Ep. 236 - The Rurnt Day of Major Wolf (S2:E4)

Welcome to the Old Ozarks with Dr. Brooks Blevins... This week, we're talking milk gone bad, mythical giants, and one very "rurnt" 72 hours — a Confederate major's real-life brush with a firing squad that came down to a president's telegram and a matter of hours. We'll start with Blinky Blue John, the Ozarks' own giant of legend, whose curious name traces back to superstitions about witches souring milk, before landing on the region's favorite way to say something's gone completely to pieces: "rurnt." Then it's on to the long sweetenin', the harrowing true story of Major Enoch Wolf of Ford's Battalion, CSA — captured during Price's Raid, hauled to St. Louis's Gratiot Street Prison, and handed a death sentence to "atone" for a Union officer's murder he had nothing to do with. We'll trace the Civil War's grim system of official retaliation, the frantic 72-hour scramble by Masons, society ladies, and telegrams to the White House to save him, Abraham Lincoln's own last-minute reprieve, and the mysterious woman who showed up at the prison claiming to be his wife. It's a true Ozarks story stranger, and closer to the wire, than most fiction. Let's dive into this episode of The Old Ozarks... What is The Old Ozarks? The Old Ozarks is your gateway to the forgotten history of the Ozarks. Hosted by renowned historian Dr. Brooks Blevins (the leading authority on the region’s history), this podcast explores the lives, legends, and landscapes that have shaped this unique region. Whether you’re a native Ozarker, a new resident, or a curious listener, join us as we share the stories that make the Ozarks special and connect us to our past.