In July 1864, five Army veterans and two civilians from Luzerne County moved in, looking for men who failed to report for duty. During the night, they ran into three of the Confederacy members: two Smith brothers and a friend. A shot rang out, followed by a volley. One of the Army Lieutenants was hit and killed. The posse eventually would return to Luzerne County, arresting no one. By August 13th, after hearing of the Lieutenant’s death, the Army sent in the cavalry with two cannons to set up camp at the Bloomsburg Fairgrounds. They were led by Captain Lambert with orders from General Couch to enforce the law and gather the draft dodgers.
Couch wrote a letter for the outlaws stating they would be given amnesty if they reported for duty. *Colonel John Freeze, delivered the letter to men in the northern townships. Over 100 men were eventually captured in Columbia and Luzerne Counties and taken to a church in Benton,
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July–September • 2026
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