Battle of the Grapevine Creek facts for kids

The Battle of Grapevine Creek was a small but important fight between two large family groups, the Hatfields and the McCoys. It was the last big battle in their long-running Hatfield–McCoy feud and helped bring the feud to an end.

The Battle Begins

After Jim Vance was captured in January 1888, the Hatfield family, led by Devil Anse Hatfield, got ready for one last major attack. They wanted to get revenge for Jim Vance's death and finally win against the McCoy family.

When the McCoys heard that the Hatfields were coming, the Hatfields were already on their way to McCoy land. Frank Phillips, who led the McCoy group, quickly gathered all the men he could. He led his group to stop the Hatfields. Two McCoys were with Phillips: Bud McCoy and James "Jim" McCoy, one of Randolph McCoy's sons.

The Fight at Grapevine Creek

The two groups met near Grapevine Creek in West Virginia, close to the Tug Fork River. They started shooting at each other.

One part of the McCoy group managed to trick the Hatfields into a certain area of the battlefield. Meanwhile, another group of McCoys moved around to surprise them from the side. This caused many Hatfields to be hurt or captured, and they had to retreat. Several Hatfields could not escape and were taken prisoner by the McCoys.

What Happened Next

After the battle, some Hatfields were captured. These prisoners, along with others caught earlier, were put on trial. The Kentucky government allowed these trials for the things they had done during the feud.

All the Hatfields were found guilty and sent to prison. However, Cottontop Ellison Mounts, who was Ellison Hatfield's son, was sentenced to death. This was because he was proven to have killed one of Randall McCoy's daughters during the New Year's Eve attack.