3/23/1865; details on recruitment of black troops and call for volunteers;
rendezvous for negro troops is at Smith's factory, 21st street. T. P. Turner
(Libby Prison) is one of the officers
4/6/1865; Details
on the Federal occupation of Richmond - notes that the furniture in the
White House of the Confederacy was left behind, and that Tredegar survived
the fire. Libby Prison and Castle Thunder are now full of Confederate
prisoners
4/8/1865;
excellent article, sent on April 4, describing Lincoln’s visit to Richmond;
states Lincoln arrived at 2 PM, throng of freed slaves, etc. Leaves Richmond
at 6:30. Also notes that Admiral Farragut visited Richmond on April 4 and
left the same day. Also remarks on the evacuation fire, destruction, and
rumors swirling around the city.
4/11/1865; Article
describing the White House of the Confederacy, the military governance of
the city, the destruction done by the fire (particularly to the mills), the
newspapers in Richmond and what has become of the editors, and an extremely
detailed account of the jubilee meeting at First African Baptist Church.
4/12/1865; notes
the visit of President Lincoln to Richmond, the parade of the XXIV Corps
through town, and efforts by local capitalists [including J. R. Anderson] to
bring VA back into the Union. Losses due to fire are 2/3 the city's assessed
value
4/13/1865;
excellent letter from Richmond describing the Federal occupation of
Richmond, mentions Tredegar, former slaves, Rocketts, former rebel hospitals
(Chimborazo, Jackson, Stuart) - All patients now at Jackson, Stuart Hospital
is now a US Post Hospital. Dahlgren's body found and is being returned to
Washington. Castle Thunder and Libby Prison are now holding Confederates.
Also notes veneration of Robert E. Lee in Richmond
5/20/1865; "Libby Prison Now and Then"- notes how Libby Prison has changed,
and offers a general history. Notes that Libby Prison and Castle Thunder are
now run by two Captains from the 24th Mass.
8/10/1867; description of Belle Isle as a prison camp – notes on the
cemetery, the origins of the prison (says that there was a debate about
whether to use Haxall’s Mill or Belle Isle), the current state of the island
(notes many gardens in the old camp area, and the Old Dominion Iron and Nail
Works is in full blast), and the view from the summit of the isle
11/23/1867; “Castle Thunder in Bellum Days;” gives an outstanding account of
Castle Thunder, prominent prisoners (including Mary Walker) and its’ staff
(including physical descriptions); mentions Oakwood Cemetery, Castle Godwin
6/27/1868; excellent article describing the beer gardens in town, with
lengthy description of the “Hermitage Trotting Park,” formerly Camp Lee.
Describes the current conditions and compares them with the wartime usages.
Elba Park mentioned.
12/26/1870; account of the Spotswood
Hotel fire, including many vignettes of of close escapes, and accounts of
the deaths of Erasmus Ross, former clerk of Libby Prison, and others.
12/10/1881; excellent article by Frank Moran
entitled “Libby’s Bright Side:” illustrates the humorous and lighter aspects
of life in Libby Prison. Mentions the “Libby Prison Minstrels” and the Libby
Prison Chronicle
1/24/1884; account of the capture of the 4th
New Jersey at Gaines' Mill, and subsequent imprisonment in Libby Prison and
Belle Isle is the summer of 1862
4/22/1886; report that one of the three “tenements” comprising the former
Libby Prison has collapsed from “overburdened floors.” $10,000 worth of
damage.
5/18/1887; very good description of the
political circumstances surrounding prisoners of war during the war from one
of the Libby tunnel escapees. Gives only a few snippets of Libby details,
but includes an excellent letter from Libby requesting his family to hide
money in packages.
12/28/1887; brief article
describing the author’s capture and brief imprisonment in Libby Prison,
before and after a stay at Salisbury. Notes that when he arrived at Libby,
eh was the only one there.
2/23/1888; Chicago syndicate is coming to
Richmond to exercise the option to purchase Libby Prison. Notes that the
sentiment in Richmond is opposed to Libby’s removal.
2/26/1888; “Libby Prison Sold,” along with details of the sale and quotes
from Gray about the feeling of the Richmond people (positive). Mayor of
Richmond (W. H. Carrington) gives Gray the go-ahead.
9/21/1888; tangled web of sales of Libby Prison
described – a new syndicate is purchasing the thing “to let the Libby
building remain where it is now and throw it open as a public museum.”
12/16/1888; engineer is in Richmond making
drawing of Libby Prison, preparatory to moving it to Chicago. A fence has
been erected around the prison, and citizens wishing to see it are charged
admission
12/30/1888; wonderful accounts of the Bread
Riot in Richmond- focuses on the question of whether President Davis helped
quell the mob; testimony from Letcher and others
4/27/1899; "Doc" Aubrey's account of
imprisonment in Libby - just a boy at the time, he was captured trying to
sell newspapers to the army. T. P. Turner took interest in him, put his
money in the safe in his office, and tells him to get the money on his
return. Very positive portrayal - nothing sensational.
5/4/1899; continuation of Aubrey's
account of life in Libby - further mention of T. P. Turner, and notes that
he returned his hard-earned money to him upon release. Unique for its
positive portrayal of Turner.
11/26/1889; resolution offered by Richmond
School Board to tear down the White House of the Confederacy and replace it
with a new school. Speculation that it will follow Libby Prison to Chicago.
2/8/1891; beginning of serialized account by a
Chickamauga prisoner regarding life in Libby Prison. Excellent details on
reception and layout of the prison.
2/11/1891; part two of serialized
account of life in Libby. Important description of the layout of the prison,
and notes that the western armies and the Army of the Potomac segregated
themselves within the prison. Gives great details of some of the prisoners
there, including Neal Dow, Sawyer and Flynn.
2/22/1891; part three of serialized
account of life in Libby. Notes on various ways prisoners attempted to
escape, the Confederate preachers who came there, the fact that prisoners
could see the men at Pemberton, but could not communicate with them, and
some of the chess matches that took place in prison.
3/1/1891; part four of serialized
account of life in Libby. Notes that 1864 began poorly - the Confederates
cut off supplies from the North in order to compel the US Government to
resume exchanges; author went to Belle Isle to help distribute last batch of
supplies; mentions Castle Thunder; he was glad to be in Libby rather than
Belle Isle - notes on the "dog-slaying incident" and confirms it. Further
notes the presence of negroes on Belle Isle and their negative treatment by
their fellow prisoners. Describes Gen. J. H. Morgan's visit to Libby and
begins description of the Libby tunnel and says he was one of the diggers.
3/8/1891; part five of serialized
account of life in Libby. Gives a description of the lighter side of Libby
life: mentions the "Libby Minstrels" and their performances as well as mock
trials that took place in prison. Notes the shooting of two prisoners by the
guard (one of whom died, named Forsyth) and the Ross and Latouche would
change their money at the rate of 15 or 20 to one. Also describes prison
sutlers and a raid upon them as well as the depth of hunger within the
prison.
3/15/1891; part six of serialized
account of life in Libby. Description of the digging and escape through the
Libby tunnel; notes that he was one of the ones who raised the cry of
"guards!" to get the crowd to thin out. Further relates his overland journey
towards the Chickhominy and encountering rebel earthworks on the outskirts
of Richmond, unmanned and with the bombproofs open.
3/29/1891; part eight of serialized
account of life in Libby. Describes recapture, waiting in Cold Harbor
tavern, response by Confederates to the tunnel escape, and re-confinement in
Libby. Gives description of being in cells beneath Libby Prison.
4/5/1891; part nine of serialized
account of life in Libby. Describes the plan to break out of Libby upon the
success of Dahlgren's raid. Says that there were 1,200 prisoners in Libby at
the time. Also noted that 20,000 others in Richmond between Belle Isle and
Pemberton. Notes that prison authorities found out about the plot and
brought in extra guards and artillery across the street. Relates hearsay
evidence of Turner's statement that the prison was mined.
4/12/1891; part ten of serialized
account of life in Libby. Basically a refutation of Col. Di Cesnola's
account regarding the action to be taken during Dahlgren's raid. Notes that
Di Cesnola was the acknowledged leader. Continues with his narrative,
describing how he faked being sick in order to be taken to the hospital,
with the intent to be sent away.
4/19/1891; part eleven of
serialized account of life in Libby. Recounts the author's near-exchange,
and subsequent return to Richmond, only to be put in General Hospital #10
4/26/1891; part twelve of serialized account of
life in Libby. Good description of GH#10 as a Union prison hospital -
indicates that the hospital was in conjunction with Libby Prison in 1864.
12/29/1891; Excellent set of letters from Libby
Prison, recounting treatment and life in prison. Mentions purchasing one of
the Rees images from the prison guards, and sending it North.
3/17/1892; lengthy but excellent account of the
tunnel escape and "powder mine" of Libby Prison - and disputation of
falsehoods recently circulated; by Frank E. Moran
11/28/1892; War relics will be exhibited in
Libby Prison when it is reconstructed in Chicago. Notes that Gunther wanted
to move Independence Hall too, but “the transfer was a physical
impossibility, even if Philadelphians would let it go.”
4/20/1893, 4/27/1893, 5/4/1893; excerpts from
accounts of a Federal scout describing his encounter with John Van Lew,
Elizabeth's brother, at Cold Harbor, in which John Van Lew tells the scout
that if he can get a message to her, she will provide information from
Richmond. Also accounts meeting with a fleeing employee of John Van Lew, in
order not to serve in the Confederate army
2/22/1895; G. W. Alexander obituary, describes
in great detail his early service in the Confederacy, imprisonment and
escape from Fort McHenry, and service in Richmond
4/12/1899; Libby Prison War Museum has closed and demolition work will begin
soon to make way for the new Coliseum. Demolition “will be done so hastily
that it can never be again rebuilt.”
4/27/1899; "Doc" Aubrey's account of
imprisonment in Libby - just a boy at the time, he was captured trying to
sell newspapers to the army. T. P. Turner took interest in him, put his
money in the safe in his office, and tells him to get the money on his
return. Very positive portrayal - nothing sensational.
5/4/1899; continuation of Aubrey's
account of life in Libby - further mention of T. P. Turner, and notes that
he returned his hard-earned money to him upon release. Unique for its
positive portrayal of Turner.
7/27/1899; "A Union Man in
Richmond;" description of sentiment in Richmond leading up to secession;
John Minor Botts' speech at the African Church, and the Secession Convention
in the Mechanics' Institute.
8/3/1899; "A Union Man in Richmond"
part three of serial account. Describes the scene in Richmond immediately
following secession. States that Gov. Letcher was often drunk; the vote to
ratify secession was held in the Old Market building (with serious voter
intimidation going on); the Hampden Sydney Battalion passing through
Richmond.
8/10/1899; “A Union Man in Richmond;” part four of
serial account. Describes John Minor Bott’s stay in “a negro jail in Lombard
Alley” [Castle Godwin], the economic situation in Richmond, the Battle of
First Manassas, the man who [Mr. Gretter] who tossed the first shovelful of
dirt for the Richmond defenses, the dangerous nature of “Lombard Alley”
[probably Locust Alley], and the post-war collapse of the upper floor of the
Capitol building
8/17/1899; “A Union Man in Richmond;” part five of
serial account. Describes the scene in Richmond in early to mid-1863.
Mentions hedonistic activity at the Exchange, Ballard and Spotswood hotels;
prostitution and gambling flourishing in Richmond around the Exchange Hotel;
trying to get a pass out of Richmond from Gen. Winder; and subsequent trip
to Staunton on the railroad
9/14/1899; “A Union Man in Richmond” part six of serialized account.
Describes the feeling in Richmond at the time of the Kilpatrick-Dahlgren
Raid, Pawnee Sunday (1861), a female Confederate spy at his boarding house,
and other details of life at his boarding house.
9/21/1899; “A Union Man in Richmond” part seven of
serialized account. Describes the tough economic conditions in Richmond in
1863 (with a nice description of the scene at the Old Market), the small-pox
epidemic in Richmond (blames Longstreet’s men for bringing it to the city),
an unreported assassination attempt on President Davis, and garroters in
Richmond.
9/28/1899; “A Union Man in Richmond” part eight of serialized account.
Describes the capture and execution of Timothy Webster, the Libby Prison
escape (mentions prisoners being aided by Van Lew, and good feeling amongst
the Unionsts toward her), a shooting of a prisoner at Libby, “the clerk” of
Libby being involved in trading with the prisoners (Ross), and being shot at
while near Locust Alley. St. Charles Hotel mentioned.
7/12/1900; good account of the fall of Richmond
in 1865, by a boy who lived on Church Hill; notes that advancing Union
troops were fired upon from convalescent patients from Chimborazo
8/9/1900; Part one of Silas
Crocker's serialized account of life in Libby - relates the stock story of
money stealing by Dick Turner and mentions a sergeant beating a man who
would not give up his ring.
8/16/1900;
Part Two of Silas Crocker’s serialized
account of life in captivity in Richmond - relates the story of his stay on
Belle Isle with good details on the prison’s geography. Very fair account,
though bitter, he complains only of the quantity of the food. Says the
mental strain was the hardest. Also relates the method used to trick the
prisoners into thinking they were to be exchanged, and then putting them in
trains and sending them south.
9/27/1900;
"The Fall of Richmond" Part one of Hiram
Peck's [10th CT Inf] excellent memoir describing advancing on
Richmond from Fort Burnham on April 3, 1865, and the occupation of Richmond.
Gives an interesting description of seeing a copy of the Richmond
Sentinel
meant to be published that day. Notes on number of rail cars captured.
10/4/1900; "The Fall of Richmond"
Part two of Hiram Peck's memoir. Describes Lincoln's visit to Richmond,
details of the evacuation fire, the reopening of the Richmond Theater, and
response to Lee's surrender in Richmond. Mentions Castle Thunder detectives
being locked in Libby, and gives a description of Hollywood Cemetery.
2/28/1901; description of a visit to Richmond,
mentions Bird Island, Belle Isle (mentions that many soldiers still buried
there), and the White House of the Confederacy
4/11/1901; former prisoner at Belle
Isle describes the cold winter of 1863-64 and mentions the rations coming to
the island via barge from the north bank
11/17/1901; good account of the burial of Col.
Ulric Dahlgren in Oakwood Cemetery, and the raiding of the grave; author was
a member of the 19th VA H.A., camped at Battery 5, and guarding Libby Prison
at the time
10/23/1902; Capt. Beecham's good,
but very bitter, account of life on Belle Isle after Gettysburg. Includes a
copy of an article from Jackson Warner, Commissary in Richmond denying that
prisoners were starved: he says that they were as well fed as Confederate
soldiers. Of course the author disagrees with him. Author was on Belle Isle
for 15 days.
10/30/1902; letter describes the
fire in Richmond threatening Libby Prison and Castle Thunder, and the author
broke open the door to let prisoners out.
12/26/1902; letter describing the difference in temperament between Thomas
P. and Richard R. Turner and incident involving “Dick” Turner. Author is
probably Louis P. DiCesnola who was at Libby Prison in 1863-64.
1/29/1903; takes up account of Belle
Isle where Beecham left off (NT 10/23/1902); describes the moving of
prisoners to Andersonville and the trick that the Confederates played to get
the prisoners to get off the island.
4/16/1903; further information on
the "battle of the gate" at Belle Isle - the red-headed Sergeant was named
Hite, and a deserter from the Union army. Describes his various acts of
cruelty, including his use of a wooden horse for punishment. Mentions not
being fed on New Year's Day, 1864, as well as the scarcity of coffins during
this period. Asks if anyone remembers the killing of the Lt.'s dog.
4/30/1903; soldier corroborates
account of breaking open the doors of Libby upon the evacuation of Richmond;
also relates his imprisonment in Libby and Belle Isle; relates the cruelty
of the doctor on Belle Isle, and the kindness of another doctor who took him
to a hospital in Richmond. Mentions having witnessed the bread riot, but
cannot be telling the truth, because he was captured in 1864
8/13/1903; description of Belle Isle
in 1862; described badly, but notes that "that prison had not yet become
noted for atrocities that distinguished it later," and there were 3,000 to
4,000 prisoners there at the time
9/3/1903; description of life on
Belle Isle after Gettysburg. Describes Bossieux stealing money from the
prisoners, and mentions being in charge of a bathing detail in the river -
only 40 were supposed to go out at a time, but the author let out many more.
Also mentions that he was later put on commissary detail, going by boat to
Richmond to get the rations
12/31/1903; author asks some leading
questions: Why was the cook house on Belle Isle below the sinks? Where are
the Germans [emphasis] who ate the Lieutenant's Dog? Also notes that he took
the paw of the dog out of prison.
1/7/1904; former prisoner at
Pemberton and Belle Isle says that Belle Isle was worse than Andersonville,
and that dead prisoners would be frozen stiff to the ground
4/7/1904; brief description of the
author's captivity in Libby, and the state of finances in Richmond - author
relates that he was able to exchange $10 for $100 CSA and buy goods with it.
Also notes that the guards occasionally allowed this practice through the
windows.
5/19/1904; brief letter describing
imprisonment in Pemberton Prison and Belle Isle from late 1862 to early
1864. Mentions a one-eyed guard named Sgt. Marks who clubbed prisoners, and
Lieut. Bossieux being in charge of Belle Isle.
8/11/1904; letter of a Gettysburg
prisoner who spent six weeks in Belle Isle. Mentions a soldier taking the
oath of allegiance to the CSA, and that a large party escaped on Aug. 12,
along with several guards from the 42nd NC. Also mentions prisoners working
for the rebels, who paid them with extra rations.
3/8/1906; I. N. Johnson, one of the
Libby tunnelers, is looking for the addresses of several of the others in
the tunnel party, and gives a partial list.
8/30/1906; Maj. L. P.
Williams’ account of the Libby Prison tunnel and escape. Gives details on
the construction of the tunnel. Williams succeeded in making his escape.
2/28/1907; description of
Col. Abel Streight’s escape through the Libby tunnel - notes he had some
difficulty getting out because he was a “large man” and that he was
initially helped by “Aunt Rhoda,” a local negro.
3/28/1907; details on the pontoon bridge at Richmond - notes its length, as
well as that the author of the article was on the bridge when General Lee
crossed it
3/11/1926; excellent article by Capt. A. G. Hamilton, detailing his personal
experience in the Libby Prison tunnel escape, notes escaping with Col. Rose,
and watching him be recaptured while still in Richmond [contrary to other
reports]. Gives a detailed account of his travel to Union lines at
Williamsburg.
11/30/1933; note that the timbers
of Libby Prison are being used in a barn in Hamlet, Indiana, owned by Frank
Davis. Describes the barn timbers and notes that many timbers are still
covered with initials of prisoners
