Battle of Athens to be discussed
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ATHENS - The 1904 Battle of Athens between U.S. Army regulars and Ohio National Guardsman will be the topic at the Lyceum Luncheon Brown Bag Speaker Series at noon Aug. 20 at the Southeast Ohio History Center.
Cyrus Moore, director of the Baltimore Community Museum in Fairfield County, will present "Blood on the Bricks: The Battle of Athens and the Ohio National Guard Maneuvers of 1904."
The deadly shootout occurred in August 1904 on the streets of Athens where thousands of soldiers were encamped north of town.
Athens County was host to 6,000 Ohio Guardsmen and 1,000 U.S. Army Regulars who were organized into two armies, spending a week living in camp and holding mock battles throughout the hills north Athens city. Tensions between the Guardsmen and Regulars spilled over into open hostility and an armed scuffle left one Guardsmen dead with multiple others badly wounded.
The presentation will look at what brought the Guard to Athens and examine the reasons for the deadly encounter. The center is located at 24 W State St., Athens.
Moore, a native of Athens County, is on the City of Athens Historic Preservation Commission and has an extensive background in Southeastern Ohio history that includes a specialized interest in the Ohio National Guard and its evolution from the War of the Rebellion to the First World War.
For more information about the presentation, the Lyceum Luncheon Speaker Series or about the History Center, call 740 592-2280 or go to www.southeastohiohistory.org.