WALLS THAT TALK:

A TRANSCRIPT OF THE

�NAMES INITIALS AND SENTIMENTS�

WRITTEN AND GRAVEN ON THE  

WALLS, DOORS AND WINDOWS 

OF THE

LIBBY PRISON AT RICHMOND

BY THE

PRISONERS OF 1861-‘65

______________

“The very stones prate of my whereabout.” – MACBETH

______________

RICHMOND:

PUBLISHED BY R. E. LEE CAMP, NO. I, C. V.

1884.

INTRODUCTION.

The old brick building now so celebrated as "The Libby Prison," was built about 1852 by Mr. John Enders, the father of the tobacco trade of Richmond. Mr. Enders. lost his life by a fall from a ladder while the building, was in course of construction.

Capt. Libby, from whom the building takes the name, was only a tenant under Mr. Enders, He conducted a ship chandlery business.

The block of buildings which constituted the prison consists of three tenements, each 110x44 feet, four stories, fronting north on Cary street and south on Dock. The western end of the block, generally seen in the various cuts of the building, opened on the cross street.

The corner tenement is now owned by the Southern Fertilizing Company, and the other two by Mrs. George S. Palmer, a daughter of Mr. Enders who built the block.

The building was converted into a prison in 1861, and was used as such until the end of the war.

It was more especially an "officers"' prison, but prisoners of all grades were received, registered and transferred to Belle Isle, Andersonville, Salisbury and other points

It is estimated that from 40,000 to 50,000 prisoners passed through this prison during the period from 1861 to 1865.

The books of the institution were carefully and systematically kept, including a complete register of arrivals, departures, deaths, burials, &c., &c., and are supposed to be now in the possession of the government

In February, 1864, Colonel Streight and a number of his comrades made their escape by tunneling under the prison walls on the east side and into an adjoining building from which they emerged into the street.

Some of the party were recaptured, but others, with Colonel Streight, made good their escape.

At times the demand for troops to meet expected raiding parties was so urgent that every available man was sent from Richmond; and on one occasion, when the Libby contained a thousand officers, the entire guard on duty there, excepting the relief on guard, was marched to the city defences to meet the enemy.

A large part of the guard duty at the Libby, especially in the latter years of the war, was performed by citizens of Richmond far beyond the age of exemption and totally unable to endure the fatigue of active duty. Probably no more humane or harmless men ever watched over the slumbers of prisoners of war.

The “rules and regulations” provided, “nor shall any prisoner be fired upon by a sentinel or other person except in case of revolt or attempted escape.”

Five or six cases occurred in which prisoners were killed or wounded in their attempts to escape.

An ample supply of water was conveyed to each floor by city pipes, and the prisoners had unlimited supply for bathing and washing.

By act of congress, and by order of the Secretary of War, the rations furnished prisoners of war were to be the same in quantity and quality as those furnished to enlisted men in the Confederate States army.

If the rations of the prisoners in the Libby deteriorated in quality and diminished in quantity as did the rations of the Confederate soldier in the field, he had cause to complain. But it is doubtful if the prisoners there ever at any time suffered the total deprivation of food for days, or such irregular and limited supply, as the Confederate soldier was familiar with.

Any person interested in the “prison” history of the war will find many historical facts in relation thereto in a volume entitled “The Treatment of Prisoners,” published by the Southern Historical Society. The biography of General Bartlett, of the Federal army, who was a prisoner in the Libby, contains very interesting incidents of his stay there.

The day has happily come in which the soldiers of each side are agreed that even the bitterness of prison life shall be forgotten.

The present owners of the Libby have generously allowed some of the timbers to be removed and made into gavels, which will be on sale at the Lee Camp Fair for the Home for disabled Confederate soldiers.

The presiding officer of every Grand Army Post should have one of these “souvenirs” with which to “rap” the Post to order.

The above is printed here as a not inappropriate introduction to the list of names, initials, sentiments, etc., written or graven on the walls, window frames and doors of the Libby prison by numbers of those who were so unfortunate as to have suffered forcible detention within its walls.

If any of those whose names are here printed now survive, surely this little pamphlet will serve to remind them of the part they took in the cause of the Union, NOW so firm1y established, but THEN in such jeopardy, and will be a valued souvenir to their children in the years that are to come.

Nor will the list be less prized by those who read here the name of some dearly loved one, who escaped the dangers of the prison only to die for flag and country on

And it may chance that some one will read here THE ONLY RECORD LEFT of some soldier, good and true, who loved his country well, but gave no cry when he died: whose only epitaph was written with his own hand on the walls of his prison.

NAMES OF SOLDIERS

WHO WERE

Confined in Libby Prison

DURING THE LATE WAR.

______________

These Names are in Posts and the Walls,

and also the Doors.

______________

Gen'l H. Kilpatrick, prisoner four months.

Brig. Gen. A. G. Estis, prisoner four months.

D. T. Hamilton, Co. E, 5^th Cav., 90^th Reg. Ind. Vol. prisoner five months.

Sergeant A. E. Beffett, Co. K, 7^th Reg. C. V.; Aug. 13; 1863.

Giles W. Lamkin, Co. K, 7^th Reg.; Aug. 13, 1863.

J. W. Crocker, 30^th N. Y. Cav. Aug. 7^th; prisoner nine months.

W. A. Wheetiar, Sturk Shaurk co., N. Y.; Co. D.

H. Lee, W. Beaumont, Wm. Morerand, 128^th Ills.

Chas. Howard, New York City; Sept., 1863. This gentleman can explain to anybody how the dead line was and how many were killed in Libby Prison.

Geo. N. Bliss, East Providence, R. I.; Capt. Co. C, 1^st R. I. Cav.; captured Oct. 19, 1863, at Liberty Mills.

Maneley D. Brownner, Aug. 16, 1862.

Alex. Helong, M. D., of Newark, N. J.; late Ass't Surgeon U. S. Vols.

Capt. Wm. G. Galloway, 1^st Capt. 15^th U. S.; in prison in Libby Sept. 20, 1863, until May, 1864.

Col. James A. Penfield, late Capt. 5^th N. Y. Cav.; C. T.

Lieut. G. P. Cotton, U. S. Artillery.

Frank Ouke Rose, 1863; 55^th Ind. Vol.; captured near Petersburg, Va.

J. W. Wells, escaped through the tunnel.

Stoney R. Morgan.

E. D. Smith, U. S. Navy, May 7^th, 1864.

R. F. Campbell, Capt. of 36^th Ills. Vol.

John McD., 36^th Ills. Vol.

O. W. Bishop, First Vt. Cavalry.

N. G. B. Withereld.

C. Mulholand, 2d Pa. Art'y.

J. C. New.

Samuel Johns.

Richard McGill, Co. E, 7^th Reg.

Francis Thibo, 14^th N. Y.

Nathan Edwin Hopkins, of J. City, C. T. This name is cut in the door in a very singular style.

C. J. M.

J. M.

D. K.

Wm. D. Doolitle, 30^th N. Y. V.

H. J. D.

Keith, Co. D. N. Y.

J. W. N.

R. Lesell.

J. M. Cole, Co. F, 30 N. Y.

J. W. G.

J. L. Mc. 1^st O. V.

H. Brady.

J. Gatewood.

H. Bonds.

J. Bonds.

J. Warren.

J. P. Bowley, prisoner 9 months, Sept.; 1863; N.Y.

J. L. Barthlew, June 8, Penn. V. Vol.; 3 months.

K. S. Newcomb, Chicago, Ills.; 2d N. Y. Cav.; captured Oct. 19, '63, at Liberty Mills.

A. Newman, U. S. G. Boat Daylight.

John. B. Dowd, in Libby Prison March, 1863; Sergeant-Major 85^th Indiana Vol., Rockville, Ind.

Col. John Starr, captured at the battle of the Wilderness, 1863; Libby Prison.

Walace Brewer, captured at Port Hudson, La.; Co. A, 128^th N.Y.; June 27, 1863; in Libby Prison July and August.

H. J. Perword, Co. B, 54^th Penn. Vol.; entered in Libby Oct., 1862; exchanged November, 1862.

Chas. C. Aral, Co. B, 2d Reg. Md. Vol.

Chas. Egbert, Co. K, 1^st Reg. N. Y. Vol.

G. C. Thomas, Jr., 1^st D. C. Vol.

M. L. Ackerman, late Corp. E. H., N. J. Vol.

B. S. Kerney, 1^st U. S. In., Feb.; 1863.

J. M. Edgar, came in as a prisoner on Oct. 23, 1861; paroled and left on March 26, 1862; now a member of Veteran Corps, Washington, D. C.

James Brennan, late 127^th Reg. N. Y. Vol.

Frank Clark, late 14^th Brooklyn Red Legs.

Chas. M. Ford, U. V. C.; captured at Petersburg, 1864.

T. Gerrish, Bangor, Maine; prisoner in 1864; Reg. 20^th Maine; in Libby two weeks.

John B. Crafts was hung for making a plot to get out in Libbv Prison; Co. E. 43d N. Y. Vol.

William McKenzie, prisoner in Libby three months; Co. E, 43d N. Y. Vol. He gives the name of the man that was here, 1863.

G. T. Whitney, August 25, 1863; prisoner four months.

G. W. Robertson, Oct. 1^st, 1863, to April 1^st, 1864; McCline, Mich.

M. H. Manders, June '64; U. S. M.

A. Richmond, August 12, 1864.

M. L., Co. I, June 14, 1864.

Geo. W. Gilbrad.

W. Hale, 101^st Ohio.

J. Smaud, Ills. Vol.

E. B. Dawson, 33d N. J. Vol., August 20, 1864.

Andx. Gillispie, Vt. Cav., Co. E, I. O. V.

J. W. Munday, Lt. B Co., 73d Ind., captured May 3d, 1863. This is very fine name, and is done well.

W. B. Elwood.

W. Derosier, Co. E, 18^th N. Y.

A. Downey.

J. B. W., 5^th R. I.

Thos. H. Eastman, Co. K, 7^th Reg. C. V.

J. A. Smith, Ft. McH. Art'y; 1864, Sept. 10^th.

Benj. F. Wicks, Co. K, 7^th Reg. C. T. Vol.

Geo. McLeartising, June 8^th, 1863.

Julius Loupins.

Geo. Krias, prisoner about 2 hours, 1863, in Libby Prison. (Mason.)

Whitman Chase, N. J. Light Blues captured Stony River.

H. J. Smith, prison 5^th May, 1863.

W. E. Hopkins, U. S. Navy, Minnesota.

Simon Skunk, U. S. Navy, Jan. 1864.

P. O. Conner, 1865.

A. B. Isham, 7^th Mich. Cav.

W. E. H. Fentris, U. S Navy, 1864.

G. W. Hill, 7^th Mich. Cav.

Wm. Clifford.

L. V. M. 5^th N. J.; captured 17^th June, ‘64

David Allen, prisoner 1864.

John A. Rodigo, prisoner from June 27^th to Sept. 24^th 1862; Co. D, 30^th N. J. Vol.; now resides at Newark, N. J

R. H. Wright, prisoner 1863 to 1864.

John Davis.

A. Ritter.

A. Hunter, Co. E.

A. O. Brag.

Ben. Hendries, 11^th Art'y, Troy, N. Y.

A. B. Gipprech, 2d Vol.

W. B. Duke, 5^th N. Y.

Wm, Pittgrew, 2d Ohio Vol., mfg.

E. W. Weaver, Ohio, late 43d O. V. J.

C. H. Carlton, U. S. N.

J. W. Wadwalt, Penn. Reg.

P. L. Marsh, 211 Penn. Vol.

J. W. Anwall, Surgeon 11^th Reg. Penn. Vol.

E. D. Kenyon, musician in war.

Major Win. Eabird, 5^th Cavalry, Cameron Dragoons, N. Y.; prisoner nine months.

J. Boyd martin, 130^th P. V.

Dick Ruth, prisoner nine months.

Chas. Langston, prisoner 1864.

Edwin Lawson, Pa.; Co. H, First N. J. Cavalry.

John M. Brimmer, Co. C V., 75^th Pa. V.

Col. Geo. McKay, 37 Ills.

Capt. Frank E. Moores, 7 Ohio Cav.

Major Frank Williams, 4^th New York Art'y.

Capt. S. E. Smithfield, 40^th N. Y.

Col. R. T. Robinson, 30^th N. Y. Vol.

John L. Carter, Art'y.

John E. Cavanaugh, Art'y.

Chas. Loffler, Co. K, 47 Reg. O. G., Ills.

J. B. Bonna, 22d Reg. N. Y.

Louis Boze.

A. Welsh; Co. I, First U. S. Art'y.

Dennes Shea, U. S. Navy.

Charles Ross, 40 N. Y. Vol.

Mike Flinn, 15 Ct.

Lieu. G. W. McCall.

John E. McDonough, 5^th U. S. Art’y.

C. Manning, captured at the first battle Bull Run, brought to Columbia prison Feb. 22, 1861; from there to Libby Prison 'March 29; from Libby Prison to Salisbury, N. C.; from Salisbury, N. C. to Gettysburg; from Gettysburg back to Danville, Va., from Danville, Va., back to Libby Prison again.

Gen'l. Geo, L. Hayes, prisoner in Libby, July.

Gen'l. M. G. Egbert.

Ahira Baker, captured at Hampton Roads from the brig Liaba, of Providence, R. I., 1862; prisoner in Libby Prison five weeks.

Gen'l Cook, Gen'l Kelly, was in Libby Prison two months. They were captured in a hotel in Cumberland, Md., by Col. Mosby and Major Gillmore; they let out of the prison Col. Geo. McKabe, and be carried them through the lines; they bribed the guard and caught the general.

Edmund L. Lumsden, 1^st Lieut. Co. H, 5^th Wis. Vol.; from June 15 to March the 1^st.

J. H. Garrison.

Lieut. D. R. Coder, in the post.

L. Aiermont.

C. Graham, 12 Pa. Cav.

J. Becker, Co. C, 38 N. Y. Vol.

J. Frie.

D. Blunn.

Samuel Couts, Co. I, 15^th C. V. I.; captured 1863.

B. F. Dill, Co. I, 39^th Reg. Ind. Vol.

T. Dale, Co. D, 35^th Ills.

Pirrater.

F. H. Morab.

C. Cook, 1^st N. J. Cav., Co. F.

G. P. Luverfic, Seneca Falls, 128^th Ills.

L. J. Beasley, Co. A, 14^th N. Y. Vol.

Capt. Andrew Wells, in Libby Prison June and July, 1862; captured at Fair Oaks: Co. F, 8^th Penn. Cavalry. This Gentleman was in line with 210 officers for two to be picked out to be shot. The two that was to be was named Major Flynn and Col Lurry.

Pemberton James, N. Y. Light Guards.

Am. Learn, N. Y. Vol.

P. Ford, Wis.

John Bergheimer, Co. K, 1^st Reg.

J. F. Tenison, 1^st Reg. N. Y. Vol.

W. Scofield, 69^th Reg.

Don. Stevenson, 44^th Pa.

C. Weller, S. N. C. A. Rifles.

Frank Deay, 1^st N. Y. Vol.

Geo. Lowery, 14^th N. Y. Vol., 1865.

Charles Carroll, 70^th N. Y.

A. N., 40^th N. Y.

William Burns, Troy Art'y.

J. Riling, Co. E, 73d Reg.

O. A. Word.

B. P., Co. H, 39^th N. D.

T. Poor, Ohio.

D. C. Wood, July 4, ‘65

Capt. D. W. Delaney, Co. G, R. I.; June 3, 1864.

D. C. Warren, Co. C, 147 N. Y. Vol.; May 12, 1864.

N. C. Gleason, Co. C, 54^th Pa. V. V.

J. C. Taylor, Co. B, 1^st Reg I. V. U. S. Corps; Feb. 25, 1865.

W. D. C.

J. G. T.

B. F. S.

J. A. R.

J. A. H. E.

J. M. Sulivan, Co. B. N. H.

Chas. Wipten, Light Guard 71^st Reg. N. Y. city; captured at first battle Bull Run.

J. H. Strington.

C. Enright.

W. H. Clynn, 1863.

A. Shoman, Co. I, 15^th Ind.

C. C. Fink, J. Watson. These two names are in a window-sash in the top of the house-N. W. building.

H. Lindon, 3d Ills.

Ames.

R. A. Luck.

P. L. S.

C. N. Brown

J. B. Price.

J. Houkman.

John W. Staver, U. S. Navy; 1863.

T. W. Mason, 3d W. V. Ind.; captured May 8^th, 1862, at McDowell, W. Va.

John Ward, 8^th Penn. Cav.; captured 11^th Oct. 1863, at Sulphur Springs.

Charles F. Smith, Chicago, Ills.; prisoner Oct, 1862; 8^th Mich. Inf.

W. T. Quigler, Gettysburg, Pa.; prisoner in July, 1863.

James T. McTumtter, taken at Gettysburg 1863.

Geo. H. Patch, prisoner Oct. 20^th, 1862, until 1^st of Nov.

L. L. Travis, Co. B, 5^th Pa., Waverly, N. Y.; Aug. 20, 1864.

J. C. Taylor, Feb. 21, 1865, Trenton, N. J.

Joseph Seaton, 1862, Trenton, N. J.

J. Henry Gercke, Phila., Pa., B. Co., 5^th Penn. Cav.; captured April 11, 1863, at Williamsburg, Va.

W. Waxam, 30^th N. Y.

J. Day, 31^st Ind. Vol., 1864.

C. Patton, 88^th Ind. Vol., 1862.

J. Fink.

J. L. G., Co. E, 109^th Reg.

Kenedey, 134^th N. Y.

E. S. Noves, Co. C.

B. B. A., Artillery, G.

P. H. Kenedey, Troy. N. Y.

J. W. Avery, 30^th N. Y.

W. L. S., Art'y 11^th, Troy, N. Y.

Vieale, Pa. Vol.

Eanes, Pa. Vol.

W. W. A., Co. E, 1863.

J. Wimham, 99, 1864.

J. L. R.

R. Eaglev, Co. G, 90 Pa. Vol.

W. W. D., Co. C.

J. R. A.

J. Y. C.

J. B.

H. K.

L. K.

J. L. R. B., Co. K, C. T.

Jas. W. Welan, 109, Co. H, R. I.

J. B. P., Co. H, 5^th R. I.

F. E. S., Co. H, 5^th R. I.

M. D. R., 3 Pa. Vol.; H. T. G., 188 Pa.Vol. Two swords cut in between these names.

M. J. R., C Co., E. L. B.

S. S. Uch.

C. Cilluar.

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