Cemetery in Mt. Olive, where a memorial honors the martyrs of that day. During this Miners Day celebration at the cemetery, UMWA President Cecil E. Roberts was the keynote speaker. He, Mother Jones (portrayed by Loretta Williams) and General Bradley (portrayed by Dale Hawkins) laid a wreath at the memorial.