Devil Anse Hatfield — William Anderson Hatfield (1839–1921) The essential facts: Devil Anse Hatfield was the patriarch of the Hatfield clan, a Confederate veteran, a timber baron, and the central figure of the Hatfield–McCoy feud, one of the most famous family conflicts in American history. Born: September 9, 1839, in Logan County, Virginia (now West Virginia).

Parents: Ephraim “Big Eph” Hatfield and Nancy Vance Hatfield.

Marriage: Levicy Chafin (1861). They had 13 children, all surviving to adulthood.

Stature: Over six feet tall, dark hair, dark eyes, full beard, physically imposing, Devil Anse was a Confederate fighter  known for irregular warfare in the Appalachian mountains.

Served in the Virginia State Line (1862).

Later joined the 45th Virginia Battalion Infantry, rising to Captain.

Fought bushwhackers and Union patrols along the Kentucky–Virginia border.

Co-founded the guerrilla unit Logan Wildcats with his uncle Jim Vance.

Connected to killings of Union fighters Ax & Fleming Hurley, and Union General Bill France.Built a profitable lumber business on thousands of acres of timberland.

Won land in a lawsuit against Perry Cline, a McCoy relative — adding economic tension to the feud.

Employed locals, including some McCoys.

Identified himself publicly as a farmer, though he was a major landowner.

1865: Murder of Asa Harmon McCoy, a Union veteran. Hatfield was suspected but likely not present; his uncle Jim Vance is considered the more probable killer.

This killing is widely seen as the spark of the feud.

Major Events

1878 Hog Trial: Hatfield was not personally involved, despite popular myth.

1880: Led the rescue of his son Johnse from McCoy relatives after the Johnse–Roseanna romance.

1882 Election Day Fight:

His brother Ellison Hatfield was mortally wounded.

Devil Anse ordered the execution of three McCoy brothers (Tolbert, Pharmer, Bud).

He was indicted but never tried.

1888 New Year’s Night Raid:

McCoy cabin attacked; Calvin and Alifair McCoy killed; Sarah McCoy beaten.

Hatfield instigated but did not personally participate.

This raid turned public opinion against the Hatfields.

End of the Feud

Cousin Ellison Mounts (Cotton Top) was hanged for the raid.

Hatfield agreed to end the feud in 1891.

 Personality & Public Image

Known for fierce loyalty, quick temper, and decisive leadership.

Enjoyed speaking to reporters; interviews helped sensationalize the feud.

A skilled outdoorsman and avid bear hunter.

 Later Years & Death

Converted to Christianity in 1911; baptized by Dyke Garrett.

Died of pneumonia on January 6, 1921, in Stirrat, West Virginia.

Devil Anse Hatfield remains:

A symbol of Appalachian frontier justice.

A central figure in American folklore.

A reminder of how Civil War loyalties, land disputes, and family honor shaped rural mountain life.

His statue still stands in Logan County, marking his grave — rifle in hand, beard flowing — the image of a man who became legend.

All Known Explanations for the Nickname “Devil Anse”

1. Battlefield Ferocity (Most Common Historical Explanation)

Many Civil War accounts describe him as fearless, relentless, and unusually calm under fire.

Newspapers later said he fought “like a devil,” and that the name came from his ferocity in guerrilla combat.

2. Given by His Mother (A Popular Family Tradition)

Some Hatfield descendants say Nancy Vance Hatfield called him “Devil Anse” because he was wild, stubborn, and impossible to control as a boy.

3. Given by Randolph McCoy (Feud-Era Claim)

McCoy family tradition says Randolph McCoy himself gave him the name after seeing how quickly Anse could turn violent when provoked.

4. To Distinguish Him From “Preacher Anse” (Documented)

There were two Anderson Hatfields:

• Preacher Anse — a minister

Devil Anse — the opposite in temperament

• This contrast helped the nickname stick.

 Family  Story — The Darkest and Most Personal Version

Devil Anse hated noise from children. When he visited, some family members hid their kids under beds because he would choke them to make them quiet.

✔ His Temper Was Legendary

Multiple sources describe him as:

• Quick to anger

• Intimidating

• Physically imposing

• Capable of sudden violence.

✔ Families Often Hid Children From Dangerous Men

In Appalachian oral history, it was common for families to hide kids from:

• Drunk relatives

• Violent men

• Feud participants

• Visiting authority figures

If children feared him, and adults whispered about him, the name “Devil Anse” could have grown inside the community long before newspapers picked it up.

The Hatfields and McCoys lived in a world where:

• Few people wrote diaries

• Newspapers exaggerated

• Families kept secrets

• Reputation traveled by word of mouth