All across America and around the world, this
is Veterans Radio. This is Veterans Radio. Good
day. I'm Jim Fossone. I'm the Officer of the
Deck today here on Veterans Radio and thanks
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.com. The story we're going to bring you today
reaches all the way back to the Civil War. It's
the escape from the Confederate prison known
as Libby Prison. An incredible story. The story
is actually brought to us by an affiliate, homeofheroes
.com, which tells the stories of American heroes,
Medal of Honor winners, Silver Stars. So if you
go to homeofheroes .com, click on Heroes Stories.
For this one, go down to the Civil War. There's
stories from every conflict. And when you scroll
through that, you'll find the Escaping from Libby
Prison. It's an amazing story of resilience.
determination, some good luck, some bad luck.
I think you'll find it interesting and honestly
the interview here doesn't do the written word
justice, often times like movies aren't as good
as the book. So go ahead and go to homeofheroes
.com, click on hero stories, go down to the Civil
War and read about escaping from Libby prison.
It's a short story, and I think you'll find it
very interesting. All right, get ready, because
today we're going deep into one of the most unbelievable
prison breaks in American history. We're talking
about the mass escape from Libby Prison during
the Civil War. It's really incredible when you
consider this all happened at Libby Prison. It
was originally just a tobacco warehouse. Oh,
wow, really? Yeah, in Richmond, Virginia. And
then they converted it to hold union officers
during the war. A tobacco warehouse turned prison.
Oh man. That's something else. I can only imagine
the smell. And it wasn't like, you know, a couple
guys sneaking out. We're talking about a huge
escape. Over a hundred prisoners who dug their
way out. Wow. That's why it's a story of resilience
for sure and just sheer determination. So paint
a picture for us What were the conditions actually
like in Libby prison? What made these men so
desperate to escape? Well Libby prison was notoriously
overcrowded There was basically no sanitation
food and medical care were scarce disease was
everywhere So it was essentially a fight for
survival every day Oh, absolutely. And you have
to remember the Geneva Convention. Well, that
wasn't established until after the Civil War.
So the treatment of prisoners of war, it was
pretty much up to whoever captured them. So they
were really at the mercy of their captors. Right.
Exactly. And then on top of all that. The South
was facing increasing isolation because of the
union blockades. Right. Resources were already
stretched then. Just taking care of their own
population was tough. So you can imagine what
that meant for the prisoners of war. I bet. And
I also read that there were rumors going around
that the Confederates were considering moving
the prisoners further south. That's right. Some
even said they might get sent to Andersonville.
And Andersonville, just for our listeners who
maybe haven't heard of it, it was another Confederate
prison. But with a seriously bad reputation.
Oh, yeah. Andersonville was notorious. The conditions
there, they were known to be even worse than
Libby. So, yeah, I can imagine that rumor definitely
added to the urgency of any escape plans. Oh,
for sure. So in the middle of all this, you know,
this chaos and fear, you have Colonel Thomas
Rose. Yeah, he's fascinating. He was a lawyer
and a teacher before the war. Not exactly who
you picture as a daring escape artist. No, not
at all. But once he was in Libby, he became totally
fixated on the idea of escaping. He was just
incredibly observant. You know, he noticed things
that other people missed. For example, he saw
how close the prison was to the James River,
and he figured there had to be a sewer system
running underneath. So he saw opportunity where
others just saw confinement. I like that. Yeah.
But obviously, planning and executing a mass
escape from a Confederate prison, you need more
than just observation, right? Right. You need
a team. Exactly. He knew he couldn't do it alone.
That's where Major Alexander Hamilton comes in.
Hamilton was a West Point grad and a seasoned
soldier. He had that tactical experience that
Rose needed, you know, to actually turn the escape
plan into reality. So Rose is the brains and
Hamilton is the brawn. Yeah, you could say that.
Reutens was more the mastermind, the strategist,
and Hamilton brought, you know, the military
knowledge and the leadership skills they needed
to pull it off. Wow, what a team. OK, so tell
us about the plan. Do they just like pick a spot
and start digging? Well, you'd think it would
be that simple, wouldn't you? Yeah. But it wasn't
that easy. They didn't just dig one tunnel. They
dug four. And the first three, well, let's just
say they were learning experiences. Wait, four
tunnels? Seriously? Yeah. What happened with
the first three? So believe it or not, the first
tunnel they dug, it was actually successful.
What? Yeah, they made it to the other side. Oh.
But they didn't quite do their calculations right.
They emerged. Right into a heavily guarded area.
Oh so close. Yeah, talk about a close call I
can only imagine the disappointment all that
work and they end up right back where they started
almost in the arms of the guards But they didn't
give up the second attempt was foiled when some
Confederate guards got suspicious and started
poking around and their third tunnel Well, it
flooded. Oh, they had to abandon it before they
all drowned Wow, so many setbacks. It's amazing.
They didn't just give up hope They were determined.
You know, each failed attempt. They learned something
new. Their techniques got more refined. They
were more careful in their planning. They had
to be. The stakes were so high. Absolutely. So
what was different about the fourth tunnel? Well,
for one thing, they chose a new location. They
started digging behind the kitchen fireplace.
Interesting. Why there? Well, they figured the
smoke and the soot would mask any suspicious
smells. That's actually pretty smart. Right.
But they were still digging in the dark. Literally,
no maps, no surveying equipment. So how did they
even know where they were going? You know, that's
where their ingenuity really shines. It was all
instinct, careful observation, and a lot of trial
and error. I bet the conditions down in those
tunnels must have been just terrifying. Oh, absolutely.
pitch black, cramped, the air was thick with
dust and the smell of decay. They were constantly
worried about cave -ins, running out of oxygen,
and, of course, being discovered by the guards.
And I imagine they were rats. Oh, yeah, the rats.
Can you imagine? Surrounded by rats in a dark,
cramped tunnel. I'd rather not. It's like a nightmare.
Total nightmare. And on top of that, they had
to get rid of all the dirt from the tunnel without
anyone noticing. That's a good point. Where did
they put all the dirt? Well, they had to get
creative. They'd sprinkle it under the floorboards.
They'd mix it in with their bedding, even smuggle
it out in their pockets. Wow. I bet the guards
were wondering why everyone was sleeping so soundly
all of a sudden, huh? Right. OK, but here's what
gets me. I read they used this rope system for
communication while they were digging. Oh, yeah.
That's incredible. Rose and Hamilton, they would
tug on the rope to signal to each other, like
a primitive telegraph. That's so cool. OK, so
after weeks of this back breaking work, the fourth
panel, it finally reaches the destination. What
happened on the night of the escape? So it's
the night of February 9th, 1864, cold, dark night,
the perfect cover. It must have been so intense
after all those setbacks. They were finally about
to make their move. Oh, yeah. The tension, the
nerves. This was it. They're one shot. They organized
themselves into groups of 15. Each group had
a specific time to enter the tunnel. So they
weren't all rushing out at once. Exactly. They
had to be quiet. Any noise could alert the guards.
Crawling through that narrow, damp tunnel, it
must have felt like forever. And the fear. Every
little sound must have been terrifying. What
if they were discovered at the last minute? Oh,
the psychological pressure must have been immense.
But they kept going, driven by, you know, that
hope at the end of the tunnel. both literally
and figuratively. Right. It took hours to get
everyone through. How long are we talking? Five
hours. Just imagine crawling through a tunnel
for five hours. It's hard to even imagine. And
don't forget, these men were already weakened
by their time in Libby. They hadn't been eating
properly. They were exhausted. Yeah, and so many
were sick, too. It really is a testament to their
endurance, both mental and physical. Absolutely.
So they emerge from the tunnel after those grueling
five hours. What happens next? Where do they
go? How do they avoid the Confederate guards?
Well, that's where things get even more interesting.
And that's a story for part two of our deep dive.
I can't wait. So picture this. One hundred and
nine Union soldiers. After five hours crawling
through a tunnel, they finally emerge into the
fresh air. Yeah. Blinking in the moonlight. It
must have been such a surreal experience, you
know. Oh, going from that darkness into the open
night sky. It's like total sensory overload.
But, you know, it wasn't exactly a moment for
celebration. Right. I mean, they were still surrounded
by Confederate soldiers. Exactly. They were still
in enemy territory. Their plan was to scatter
quickly. Hoping to just blend in with the darkness
until they could reach Union lines. Yeah. And
when you think about it, it was a pretty risky
plan. Oh, yeah. These weren't, you know, trained
spies or anything. No, they were soldiers who'd
been held captive, weakened. Many of them were
probably disoriented after that tunnel experience.
So they were really relying on their instincts
and a lot of luck. Pretty much. It was a gamble,
but they didn't have many options. So how do
they do? Well, out of those 109 escapees, 59
actually made it back to Union Lines. Wow, that's
incredible. It really is. Considering everything
they went through, it's a testament to how resilient
these guys were. Yeah, talk about determination.
But of course, there were tragedies too. Many
of them were recaptured, and some faced pretty
harsh punishments for escaping. I can't imagine
how crushing it must have been to be so close
to freedom only to be dragged back to that prison.
It's a reminder that even in a moment of triumph,
there's always that shadow of loss. Definitely.
So there's one person we haven't mentioned yet
who actually played a crucial role in this escape,
Elizabeth Van Loo. Oh, yes, Elizabeth Van Lew.
She's like an unsung hero of the Civil War. Tell
us about her. So she was a Richmond socialite,
but she was secretly spying for the Union. Wow,
like a real life spy. Right. Operating right
under the noses of the Confederacy. And she was
actually instrumental in helping some of those
escapees. How so? She provided them with food,
shelter, you know, helped them navigate the unfamiliar
territory. It's amazing she was willing to take
those risks. Yeah. If she'd been caught, she
could have been imprisoned, maybe even executed.
She was incredibly brave. I think her story deserves
its own deep dive. I agree. But for now, let's
get back to the escapees. What happened to the
ones who did make it back to Union lines? Yeah.
What was the impact of their escape? Well, it
was a huge morale boost for the Union. A real
victory, even if it was symbolic, it showed that
even in captivity, their soldiers were still
fighting for their cause. I bet it was a blow
to the Confederacy, too. Oh, yeah. It showed
how vulnerable their prison system was. And of
course, they had to divert resources to try and
recapture everyone. Yeah. And it must have been
embarrassing to have so many prisoners escape
from right under their noses. Totally. But the
escape from Livy Prison had a wider impact, too.
It wasn't just a military thing. It really affected
how people viewed the war. Into what way? Well,
you know, the story of the escape made headlines
all over the country and it really brought the
issue of prisoners of war to everyone's attention.
So it wasn't just a concern for the North anymore?
Right. Everyone was talking about it. And it
forced people on both sides, you know, North
and South, to acknowledge how badly those prisoners
were being treated. It really sparked a national
debate about, you know, what was ethical in war?
How should prisoners be treated? Some people
even say that the escape from Libby Prison played
a part in, you know, the eventual development
of the Geneva Convention. And the Geneva Convention,
just to remind our listeners, they established
those international standards for how prisoners
of war should be treated. Right. And those standards
are still used today. It's a pretty significant
legacy. Absolutely. So the Libby prison escape,
it wasn't just this daring feat. It was a real
turning point in how we think about prisoners
of war. Yeah. It shows how human ingenuity and
compassion can, you know, prevail even in the
darkest of times. But it also raises some important
questions about war itself. Like what kind of
questions? Well, how could a country that prides
itself on, you know, liberty and justice, how
could they allow such awful conditions in their
prisons? It's a good point. Even when you're
fighting for a good cause, the reality can be
pretty ugly. Yeah. It makes you wonder if something
like the Libby escape could even happen today.
That is a good question. With all the technology
and security we have now, could a group of prisoners
pull off something like that? That's a question
we'll explore in the final part of our deep dive.
So, we've talked about how clever and strong
these prisoners were, the terrible things they
had to deal with, and the way their escape changed
not only the war, but how we see prisoners of
war even today. But you left us with a big question.
Couldn't escape like this even happen today,
with all our fancy prisons and technology watching
everything? It really makes you think, doesn't
it? I mean, Colonel Rose and Major Hamilton,
they couldn't have imagined the kind of security
we have now. Motion sensors and cameras everywhere,
electronic locks, facial recognition software.
Escaping from a prison today seems impossible.
But then again, people are pretty smart. We find
ways, don't we? I mean, look at all the hacking
we hear about. Systems they thought were unbreakable,
and someone finds a way in. Yeah, that's true.
And think about it, those Libby prisoners, they
didn't have fancy tools either. They used whatever
they could find. It's hard to completely rule
out human ingenuity, even with all the technology
we have now. And there's always the human element
too, right? Like guards who aren't paying attention,
or a computer glitch that creates a weak spot,
or even maybe someone on the inside helping to
plan the escape. Those things happened back then,
and I bet they still happen today. Oh, absolutely.
No system is perfect. And whenever you have people
involved, there's always room for mistakes or,
you know, someone bending the rules or just plain
bad luck. So maybe the question isn't could it
happen, but how would it happen? Would someone
use technology to break out? Or maybe trick people.
Instead of computers. That's interesting. Maybe
a modern escape wouldn't need shovels and tunnels
Maybe it would be all about code or social media
or even just like figuring out how to manipulate
people so instead of breaking out with brute
force would be more like You know one of those
heist movies with all the clever plans and distractions
Yeah, exactly the tools might change, but it's
still about observation planning Execution all
the things those prisoners did and I guess the
biggest thing of all that desire to be free That
never goes away no matter what kind of technology
you have. You're so right. What drove those Libby
prisoners was that belief that they deserve to
be free. And they were willing to risk everything
to suffer just for a chance at that freedom.
It's that kind of determination, that drive that
can overcome anything, even the tightest security.
So as we wrap up our deep dive into this incredible
story, I want to leave our listeners with one
thought. The Libby prison escape isn't just history.
It shows us what humans are capable of. Courage,
creativity, never giving up. It reminds us that
even when things are really bad, there's always
hope. And freedom might be closer than we think
if we're willing to fight for it. That's a great
way to put it. And maybe it also makes us ask
ourselves, what would we do if we faced a huge
obstacle? Would we be as strong and clever as
those prisoners? It's something to think about,
not just about escaping prisons, but about how
we face challenges in our own lives. Thanks for
joining us on this journey, everyone. Until next
time, keep exploring. keep asking questions,
and never stop digging for knowledge. These stories
of prisoners of war, doesn't matter what war,
and the desire or will to escape to get back
to freedom, to get back to their families, really
is quite inspirational. And I think it's something
we all kind of understand and wonder whether
or not would we have it in us if we were in that
situation. So there's something to be gained
from learning about these. efforts, even if we
have to reach all the way back to the Civil War.
Hope you enjoyed it. I know you didn't learn
it in history class, so you get to at least learn
it here on Veterans Radio. And I want to thank
everybody for listening to Veterans Radio today.
I am Jim Fossone. It's been a pleasure to be
your host. I'm a veterans disability lawyer at
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