|
National
Tribune |
9/2/1882; description of harsh
conditions on Belle Isle and brief account of the "dog slaying"
incident |
|
National
Tribune |
9/9/1882; brief description of
prison life on Belle Isle |
|
National
Tribune |
9/13/1883; description of prison life at Castle
Thunder and "Royster House" (GH#20) |
|
National
Tribune |
1/10/1884; notes on the opening date of Belle
Isle |
|
National
Tribune |
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 |
|
National
Tribune |
2/14/1884; brief account of prisoner's
experience in Libby, Pemberton, Belle Isle, and Andersonville; notes that
small pox broke out in Pemberton |
|
National
Tribune |
2/14/1884; description of how Belle Isle was
set up as a prison by captured Gaines' Mill prisoners from Libby |
|
National Tribune |
1/29/1885; letter disputing Col.
Streight's claim of being responsible for the tunnel out of Libby Prison -
gives list of the known working party |
|
National Tribune |
5/14/1885; excellent account by Col. Thomas
Rose of the organization and completion of the Libby Prison tunnel |
|
National
Tribune |
1/6/1887; good description of the "dog
slaying" episode on Belle Isle |
|
National Tribune |
2/9/1888; good description of the proposed
relocation of Libby Prison to Chicago |
|
National
Tribune |
3/11/1888; brief account of a prisoner being
shot on Belle Isle for going near the "dead line" |
|
National
Tribune |
7/11/1889; Details of the
dog-killing incident at Belle Isle - notes regarding a female soldier
found there |
|
National
Tribune |
8/15/1889; part one of a two-part
memoir by Capt. J. W. Chamberlain, 123rd Ohio, describing at length his
imprisonment in Libby Prison |
|
National
Tribune |
8/15/1889; part two of a two-part
memoir by Capt. J. W. Chamberlain, 123rd Ohio, describing at length his
imprisonment in Libby Prison |
|
National
Tribune |
9/5/1889; account of kind treatment
on Belle Isle of a drummer-boy imprisoned there |
|
National
Tribune |
12/18/1889; account of the 4th of
July celebration in Libby during 1863 by Louis Beaudry, the former editor
of the "Libby Chronicle" |
|
National
Tribune |
3/27/1890; excellent description of
the tunneling effort at Libby Prison by one of the tunneling party (W. S.
B. Randall, 2nd Ohio Inf.) - slightly different from Moran's account |
|
National
Tribune |
4/21/1891; notes on tools used for tunneling
out of Libby Prison |
|
National
Tribune |
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. |
|
National
Tribune |
8/20/1891; good account of life in Richmond
prisons in 1861 |
|
National
Tribune |
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 |
|
National
Tribune |
6/2/1892; account of prisoners stealing flour
from the cellar of Libby Prison |
|
National
Tribune |
10/6/1892; notes on the mining of Libby Prison |
|
National
Tribune |
11/10/1892; "Belle Isle
Revisited," gives account of the author's trip to Belle Isle and
notes its changes |
|
National
Tribune |
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 |
|
National
Tribune |
12/14/1893; description of a clever escape of
two men from Libby Prison |
|
National
Tribune |
12/28/1893; brief account of harsh
treatment on Belle Isle - notes that he was almost killed by a train on
his way to Belle Isle |
|
National
Tribune |
1/25/1894; description of how the Confederates
"tricked" Yankees into moving from Pemberton Prison to Belle
Isle |
|
National
Tribune |
6/13/1895; refutation of the claim that
prisoners at Belle Isle were "jolly fellows;" good details of
the harsh treatment, and attempts to escape |
|
National
Tribune |
8/29/1895; brief description of the author's
prison experiences at Belle Isle, Pemberton, and Scott's prisons |
|
National
Tribune |
1/23/1896; brief account of the theft of a
blanket in Libby Prison in January, 1865 |
|
National
Tribune |
9/7/1896; man in Richmond is making gavels and
other trinkets from Libby Prison wood |
|
National
Tribune |
11/4/1897; old soldier still has the flute he
kept at Libby Prison, and apparently played for Jefferson Davis |
|
National Tribune |
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. |
|
National Tribune |
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. |
|
National Tribune |
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. |
|
National Tribune |
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. |
|
National Tribune |
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. |
|
National Tribune |
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 |
|
National Tribune |
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 |
|
National Tribune |
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. |
|
National Tribune |
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. |
|
National Tribune |
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. |
|
National
Tribune |
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 |
|
National Tribune |
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. |
|
National Tribune |
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. |
|
National Tribune |
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. |
|
National Tribune |
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. |
|
National
Tribune |
11/15/1900; description of Elizabeth Van Lew's
secret room which has recently been found |
|
National Tribune |
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 |
|
National Tribune |
4/18/1901; description of life in
Pemberton Prison in 1865. Notes that Dick Turner was in charge there, and
gives some examples of his cruelty |
|
National Tribune |
5/2/1901; notes on the Belle Isle
singing quartet |
|
National Tribune |
7/4/1901; Van Lew mansion to become
a club house |
|
National Tribune |
9/19/1901; brief article describing
the author's reception at Libby, and being bayonetted by a guard while there |
|
National Tribune |
1/2/1902; notes from a former Libby
Prisoner, who commanded the prison after the occupation of Richmond;
mentions Dick Turner being imprisoned there. |
|
National Tribune |
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. |
|
National Tribune |
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. |
|
National Tribune |
11/27/1902; interesting account of
mail distribution in Libby |
|
National Tribune |
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. |
|
National Tribune |
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. |
|
National Tribune |
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 |
|
National Tribune |
6/25/1903; more on the dog-slaying
incident at Belle Isle |
|
National Tribune |
7/30/1903; letter from a soldier in
Libby Prison mentioning the dearth of food for the prisoners |
|
National Tribune |
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 |
|
National Tribune |
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 |
|
National Tribune |
10/15/1903; diary entry describes
Dick Turner stealing money from the prisoners at Pemberton Prison; mentions
Libby. |
|
National Tribune |
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. |
|
National Tribune |
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 |
|
National Tribune |
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. |
|
National Tribune |
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. |
|
National Tribune |
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. |
|
National Tribune |
9/15/1904; poem written by Col.
Bartleson (KIA at Wilderness) on the wall of Libby Prison |
|
National Tribune |
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. |
|
National Tribune |
6/28/1906; man claims to be the one
that caught and killed the dog at Belle Isle and ate it. |
|
National Tribune |
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.
|
|
National Tribune |
9/6/1906; a veteran of Richmond prisons asks questions about them.
Pemberton, the Belle Isle sutler, and the dog-slaying incident are
mentioned. |
|
National Tribune |
3/7/1907; more debate about the last people to leave Libby Prison before the
city fell. |
|
National Tribune |
3/28/1907; details and praise of Chaplain McCabe while in Libby Prison |
|
National Tribune |
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 |
|
National Tribune |
5/30/1907; more debate about the last Yankees to leave Libby Prison. |
|
National Tribune |
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. |
|
National Tribune |
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. |
|
National Tribune |
12/13/1928; excellent description of the Libby Prison escape, offers several
new details. |
|
National Tribune |
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 |
|
National Tribune |
6/13/1940; brief note that the
timbers of Libby Prison are being used in a barn in Hamlet, Indiana, owned
by Frank Davis |
