A party of some 1,000 Polish insurgents, commanded by Ludwik Zwierzdowski and Apolinary Kurowski, tried to capture the town, which was defended by an 800-strong garrison of the Imperial Russian Army.
In February 1864, Russian general Ksawery Czengiery concentrated some 4,500 soldiers in the area of Sandomierz, Opatów, Stopnica and Staszow.
Since Polish general Józef Hauke-Bosak was in other location, these forces were commanded by Apolinary Kurowski and Ludwik Topór-Zwierzdowski.
At midnight, Kurowski ordered his men to leave the town, as he feared Russian reinforcements, marching from Sandomierz.
On the next day, Russians captured Ludwik Zwierzdowski, and hanged him at Opatów's market square on 23 February.