Wednesday, June 6, 2012

"Hatfield & McCoy" Mini-series Review

  A couple nights ago, I watched one of the best mini-series that I have ever watched, I give it a two thumbs up! It was about the famous "Hatfield and McCoy feud", that took place not vary fare from where I live, in the "Tug Valley" area of West Virginia and Kentucky. It is apart of our Appalachian History that has been told for many years. They did a great job telling the story and trying to stay as close to fact as you can with a story, that has probably been stretched through the years. After watching I have a better understand and respect for what the families went through during that dark time of their family history. My hats off to Kevin Costner and the rest of the actors and actress' for such a remarkable job! So if you haven't watched it already, I recommend that you do. Here is a link to the History Channel so you can get the next showing "Hatfield's and McCoy's"
     
"Devil Anse" Hatfield      and        Randle McCoy
    
The Hatfield-McCoy feud began in the mountainous Tug River valley. The Tug River separates West Virginia from Kentucky and separated most of the Hatfield and McCoy clans. William Anderson Hatfield was the recognized leader of the Hatfields and went by the nickname of “Devil Anse”. The leader of the McCoys was Randle McCoy.
The first known event linking the Hatfields and McCoys was at the end of the Civil War. Devil Anse fought for the Confederate Army for two years. Then he and some of his family members left the army and returned home. They joined a local Confederate militia known as the Logan Wildcats. Randle McCoy’s brother, Asa Harmon McCoy, was a Union soldier. In 1865 Asa was wounded in battle and came home. While Asa was recuperating, he was murdered. No one was ever charged with the murder but it was rumored that Devil Anse and the Logan Wildcats were involved. Some believe the feud started with this incident but there were no attempts at retaliation by the McCoys and no further conflict between the families for over a decade.
To read more on the history of the families and feud hatfieldmccoycountry.com/feud/
The Los Angeles Times says, "Not only is History's miniseries "Hatfields & McCoys" a smash hit, but it's earned star Kevin Costner glowing reviews while giving his career, which has hit a few bumps in recent years, new life and vibrancy." Click Here to Read!

Another great link on the families history:  Blue-ridge County.com

 
C.S. Lewis once said, "History is a story written by the finger of God."

4 comments:

  1. Drat! I wanted to watch that, too! Thanks for reminding me!
    Love the C.S. Lewis quote, too!

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  2. We are adopted Kentuckian, moved there in 1974, our two children were born in Louisville, Ky. Our home base now is LaGrange, Ky. We too like the mini series, thought they did a good job of protraying the issue back then.

    We did our missionary training in Cornettville, Ky, not to far from where all this took place. We love the mountains, love the people. I sing a little southern, country gospel so right away we were accepted. One thing about the mountain folk we loved is there was no sham about them, they either liked you or did not pretent to. I am smiling as I write this for well remember a visit way up in a hollar and a conversation that took place, no sham... Blessings my brother.

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  3. I am an avid movie-goer. However, I don't go, I wait for it to come to TV. ;) This mini-series was one of the better ones I've seen. I enjoy Costner's efforts in film making. Dances with Wolves was another epic great of his.

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