In the final years of the Civil War, a group of young women in Rhea County, Tennessee, made American history as the only known all-female cavalry unit: the Rhea County Spartans. Born from loyalty to their Confederate fathers, brothers, and sweethearts, they rode sidesaddle into history, carrying supplies, letters, and, according to some accounts, intelligence for the Confederate cause.

As Union forces swept through East Tennessee, these women defied the odds, and the rules, to keep their mission alive. But in April 1865, just days before Lee’s surrender, Union Captain John Walker made them his personal target, arresting sixteen Spartans in a dramatic march through cold rain and mud. What happened next surprised everyone, including their captors.

In this episode, Rod and Steve tell the story of the rise, arrest, and legacy of the Rhea County Spartans. You’ll hear how wartime loyalties split communities, how women stepped into unconventional roles, and how one small group of women from East Tennessee left a mark on Civil War history.

Perfect for fans of Civil War history, Appalachian heritage, and untold stories of women in wartime.

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In this episode, we tell the story of Henry Skaggs, one of the legendary Kentucky longhunters of the 18th century and his remarkable journey from his early days in Maryland to his time as an explorer and hunter on the Appalachian frontier.  

Discover how Henry explored the wilderness, including his encounter with the infamous Harpes, America's first known serial killers. Hear tales of his daring exploits, including with other notable frontiersmen like Daniel Boone.  

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In 1918, the mountains of North Carolina erupted in quiet rebellion. Dozens of young men dodged the World War I draft, hiding in the backcountry with help from friends and family. When a deadly shootout left two men dead on a remote mountain road, Governor Thomas Bickett launched an unprecedented campaign to bring the deserters in, using not just raids and arrests, but public persuasion designed to get these men to turn themselves in, no questions asked.

And it worked.

It’s another one of the Stories of Appalachia.

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In this episode we tell the story of Michael Stoner, a German-born frontiersman, longhunter, and close companion of Daniel Boone. From his early days in Pennsylvania to brutal battles like Blue Licks and Boonesborough, to his final expedition up the Missouri River, Michael Stoner was the definition of Appalachian exploration and settlement, making his story one of the Stories of Appalachia.

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On February 28, 1890, a long-simmering feud turned deadly in the halls of the U.S. Capitol. 

Former Kentucky Congressman William P. Taulbee was shot on the marble stairs by journalist Charles Kincaid after years of personal and political conflict. In this episode, Steve and Rod tell the story of the events that led to the murder and the ghostly legend said to haunt the Capitol to this day.

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On June 23, 1944, a massive F4 tornado struck Shinnston, West Virginia, the deadliest tornado in the state’s history. This week we tell the story of the terrifying twister that tore through seven counties and its aftermath. It’s the story of the Shinnston tornado, another one of the Stories of Appalachia.

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In this episode, we tell the dramatic true story of Charles Jefferson Harrison, a respected San Antonio businessman who became one of Appalachia's most elusive train robbers.  

Caught when an employee tried to deposit some of the loot from a 1915 robbery, Harrison and his partners in crime were tried in Martinsburg, West Virginia in 1916, where the grizzled outlaw stunned the public by breaking down in tears and confessing to a string of crimes dating back more than two decades. It turns out Harrison lived a double life that fooled everyone around him including his ex-wife.

It's another one of the Stories of Appalachia.  

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On December 14, 1910, a deadly explosion rocked the Greeno Mine in Tacoma, Virginia, claiming 14 lives and leaving a lasting mark on the Appalachian coalfields. Today we tell the story of Irish immigrant Patrick Hagan, who once owned the land on which the mine was located, and the dangerous conditions that led to this tragedy.

It’s another one of the Stories of Appalachia.

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A preacher with five wives, a kidnapped teenage girl, and a cross-country manhunt.  This isn’t fiction, it’s the unbelievable true story of Joseph Herman Johnson, a Primitive Baptist minister whose lies and crimes unraveled in an East Tennessee courtroom in 1927. From bigamy to abduction to a bizarre promise of Hollywood stardom to his victim, this episode covers one of the most twisted scandals in Appalachian history, another one of the Stories of Appalachia.  

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In this episode we explore the lesser-known but historically rich Johnson City Sessions of 1928 and 1929. While the Bristol Sessions are often credited as the “Birthplace of Country Music,” Johnson City played a vital follow-up role in capturing the authentic sounds of Appalachia.

Frank Buckley Walker, a Columbia Records talent scout, recorded local musicians in a Johnson City lumber company office, including Clarence Ashley, Charlie Bowman, and the Roane County Ramblers.

It's another one of the Stories of Appalachia.

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