Colonel Vincent "Clawhammer" Witcher: The Civil War's Biggest Weirdo

Of all the eccentric characters from Civil War history, no one quite compares to Colonel Vincent Addison Witcher, "The Clawhammer," ruthless guerilla fighter and commander of the 34th Virginia Cavalry.
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[@AtunSheiFilms]

CORRECTION: A year and a half after I made this video, a viewer reached out to me and said, "You made a mistake in your Vincent A. Witcher video. Robert E. Lee didn't write any memoirs." I replied, "I know he didn't, and I never said that." The viewer said, "Yes you did," and sent me a timestamp. Whoops! Not sure why I included that - maybe the the thin Alaskan air was making me delirious. It's true that JEB Stuart repeatedly praised Witcher, but looking into it again, I couldn't find any instance where Lee did. Sorry, everyone!

[@fan9775]

0/10 Literally unwatchable. SmH

[@doctordoc2351]

Well, thank you for correcting yourself even after all this time

[@ChaseMcCain81]

Oh, a new comment.

[@Gabefalconb]

I used to respect you. Now, after making a simple mistake, I cannot even look at you. For shame

[@dewayneweaver5782]

It nice that you admitted your mistake, but you really should invite Bobby Lee's ghost onto your program so that you can personally apologize for confusing him with JEB Stuart.

[@abyssimus]

"Your honor, I mutilated that corpse in self defense." "Objection! He's clearl--" *Draws pistol* "...Overruled."

[@samuelblackthorne9122]

Grand Pappy Witcher was one hell of a lawyer.

[@colliwer]

I don’t think I’ll toss a coin to this particular Witcher...

[@BrentWalker999]

A fellow man of culture I see.

[@robertfleming387]

👍😏

[@Jebbtube]

You better, otherwise he'll gut ya!

[@nateskinner97]

Winds howling

[@SarsTheSecond]

He is definitly from the School of the Cat!

[@kennagel8088]

Little is known about his younger brother, Philip " the screwdriver, "

[@davidolie8392]

He was a Robinson on his mother's side.

[@Jobbazz]

He had some head on him so he did

[@illquanbenjamin6182]

Or his cousin the wrench

[@ClannCholmain]

😂🤣😅

[@illquanbenjamin6182]

@C J Bowen Nice

[@Vesta_the_Lesser]

Here I thought "clawhammer" was going to refer to a literal hammer, this guy cracking people skulls, but no, this guys is a fashionable psycho who kills people _in other ways_

[@Anonie324]

He didn't need any tools to bash men's brains out, God gave him two perfectly good hands with which to accomplish this deed, I do declare.

[@seed_drill7135]

My family is from Southwestern Virginia and when I hear clawhammer I think banjo playing.

[@dohvahkene4473]

Rock can be hammer, if needed

[@PrettyPinkPersephone]

Only marginally different ways tbh.

[@dohvahkene4473]

@@PrettyPinkPersephone Rock + Stick = Hammer

[@MedievalTrebuchet]

Wow, I can't believe this guy got away with all that and lived to a ripe old age in Utah as a Mormon. America is wonderful

[@AtunSheiFilms]

Ha!

[@torinjones3221]

It's beautiful that finally found peace and salvation.

[@AudieHolland]

I'm utterly disappointed he never actually used an actual claw hammer instead of a rock to bash out the brains of those he rightfully condemned according to the law of the west!

[@dumoulin11]

@@AudieHolland "rightfully condemned" ... you're a real angel aren't you?

[@michaelmayo2489]

dumoulin11 he did add the caveat of “according to the law of the west”

[@benperkins5443]

I watched this with a completely straight face until you said "he practised law in Virginia for a while" shorty after you named all the times he killed people with rocks. I had to pause the video and sit in dumbfounded silence for a few minutes after that.

[@vincentmeade2534]

As a mormon myself, I cant really imagine sitting next to a dude in church who didn't use punctuations?

[@brutusthebear9050]

Underrated comment

[@madiantin]

LOL

[@grantstratton2239]

Yes we are all of us sinners some of us just need repentance a bit more than others

[@sowianskizonierz2693]

it's truly the worst of his crimes

[@bellakaldera3305]

I'm not certain Porter Rockwell could even read!

[@bennjenn929]

Wholly unsatisfying outcome to hear that this man never got punished for his foul disposition...

[@maxk4324]

I don't know if I'd call serial brain smashing a "foul disposition" but I do agree with your general sentiment.

[@williamrichards3707]

Maybe not in this life and I'm sure he got punished in the hereafter. Because in the end no one like that completely escapes punishment...

[@rickc2102]

@@williamrichards3707 you sweet summer child...

[@purple-headedyogurtslinger2683]

Yup and Josef Mengele died on a beach in Brazil.

[@LordVader1094]

@@rickc2102 Lol imagine unironically using a fucking GoT quote in the year of our lord 2021.

[@awesomedallastours]

Psychopaths and weirdos throughout history usually have great careers during troubled times. Great video!

[@KoreaMojo]

They usually get to the top and keep those troubled times coming.

[@mrswright2058]

Not much different from today.

[@JoeSkylynx]

IIRC, the US and UK both flirted with the idea of using psychopaths as law enforcement after a nuclear war. The idea being that most of them with their lack of empathy would be able to dish out punishments more brutally.

[@Bellephus]

The French Revolution is the best example of that, undoubtedly.

[@jodu626]

So true

[@Nugnugnug]

The School of the Alligator has produced some very interesting witchers.

[@cassuttustshirt4949]

"We aren't supposed to kill humans? Where's the fun in that? Instead, lets kill lots of them!

[@gregandy4277]

I imagine there’s a quote by clawhammer waiting to be discovered that goes something like this:” If a rock was good enough for Cain, why by God it is good enough for me.”

[@edwardpoe7323]

Because Cain used the jawbone of an ass

[@RogerValor]

this is fake, it has punctuation

[@teslashark]

@@edwardpoe7323 That's Samson

[@KFranzaltdorf]

"Not a slave holder among them" ...wait, he was pro-purge and pro-torture, but anti-slavery? Certainly a weirdo. Greetings from Chile!

[@uarbor70]

It's not that they didn't believe in slavery they were too poor to own anything much less a $3,000 slave

[@KFranzaltdorf]

@Carolina to the Caribbean Yeah, but he didn't say "And all my lads were just humble and poor citizens", he said that they weren't slave holders. He did not emphasize the money, he emphasized the slave ownership. It's weird...

[@hissyhonker220]

You people are too damn dumb to see that besides a few politicians and politically appointed generals no one really gave a shit about owning slaves when your average wage is maybe 200 bucks a year. It's a war about killing that bastard with a blue government issue uniform and musket shooting in your front yard.. duh! You dimwitted dwarfs

[@plunkadelicdaydream]

Totally disagree on this particular point: The damn dummies and their dumbass system of free labor made the other dumb bastards "skeeared" that they might be put on the same level with all God's dimwitted bastards, blue, black, and gray alike. Now all the damn dummies get a fair shake, at least in theory.

[@Special_Tactics_Force_Unit]

The majority of the Confederate army didn't give a shit about slaves.

[@columbiayore2522]

Dont you ever make fun of Review Brah again

[@AtunSheiFilms]

Don't worry, I love him.

[@AvengerAtIlipa]

Witcher: *Commits unspeakable, horrendous war crimes* Atun-Shei: "What a fucking W E I R D O "

[@drdiva70]

Great vid. Altho you should have included that time Witcher fought off a giant magical water spider. Oh well. Cant wait for the henry cavil tv show

[@bman6065]

He was like the Dirlewanger of Virginia. Disappointed to hear Lee approved of his actions.

[@teslashark]

Lee could overlook some pillaging of friendly units...

[@bman6065]

@@teslashark Lee was a serious disciplinarian but in war shit happens. Can't cut your ranks when you're going on offensive operations.

[@AtunSheiFilms]

I'm not convinced Lee was aware of the full details.

[@Rendell001]

@@AtunSheiFilms that would be my view also - Lee would be familiar with Whitcher's conventional cavalry duties under Stuart's command but I highly doubt he'd be aware of his... "irregular" activities.

[@sld1776]

Lee was a giant asshat who should be remembered in disgrace.

[@themusicman1556]

I just realized 2 things: 1 that southerners tend to refer to unprecedented attacks as "self defense", and that the civil war from the southern perspective was just such a thing.

[@erikrungemadsen2081]

Just started this video. This guy cannot be weirder than Stonewall Jackson! After video. He is is not weird he is terrifying.

[@williamrichards3707]

He obviously was a pathological psychopath! As far as I'm concerned Jefferson Davis Lee all the other Confederate officers who were wants Union Officers should have been tried for treason and hung for war crimes against the nation!

[@gregdzialo9998]

@@williamrichards3707 ...except that treason by definition requires intent to overthrow the government. The Confederacy never intended nor fought to overthrow the government.

[@williamrichards3707]

You better check the constitution on that check our article 3 read it closely what they did was treasonous if you can't see that written in the Constitution then you're not reading! I studied constitutional law paid for by the United States government! As far as I'm concerned Jefferson Davis, Robert E Lee, in any other Union officer who chose to fight against their country is guilty of treason. That's not an opinion, that's a fact! I suggest you read therefore you learn...

[@mrdave777]

Please elaborate on your comment on Stonewall!? It couldn’t be further from the truth. Because he sucked on lemons?!

[@erikrungemadsen2081]

@@mrdave777 There was the whole thing with him holding his long arm in the air to equalize his circulation, he was capable of falling asleep while eating, He was more than a little religious seing signs, portents and omens in everything. He was known for remembering entire textbooks and repeating them again and again to his students in Virginia and when asked to explain things he would just repeat the exact same thing again. The lemon thing is not something special, he was just glad of fruits in general, i read somewhere he actually prefered peaches. Also he did not eat pepper. He did not have chairs in his study preffering to work standing up. Jackson was beloved by his men and the South in general, but he was excentric and yes some of that excentrism was embelished to add to his myth. He is sort of like the German Marshal Blucher mildly excentric, but by some described as crazy due to misunderstandings or overembelishments.

[@JeffreyDeCristofaro]

There is no shortage of psychos in times of conflict, particularly the ones that manage to literally get away with murder. What a fine world we all live in!

[@JeffreyDeCristofaro]

@@andrewcamden Sad but true. And even if there actually WAS a more progressive reason to go to war, and we had ABSOLUTELY NO OTHER OPTION but to fight it, I bet that those same indecent folks would just use it as an excuse to make themselves look dignified while carrying out atrocities of the most DEGENERATE kind in the interim. It's happened before in history, with people of that type already in prison who selected the option of joining the army in wartime in exchange for amnesty (and even possible fame as a war hero) rather than spend the last years of their lives in prison waiting for their death sentence to be carried out. In their minds, better to "go out and die fightin' like a man" than suffer misery and humiliation as a criminal, and ironically, what more would they do but perpetrate war crimes? Now I'm not saying that all prisoners were or are like that - hell, there are corrupt politicians and capitalists at the top social ranks that deserve life sentences while countless innocents below them are jailed, and who would try to reinstitute the draft for the chances of screwing the lower classes just to move up in rank and wealth, but if war doesn't discriminate, all types of people - both the good and the bad - get involved, and it's not a pretty picture when the worst dregs imaginable who are no better than the criminals on top get involved in a really overt way during wartime.

[@scottouellette9411]

The F.B.I. estimates there are over 30000 serial killers in the United States. Some more active than others.

[@bloodyhell8201]

@@JeffreyDeCristofaro oskar dirlewanger says hi

[@blaisevillaume2225]

If I know one thing about this country it's that, no matter how far north you are, you will always find at least one dude flying a Confederate flag within a 30 mile radius of any given point.

[@tskmaster3837]

If I know only one thing it's the fact that Confederate Flag Wavers hate minorities because they know they are a minority and will forever be one. Confederate States of America: 0-1. Wave that flag proudly, boys, because it means something. "It's not the CSA flag, it's the Battle Flag of Virginia." "What's their record?" "Same as the CSA, 0-1. But if you look at the individual battles against US soldiers..."

[@nautiquecowboynautiquecowb5317]

So true no matter where you travel in this country or even overseas you'll find a Confederate flag ain't that something. People love it I don't believe all people that fly it are racist.

[@blaisevillaume2225]

@@nautiquecowboynautiquecowb5317 It ain't a surprise. The Confederate flag spread as a symbol in the 1960s used by a bunch of racists who were trying to fight the civil rights movement. In the North, it is flown by racists who want people to know they are racist. You really have to be the most simple-minded, awwshucks-idiot in the world to fly a Confederate flag and not be racist.

[@nautiquecowboynautiquecowb5317]

@@blaisevillaume2225 Are you sure ? How do you know what's in a man's heart? People like you need to think before they speak. Some say the flag is a sign of defiance and being proud of the geographical area. And you see it as racist that's your opinion but name-calling that's just childish.

[@blaisevillaume2225]

@@nautiquecowboynautiquecowb5317 You say you're not racist, but you fly a flag that was created as a symbol of keeping black people in slavery and was revived as a symbol of denying them civil rights. How does that not make you an idiot? What is an idiot if that's not it?

[@cathyhayes2062]

Glad to have found this project that you have filmed.The soldier that Col. Witcher was tried for war crimes for killing was my 4x great grandfather Jim" Tarkeg"Maynard and my father told us the story of his widow offering him a glass of water to wash down his lies - Cathy Maynard Hayes

[@blastershogun]

Sounded like the Khmer Rouge took pointers from him.

[@robertnett9793]

Only learn from the best, eh?

[@dougreid2351]

"Ends justify means" is the credo of tyrants, criminals and murderers.

[@Redmenace96]

Interesting comment. During vid I was thinking of modern war crimes. Modern America forgets their own past. We are a nation founded on murder, but we overcame that?

[@grmpEqweer]

@@Redmenace96 We just do it overseas now.

[@Patchaddictedpolymath]

@@Redmenace96 Are you under the impression that crimes against humanity are unique to America ? Or just ignorant to the fact that rape and slavery was common-place before the white man showed up

[@wooderdsaunders6801]

Thought when you said bloody and clawhammer . I expected killing union troops with a clawhammer. How many thought the same?

[@williamrichards3707]

When's new meaning to clickbait doesn't it. I won't be watching anything else by this twit...

[@dougreid2351]

Killing soldiers and killing prisoners isn't at all the same thing. Murdering "sympathizers" likewise presents little risk to the killer. There is nothing civil about"civil war."

[@d.aardent9382]

Yah

[@MrOPRockwell]

This is quickly becoming one of my favorite history channels on youtube

[@AtunSheiFilms]

High praise, thank you!

[@JB-hl1qx]

Wow just wow .. I've been going to Gettysburg since 85 & never heard of this guy . Amazing video. And I thought bloody bill Anderson was a rough guy geez 😬.

[@edwardpoe7323]

It's because he wasn't a real soldier, and when he faced real soldiers he lost

[@hunterrichie2764]

@@edwardpoe7323 yep because real soldiers leave behind equipment when facing a larger force. Cough cough Custer cough

[@MurdochMMQCR]

Vince be like: "If I cant have brains no one will"

[@IceAngler]

I love all the AOEII music constantly in the background of these videos.

[@steeler4life]

Died "peacefully"..damn, thts a shame...painful death I would've wished on him

[@williamrichards3707]

I think an eternity in hell more than makes up for it!

[@jacobdonnely2608]

He did is nation well and deserved a peaceful death, the man rests peacefully in heaven now.

[@thomasswafford250]

@@jacobdonnely2608 by murdering helpless people and tormenting their widow?

[@jacobdonnely2608]

Thomas Swafford by joining the confederacy and then proceeding to do such, he served his nation well, and rests in heaven now.

[@thomasswafford250]

@@jacobdonnely2608 I don't think slaughtering helpless people is very much in keeping with the teaching of Jesus. If God was on the side of the Confederacy, why did they lose?

[@rayburnmullins3156]

My great,great,grandfather was 14or 15 yrs old in witcher's co f 34th battalion

[@whatthe239]

The real reason he’s hiding in Alaska is cause he was talking smack about Reviewbrah

[@andmicbro1]

Sometimes a serial killer finds themselves in the midst of a war, and they don't wind up as infamous as their peacetime counterparts. Because they were "in the service of their country" instead of horrible horrible people.

[@mr.classified6167]

"Claw Hammer" the serial killer soldier.

[@danisawesome4214]

Choose your weapon Witcher: This rock oughta do it

[@paullogan2196]

I challenge you to a duel - I'll take rocks at 0 paces

[@ronstreet6706]

Ordinary person...swords or pistols Witcher...hold my rock!

[@WeHaveExplosive]

Now I've read and heard of a few sadistic, violent war crimes in my time, but not using punctuation takes the cake. This man was an absolute psychopath.

[@Ammo08]

Very good video. I live in Missouri and both sides raked over our state, many of the groups switching sides based on which way the winds were blowing..These type of wars have historically brought out the worst in people...

[@mattgilbert7347]

Been bingeing your videos for several days. Wonderful stuff.

[@stormblessed2321]

I hate it when evil people get happy endings.

[@solsburyhill]

The sad fact of life

[@Decadent36]

I've sporadically been seeing a few of your videos over the past week and have enjoyed the content. This particular one earned you a sub!

[@yrecros]

I like the age of empires song in the background

[@matthewlebo1841]

Interesting story close to my home: Witcher’s Boys participated in the Battle of Guyandotte (Now part of Huntington, WV, where I live) in November 1861, while he was a captain. The Confederate force captured around two-thirds of the 9th (West) Virginia Infantry recruiting there, including sitting US Representative for Virginia, Major Kellian V. Whaley. Whaley escaped during the withdrawal, stole Witcher’s hat, and served the rest of his term in Washington, away from the front.

[@rjohnson1690]

Good god, this guy was the Oskar Dirlewanger of the rebellion. He was worse than Nathan B Forrest.

[@Deavertex]

Forrest was a fine cavalry commander -- one of the best. Of course, he considered anyone who wasn't Caucasian to be subhuman (he wasn't alone, but he took it to extremes), and he was in great part responsible for the KKK.

[@rjohnson1690]

Deavertex Forrest was good at raiding and fighting substandard troops. His actions at Chickamauga were subpar. (as were Wheeler’s) A dirty little secret people love to forget, is that Forrest was routed by Robert Milroy of all people.

[@aex-blacksmithuk2111]

I don't care which side he was on, he sounds like he was a genuine 100% nutter, of the first water!

[@Baelor-Breakspear]

That’s such a beautiful background. Amazing view. Keep up the good work and if you can film from more gorgeous locations.

[@scottouellette9411]

Watch Discovery channels THE LAST ALASKANS...great scenery.

[@ronniekinardjr8404]

Good to hear total honesty about the criminal minded people who were put on pedestals laterally. May you be protected from the modern day ignorant people who choose not to believe the truth of there marders

[@sharadowasdr]

So these guys were the Confederate Dirlewangers

[@JagerLange]

I'd still feel safer leaving my kids with Witcher though. If I had any.

[@daxisperry7644]

I love how your background music is the same music in Age of Empires 2. Great game and soundtrack.

[@DaKdawg]

Absolutely fascinating. Thank you for the share. I had been to Gettysburg, but haven't studied hardly at all the cavalry clash. I shall endeavor to remedy this. Weird dudes in the Civil War...I got a feeling there's plenty of them. Found out I share a birthday with 3 Civil War confederate generals. No union ones...sadly. I can't wait for more strange stories.

[@jakubwitczak6192]

Video about the witcher: Begins. The wind: is howling.

[@nealfirstofhisname]

Like the swirling storm inside.

[@mullarky]

Great content!

[@zachseatdriver9671]

You deseve so many more subscribers, i dont know how i only just now found you

[@stephenwood6663]

The description of Witcher's Parole makes me think of Sinis 'the Pine-bender', an outlaw who Theseus faced. Sources vary on whether he would force travelers to help him bend pine trees to the ground and then unexpectedly let go, catapulting the victims into the air, or if he tied people to two pine trees that he bent down to the ground, before let the trees go and tearing his victims apart. Witcher's method seems more efficient than either of these - if Sinis really existed, I'd hazard that this was most likely his strategy.

[@debaterofeverythingpresent2775]

"Not a slave holder among them" It's like saying not a single concentration camp guard was in my Nazi regiment.

[@alexdiaz155]

They weren’t in the war for the politics, just the party.

[@sashakhan4317]

Yeah and both make sense. People were fighting for their country in both cases, Not the politicians.

[@wisemankugelmemicus1701]

The SS and German Army were seperate. And you wouldn't have concentration camp guards serving alongside Infantry Regiments. That's like saying the US Army has full frontline infantry regiments and then you have fuck ton of mall cops just randomly thrown in there.

[@swirvinbirds1971]

And it is disingenuous. Looking at slave ownership per person distorts the truth that slavery ownership was by household. The sons, daughters and spouses who did not technically own the slaves were still just as heavily invested in slavery. In some southern states over 50% of households owned slaves.

[@wisemankugelmemicus1701]

@@swirvinbirds1971 OP was also wrong, but I digress

[@BillRoyMcBill]

"...brave fellows not a slave holder among them." A commendable sentiment.

[@Jacob-yg7lz]

Believe it or not, the Witchers weren't the only Appalachian clan that shot up a courthouse mid trial like that. The History Guy did a video on the "Hillsville Massacre", which was pretty much the same situation.

[@maryneu4435]

I grew up in Lee County and never heard about this man or union sympathizers in the county. Great video and you have a new subscriber. I am continuing to undo all the years of "lost cause"history embedded in my brain. Thanks for the awesome content!

[@82bobcattucker47]

We had several psychos in Tennessee. One was hanged in Nashville at the end of the war. Champ Ferguson.

[@donyoung7874]

Buried in Sparta, TN.

[@82bobcattucker47]

Don Young I know a few good folks laying in Sparta. Beautiful Town.

[@donyoung7874]

@@82bobcattucker47 My dad's family is from there. I want to find Champ's grave next time I'm down. Have you seen the old graves at Mt Pisgah in Walling, just outside of Sparta? You might be interested in this book: www.amazon.com/gp/product/1626194041/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[@mackenziebrock8137]

Why wasn’t this guy put on trial for war crimes after the war?

[@Necron990]

No witnesses left alive or those living had seen enough brain bashing.

[@dinahnicest6525]

If I had witnessed that, then saw the KKK, I would probably be a little reluctant to testify.

[@thatsnodildo1974]

Probably because war crimes werent really a thing most likely till much later

[@lonl123]

A lot of atrocities, both southern and northern were pretty much swept under the carpet after the war, so that the country could try and start healing the wounds from the war and move on. Plus as another commenter said, War crimes weren't really recognized as such back then. There are a few exceptions, (The Anderson Prison Camp being one ) but yeah...it was all pretty much forgotten in the name of peace.

[@Necron990]

All of you make good points, but this guy and his crew are a whole different level of psycho. I mean unless there's other units going around being sociopaths 24/7, you'd think this crew would stick out and demand a posse or 2!

[@thearchivist3610]

Imagine your trying to deal with your clingy ex and some psychopath runs in and kills three of your cousins and wins the court case this situation is honestly insane

[@jeffsanders1609]

I don’t think over ever seen a Civil War video start in Alaska and I don’t think I’ll ever see one like that again

[@roadhouse6999]

This guy sounds like someone a Witcher would get a contract on after people mistook his victims for those of a monster.

[@chuautesuma]

I thought I had AOE II on in the background, then realized its in the video.

[@georgewright3949]

Really making John Brown and Pottawamie look like an act of mercy

[@therhodesianlegion6141]

I love this channel!!!!!

[@bassmangotdbluz3547]

My younger brother has an IQ like Einstein and he too writes without punctuation or capitalization. He can count cards and is an idiot savant about history, dates, numbers. He would not drive a car, he always preferred to walk everywhere and now that he is blind from Diabetes he has no choice.

[@hissyhonker220]

Your watching an idiot with a idiots mind, expect stupid statements

[@captainpinky8307]

has he tried zeolite or the "Spooky2" treatment?

[@NoNoseProduction]

Wat

[@rakninja]

@@hissyhonker220 i know this is a year old comment, but i cant help laughing every time i see someone call someone else stupid, and they use the wrong "you're."

[@hissyhonker220]

@@rakninja Just because you can spell does not guarantee intelligence. Feel better now lil one? Ciao 😘

[@studinthemaking]

He formed a group of killers. Now there a strong sentence about someone life work.

[@mauktheogre4477]

I did some reading and genealogy work for an assignment and found out one of ancestors from Wayne county, 2nd Lt James "Tar Keg" Maynard of the Home Guard was executed by the 34th Virginia cavalry, I can only imagine that it's probably one of the reasons why his son Aaron Maynard joined up with the army. Anyway great informative video, shame the bastard didn't pay for his crimes.

[@Vox_Rhododendron]

>Mindlessly violent >Part of a paramilitary gang >Hates punctuation This guy was an IRL Cormac McCarthy character.

[@teresaclineshumate9589]

My great great grandfather Adam Cline was a member of Witcher's Battalion. I hope he didn't participate in any of the horrible events you mentioned in the video!

[@lollmemmSm0keweed]

Man Robert E Lee seems to surround himself with the most interesting company

[@stephenle-surf9893]

Man,that's some great history, and this is how it should be shown, brilliant work and is it only me but the claw hammer coat looks cool as hell!

[@michaelmundis6266]

I'm pretty sure that a friend of mine might have one of Vincent Witcher's frock coats, with his name in the armpit of the coat. Pretty cool!!

[@stevesandberg2715]

Was last seen working on a kerosene-powered chainsaw.

[@ArakDBlade]

I wish I could live in the Alaskan wilderness. That place is gorgeous. Too bad I have absolutely no wilderness survival skills. Oh also good video.

[@nevadahiker6661]

It is Seward Alaska if you are curious! The video is shot on Mount Marathon, looking across the bay at Mt Alice.

[@ArakDBlade]

@@nevadahiker6661 no kidding? I took a cruise to Alaska last year and we got off the boat in Seward but didn't stay long since we had to catch our bus to Anchorage to fly home. So I saw that mountain but from below. :D

[@nevadahiker6661]

@@ArakDBlade That's awesome! I grew up in Seward, and have been up Mount Marathon at least 100 times!.I recognized it immediately!

[@randystuder4982]

My friend's great grandmother was married to William Hughes. They lived in Lee County,Va. William and his brother were the brothers he referenced .

[@hannahhengler.2585]

"that kid who went to your school who always wore a suit" HOW DO YOU KNOW THAT?! Is this something that happens multiple places? I thought it was just us!

[@radiofreeutah5328]

Honest question: The Utah Mormons of that time were involved in some fairly violent altercations with various outside groups. This would include the Utah War (with the Federal government), various battles and skirmishes with Native tribes, and (of course) the Mountain Meadows Massacre (the slaughter of an entire wagon train of unarmed settlers who had surrendered). It seems that combat veteran like Witcher would have been naturally drawn into conflicts like these. Is there any evidence his military skills were put to use in the Utah Territory?

[@Stardweller1]

I doubt it. Most of the violence between the Latter-day Saints and others occurred prior to the Civil War, and was the result of tension between them and the US government. That tension arose largely because when the Latter-day Saints were being persecuted the local and Federal governments tended to turn a blind eye to the harassment and massacres (and in the case of the local governments they occasionally even participated), while on the other side things like polygamy and the fact that the Latter-day Saints were acting almost like a nation unto themselves made them look pretty suspicious. But when the Civil War broke out, the US government decided that was a bigger priority than whatever the Latter-day Saints were doing, so they just kind of left them alone. Heck, even before that, Lincoln had already compared them to an old rotten stump in a field that was too stubborn to be removed or destroyed, so they’d just have to plow around it. Then he said to tell the Latter-day Saints that he’d leave them alone if they did the same. So since he didn’t move to Utah until after the war, I doubt his military skills were used there.

[@Wintermute01001]

This guy should be a villain in a horror movie

[@robertnett9793]

Now he *was* a villain in a real horror show...

[@sharadowasdr]

A civil war themed psychological horror show of a prisoner's last days before being brutalized by witcher's men would be great !

[@alistairbain6149]

Okay dude, James was NOT a ‘pretty clingy guy.’ He was controlling - uber-controlling. Sounds like he practised what today is known as ‘coercive control.’ Nasty, psychologically-damaging, mentally-destroying stuff. I believe it is now a criminal offence in America.

[@Alopex1]

I love how you consistently keep using the Age of Empires 2 soundtrack for your videos... :D

[@ccole1255]

who else is disappointed that he didn't actually bash people with a claw hammer?

[@johnburt7935]

Wait...this guy's the biggest weirdo in the Civil War? I mean, considering what kind of weirdos there were in that there war . . . .

[@johnnychaos152]

Witchers first action in the war was his participation in a raid on the town of Guyandotte in what is now West Virginia. That's where I live. There was a Union recruitment camp here that the Confederates attacked on November 10th 1861. A large portion of the new recruits hadn't even been issued weapons yet so it was a rather lopsided beating. But AFTER the fight was when things got interesting. Guyandotte was actually heavily supportive of the Southern cause and several of the townspeople in fact helped plan the attack by providing maps, sentry locations, etc. So when the raiders began shooting and arresting citizens and looting private homes they were naturally in shock. One particular civilian was taken to a nearby apple orchard and hung for some unknown reason. The killing and plundering continued into the night and only stopped when Union reinforcements arrived the next morning. The raiders quickly took their prisoners and plunder and got out of town, leaving the dead recruits and civilians lying in the streets. The furious Union soldiers, having no rebels to fight, proceeded to burn down most of the town in revenge. A couple of days later General John Floyd, the commander of the local Virginia forces, had Witcher arrested and charged him for the murder of at least two of the citizens of Guyandotte. Unfortunately for the host of people that would later cross paths with him, Floyd was overruled and Witcher was allowed to resume his command.

[@ichhabe330]

Damn it. trying to get out of this youtube loop but they keep giving suggestions more awesome than the last so here I am.

[@j.tastic9132]

Northern Alaska? Yeah right. Nice try buddy, but I know Rohan when I see it.

[@typicalreenactor3055]

You just let all of the neo- confederates know where you are

[@johnferguson8473]

Very well told, throughly enjoyed it...

[@muchneededwater5936]

1:06 Ngl seeing this while walking next to windows at midnight scare the shit out of me

[@Ridley_1992]

One of my ancestors was in his unit

[@rayburnmullins3156]

So was one of mine company f

[@ronstreet6706]

@@the_exegete hope you do too

[@the_exegete]

@@ronstreet6706 Why, I'm not enslaving anybody. Seems excessive to want this just because I hate slavers, like the despicable monster Roman was spawned from.

[@Gravelgratious]

Colonel Witcher ? Better toss a coin to him!

[@brunozeigerts6379]

I half expected him to stumble into view and say, 'It's....'

[@TiernanWilkinson]

AND NOW FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT

[@RAYoung-ie3cf]

Every breath that man took after the war was an injustice. He should have at least rotted away in prison.

[@Bzerker01]

I am related to this guy the family story is that we Witchers murdered the entire other family in the court with out a single loss on our side. We also were friends with the judge. The Witcher side of our family has always been know to be quick to anger and very mad.

[@chris.3069]

damn

[@zacharypeck9241]

My Ancestors were in Witchers unit tough men my 3rd and 4th great grandfather Andrew and Leronzo Cole and thier brothers

[@rayburnmullins3156]

Got a ancestor in witcher's company f

[@Big_Steve11]

5:45 At first I was thinking "oh she's keeping a piece of her husband to bury", I didn't realize *everyone* was nuts in the 1800's

[@JediKnight19852002]

The 19th century was a special level of crazy. Especially when it came to death.

[@pittsyltucky]

"The building they were using as a courthouse" was actually the courthouse. It was brand new then and is still standing. The original ash trees that were fertilized by those Clement boys' blood were just lost to the emerald ash borers a couple of years ago.

[@aaronbecker5617]

No surprise, crazed toxic characters abound in the south

[@T555BIRD]

Then there was Ted Bundy, John Wayne Gacy, Richard Speck, and Jeffrey Dahmer amongst others that abound in the North.

[@AtunSheiFilms]

In fairness the north had Custer...

[@aaronbecker5617]

Yeah but you haven't seen "characters" until you come down past Missouri, North might have its crazies but it takes a southern panche to get a fellow named "Clawhammer " ☺

[@BrentWalker999]

@@AtunSheiFilms the best rendition of Custer is in lucky Luke comics.

[@Jim-Mc]

Getting recommended all these weird anti-Southern videos. I'm from Tennessee. Have I been flagged for some reason or is there some kind of purge coming that KZbin is promoting?

[@the_exegete]

It's anti-southern to talk about a real person and the things that person actually did. I suppose you think vigilantes murdering people for allegedly sympathizing with their country was a good thing? Or is it a good thing but nobody should be allowed to talk about it? What exactly is your fucking problem here?

[@sirluisray1974]

It is not anti South is anti crazy...

[@Jim-Mc]

@@the_exegete Well I was mainly referring to the whole corpus of work here not the story of this individual. But that affected southern accent seems intended to be derogatory. Maybe a southern girl dumped this kid.

[@the_exegete]

@@Jim-Mc I've gathered from other videos that he's from the south and used to be a Lost Causer, and holds special contempt for that ideology because he feels it mislead him as a youth. But despite that he still has a genuine love and fascination for the Confederacy. Or at least that is my impression. He also worked as a historical reenacter and has videos specifically about various old accents, so I dunno at least somebody found his southern accent accurate enough to pay him for it. I would certainly rate this channel's feelings toward the old south as being much much warmer than my own, so YMMV I suppose.

[@edwardpoe7323]

Anti southern? Fact the Confederacy lost. Why did they lose? Because they were beaten by a better general. Why did the north have a better general. Because Lincoln was a better leader and would not quit until he found a better general. The Confederacy were traitors, plain and simple. If the south Rose again all we would have to do to beat them is cut oo their welfare the end

[@siraethelwulf8914]

I hear you Age of Empires music, don't think I don't. But historical trivia precedes over installing you again.

[@VelmiVelkiZrut]

...The subtle AoE music in the background... Also, man early American history is a ride. You should cover some of the Range Wars at some point if you have a moment.