 Chafin 's most notable anti @-@ union measures came during the 1921 Battle of Blair Mountain , when he organized an effort to prevent armed miners from crossing through Logan County . He assembled a force of thousands of local townspeople , sheriff 's deputies , and national guardsmen . His forces successfully prevented the advance of the miners until federal troops intervened and forced the latter to disperse . As a result of his actions , Chafin became a hero of the mine operators and an enemy of the miners . 
