In December 1864, Gen. Hylan B. Lyon invaded Kentucky with 800 men to enforce the CSA draft law and divert the USA from Nashville. In 23 days, his force burned seven courthouses used by Union forces. The courthouse at Madisonville was burned on Dec. 17, but all county records were saved. All able-bodied men were conscripted and took an oath to meet Lyon on Jan. 20, but they were released and the oath was not fulfilled. During the Civil War, twenty-two courthouses in Kentucky were burned.