Battle of Fort Fizzle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Battle of Fort Fizzle |
|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of American Civil War | |||||
 State of Ohio Historical Marker for the event |
|||||
|
|||||
The "Battle of Fort Fizzle" (also called the Holmes County Draft Riots or the Holmes County Rebellion) was a small fight during the American Civil War. It happened on June 17, 1863, in the village of Glenmont (which was then called Napoleon) in Holmes County, Ohio. This event involved Union soldiers and local people who did not want to join the army. They were against a new law called the Conscription Act of 1863.
Contents
What Was the Conscription Act?
During the Civil War, the U.S. Congress passed a law on March 13, 1863. This law, called the Conscription Act, allowed President Abraham Lincoln to make men join the military. This happened in states that did not have enough volunteers.
Why Did People Resist?
In June 1863, government officials tried to use this new law in Holmes County, Ohio. About 900 to 1000 local people did not agree with it. They decided to build a temporary fort to stop the law from being put into action. They even had four artillery pieces (cannons) at their fort.
How Did the "Battle" End?
There was a short clash where two of the local resisters were hurt. After this, Ohio Governor David Tod sent about 420 Union soldiers, including the 3rd Ohio Infantry. Their job was to break up the group of resisters. The place got the name "Fort Fizzle" because the resistance quickly "fizzled out," meaning it ended without a big fight.
The event finished when the last four resisters, who had caused trouble for a government official, gave themselves up.
What Happened Next?
Forty-three men from the Napoleon area were accused of causing trouble for an officer and stopping the law. The armed men who helped someone escape were also accused of serious wrongdoing. An additional 37 men were accused for their actions in other parts of Holmes County, and in nearby Knox and Coshocton counties.
Out of 80 men involved, only two had their cases go to court. Just one man, Laurant Blanchat (also known as Blanchard), was found guilty. He was sentenced to six months of hard work at the Ohio Penitentiary. However, President Lincoln pardoned Blanchat before he finished his sentence. In the end, the government dropped the cases against almost everyone else.
