[4] In the years that followed, Hamrock became the coach of the state rifle team, was promoted to major in the Colorado National Guard, and began operating a saloon in Denver.

[7] Up to 20,000 strikers were evicted from the company towns that dotted the coal-rich Sangre de Christo region, raising tent cities nearby with the help of the UMWA.

[3]: 211 After six months of deployment to the largely isolated strike zone, the majority of the National Guardsmen were allowed to return to their livelihoods.

[10] Company K, commanded by the amicable attorney-Captain Phillip Van Cise, withdrew from Ludlow, leaving Hamrock to send a 12 troops to fill their place.

[5]: 108  Tensions in the region had decreased from a peak in October–November 1913, but rose again in March 1914 following the discovery of a non-striking miner's body near the Forbes Colony of strikers.

General John Chase, in command of the National Guard, order the strikers' colony razed and the men arrested, an action that indirectly resulted in two infants dying of exposure.

Alongside Hamrock's troops were militia under the command of Lieutenant Karl Linderfelt, who had previously seen combat against the strikers in the early stage of the conflict and also had authority over Company B.

[3]: 213 Following a tense day of Eastern Orthodox Easter festivities, on 20 April 1914, Hamrock received word from Linderfelt that an Italian woman was attempting to locate her husband named Tuttolimando, who was believed to live in the Ludlow Colony.

[3]: 215  Who fired the first shot is unclear, but immediately the troops detonated three bombs intended to alert the Linderfelt detachment at Berwind and other militiamen at Delagua.

He was charged with murder, larceny, and other crimes associated with the death of Tikas and other unarmed strikers, as well as the twelve children and two women killed during the battle and militia-set fire that followed.

[15] Hamrock's appointment was met with dismay and criticism from the United Mine Workers of America based on their disapproval of his involvement in the Colorado Coalfield War.