The Christiana riot which occurred in 1851 is called by some the first major encounter of the Civil War. A group of runaway slaves aided by white citizens of the Lancaster County village of Christiana opposed southern slave owners and a U.S. Marshall who were trying to retake the slaves. One slave owner was killed, his body hacked and mutilated, and his son and several other persons were wounded. Thirty-eight persons were brought to trial for treason for this riot. Thaddeus Stevens, Lancaster attorney and member of the Congress, defended the accused and they were acquitted.