Libby Prison Escapees - Surnames Starting with M
(54) Colonel William Barker McCreery (21st Michigan Infantry) - He was captured at Chickamauga on September 20, 1863. He was wounded when captured and placed in a hospital upon his arrival in Richmond. He was 27 years old when he successfully escaped from Libby Prison.
He had also served the 2nd Michigan Infantry.
He resigned on September 14, 1864, due to disability resulting from six wounds received at various actions and skirmishes, including three at Winchester.
McCreery entered politics after the war. He also served as president of the Libby Prison Association and as life-president of the 21st Michigan Infantry Association.
He was selected by escapees, along with Lt. Colonel Harrison Hobart, to be spokesman at a group meeting with President Lincoln after the escape.
He died on December 9, 1896. He was buried at Glenwood Cemetery in Flint, Michigan.
Maj. Hamilton's published account listed him as Col W.B. McCreary.
He had also served the 2nd Michigan Infantry.
He resigned on September 14, 1864, due to disability resulting from six wounds received at various actions and skirmishes, including three at Winchester.
McCreery entered politics after the war. He also served as president of the Libby Prison Association and as life-president of the 21st Michigan Infantry Association.
He was selected by escapees, along with Lt. Colonel Harrison Hobart, to be spokesman at a group meeting with President Lincoln after the escape.
He died on December 9, 1896. He was buried at Glenwood Cemetery in Flint, Michigan.
Maj. Hamilton's published account listed him as Col W.B. McCreary.
(55) Major Bedan B. McDonald (101st Ohio Infantry) - He was captured at Chickamauga on September 20, 1863. He was part of the original and final tunnel parties and, at age 33, he successfully escaped from Libby Prison.
Nineteen days after the escape, he was rescued by the USS Ella at Blackstone Island in the Potomac River on February 28, 1864, with Capt. William Scearce, Colonel Abel Streight and Lt. John Sterling. He was listed in articles as a Major. Two days prior to the rescue on February 26, 1864, his regiment promoted him to Lieutenant Colonel.
McDonald was wounded in Franklin, Tennessee on November 30, 1864. He mustered out with his regiment on June 12, 1865.
(56) 1st Lieutenant Nineoch McKean (21st Illinois Infantry, Company H) - He was captured at Chickamauga on September 20, 1863. He was in the final party only and successfully escaped from Libby Prison.
McKean was awarded the Medal of Honor in 1890 for gallantry in 1863. His citation reads "Conspicuous in the charge at Stones River, Tennessee, where he was three times wounded. At Liberty Gap, Tennessee, captured colors of 8th Arkansas Infantry."
He resigned on July 2, 1864.
His name also appears as Nineoch McKeen, as Nineveh McKean and
Maj. Hamilton's published account listed him as Lt. N.S. McKean.
(57) Lt. Colonel David Miles (79th Pennsylvania Infantry) - He was captured at Chickamauga on September 20, 1863. He escaped from Libby Prison and was recaptured and transferred to Macon, Georgia on May 7, 1864. He moved from Macon to Charleston.
Miles was one of several prisoners moved into the line of Union bombardment while at Charleston, in a Confederate attempt to halt the artillery fire. He was exchanged and paroled on August 3, 1864.
He was brevetted colonel on March 13, 1865. He was wounded in the left thigh at Bentonville, North Carolina on March 19, 1865 while leading a charge, and was noted in the official battle reports for fighting energetically and skillfully. He mustered out with his regiment on July 12, 1865.
Maj. Hamilton's published account does not list him as one of the escapees. However, he does list a Col. D. MILES of the 70th PA Infantry, which could be the same person.
Nineteen days after the escape, he was rescued by the USS Ella at Blackstone Island in the Potomac River on February 28, 1864, with Capt. William Scearce, Colonel Abel Streight and Lt. John Sterling. He was listed in articles as a Major. Two days prior to the rescue on February 26, 1864, his regiment promoted him to Lieutenant Colonel.
McDonald was wounded in Franklin, Tennessee on November 30, 1864. He mustered out with his regiment on June 12, 1865.
(56) 1st Lieutenant Nineoch McKean (21st Illinois Infantry, Company H) - He was captured at Chickamauga on September 20, 1863. He was in the final party only and successfully escaped from Libby Prison.
McKean was awarded the Medal of Honor in 1890 for gallantry in 1863. His citation reads "Conspicuous in the charge at Stones River, Tennessee, where he was three times wounded. At Liberty Gap, Tennessee, captured colors of 8th Arkansas Infantry."
He resigned on July 2, 1864.
His name also appears as Nineoch McKeen, as Nineveh McKean and
Maj. Hamilton's published account listed him as Lt. N.S. McKean.
(57) Lt. Colonel David Miles (79th Pennsylvania Infantry) - He was captured at Chickamauga on September 20, 1863. He escaped from Libby Prison and was recaptured and transferred to Macon, Georgia on May 7, 1864. He moved from Macon to Charleston.
Miles was one of several prisoners moved into the line of Union bombardment while at Charleston, in a Confederate attempt to halt the artillery fire. He was exchanged and paroled on August 3, 1864.
He was brevetted colonel on March 13, 1865. He was wounded in the left thigh at Bentonville, North Carolina on March 19, 1865 while leading a charge, and was noted in the official battle reports for fighting energetically and skillfully. He mustered out with his regiment on July 12, 1865.
Maj. Hamilton's published account does not list him as one of the escapees. However, he does list a Col. D. MILES of the 70th PA Infantry, which could be the same person.
(58) Captain McCastin Moore (29th Indiana Infantry, Company D) - He was captured at Chickamauga on September 20, 1863. He was 30 years old when he escaped from Libby Prison, but he was recaptured. He was transferred to Macon, Georgia on May 7, 1864, and from there to Columbia, South Carolina, where he was placed on a list of sick and convalescent with what was described as "debility and fever."
Moore was paroled at Charleston, South Carolina on December 10, 1864. He mustered out on May 2, 1865 on surgeon's certificate due to a generally debilitated condition which the surgeon attributed to exposure, starvation and chronic diarrhea. He worked in private life as a miller. Listed as McCaslin Moore in Gindlesperger's book.
(59) 1st Lieutenant Archibald Moores (4th Kentucky Mounted Infantry, Company E) - He was captured at Chickamauga on September 20, 1863. As a 26-year-old 1st Lieutenant, he escaped from Libby Prison, but he was recaptured 2 days later. He was transferred to Macon, Georgia on May 7, 1864. He was transferred again to Columbia, South Carolina, from where he escaped on November 29, 1864.
Moores was promoted to Captain on August 7, 1864, while still in prison, and was mustered in on July 21, 1864. He reached Union lines in December 1864.
Maj. Hamilton's published account listed him as 1st Lt. A. Moore at the time of escape.
(60) 2nd Lieutenant Frank Moran (73rd New York Infantry, Company H) - He was captured at Gettysburg on July 1, 1863. While in Libby Prison, he was active in the prison minstrel troupe. At age 21, he escaped from Libby Prison, but he was recaptured the next day. He was transferred to Macon, Georgia on May 7, 1864.
Moran escaped five times from different Confederate prisons but was recaptured each time. He was finally released from prison on March 1, 1865 in Wilmington, North Carolina.
He a 1st Lieutenant at the time of the Libby Prison escape. He was promoted to Captain on March 30, 1865. He was discharged on May 15, 1865.
He is listed as 1st Lt. F. Moran but couldn't find a Frank Moran in the 73rd Infantry in the CWSS.
Maj. Hamilton's published account in 1893 listed him as dead at that time.
(61) 1st Lieutenant. Charles H. Morgan (21st Wisconsin Infantry, Company F) - He had been captured at Chaplin Hills, Kentucky on October 8, 1862, at which time he was paroled. He returned to the fighting and was captured at Chickamauga on September 20, 1863. He escaped from Libby Prison, but he was recaptured the next day.
Morgan escaped again from the train transporting him to Charlotte, North Carolina on February 15, 1865.
Morgan was promoted to Captain of Company H on May 1, 1865.
At the time of the escape, he was listed as 1st Lt. C. H. Morgan.
He served as congressman after war.
(62) Lt. Colonel Charles H. Morton (84th Illinois Infantry) - He was captured at Chickamauga on September 20, 1863. He was 40 years old and a Lt. Colonel when he escaped from Libby Prison. He was recaptured and later paroled on March 14, 1864. In a mentally debilitated state when released, those who knew him said he was never the same after imprisonment.
Morton mustered out as a colonel on June 8, 1865.
He was honored for his gallantry at Stones River, Chickamauga, Atlanta and Nashville.
He owned a real estate business. He also served as county clerk and police magistrate.
Morton died under mysterious circumstances in 1880 (Gindlesperger said on July 26, 1880 but newspaper article says he died May 26,1880). His death was ruled a suicide brought on my mental infirmity, but some officials intimated that he may have been murdered.
He is buried in Woodland Cemetery in Quincy, Illinois.
Morton is not listed in Maj. Hamilton's published account.
(63) Captain Daniel H. Mull (73rd Indiana Infantry, Company A) - He was captured at Rome, Georgia on May 3, 1863. He escaped from Libby Prison, but was recaptured. He was transferred to Macon, Georgia on May 7, 1864 and from there to Charleston, South Carolina. He was paroled from Charleston on December 10, 1864. He mustered out on May 27, 1865.
(64) Captain Ithamer D. Phelps (73rd Infantry, Company K) - He was born in Canada.
He was captured at Rome, Georgia on May 3, 1863. He was 33 years old when he escaped from Libby Prison (Maj. Hamilton's published account lists him as L.D. Phelps). Phelps had wandered through Chickahominy Swamp with fellow escapee, Major Ivan Walker, an old friend from before the war, for five days in freezing weather. He was recaptured when he refused to abandon Walker, who had become disabled and begged Phelps to continue on without him. He was placed in a dungeon upon his return to Libby.
Phelps was approved for exchange in May 1864, but instead was transferred to Macon, Georgia and from there to Charleston, South Carolina. In October 1864, he was moved to Columbia, South Carolina , from where he was finally paroled on March 1, 1865 with an unknown disability. He was discharged at Nashville on July 1, 1865.
He refused to apply for pension as long as he felt he could work, despite his illnesses, which were acquired in prison.
He was so admired by his fellow citizens that they regularly elected him to public office so that he would have an income while he was ill. Phelps served as sheriff of LaPorte County from 1866 to 1870. He became partner in an insurance business around 1874.
Before the war, Phelps had served as an officer of the Northern Indiana State Prison.
He died on Aprill 11, 1900 at LaPorte, Indiana of diarrhea and dyspepsia. He was buried in Pine Lake County.
(65) Captain William P. Pierce (11th Kentucky Cavalry, Company A) - He was captured at Marysville, Tennessee on November 14, 1863. He escaped from Libby Prison, but he was recaptured the next day.
He was exchanged on April 30, 1864, suffering from dysentery.
He was transferred to 12th Kentucky Cavalry. He had served as adjutant before being promoted to Captain.
Pierce was mentioned in Official Records for his action in pursuit of the enemy at Creelsbourough, Kentucky, and for his part in the capture of Brigadier General John Hunt Morgan in July 1863.
He was discharged on January 3, 1865.
He was listed as Lt. W.B. Pierce at the time of the escape.
(66) Captain William S.B. Randall (2nd Ohio Infantry, Company C) - His skull had been fractured when he was struck by minie ball at Stones River on December 31, 1862.
He was captured at Chickamauga on September 20, 1863. He participated in the final tunnel party only. He was 30 years old when he successfully escaped from Libby Prison.
He mustered out on October 10, 1864.
Maj. Hamilton's published account in 1893 listed him as W.S.B. Randall and as deceased.
(67) 1st Lieutenant Wallace F. Randolph (5th U.S. Artillery, Battery L) - He had previously served in the 17th Pennsylvania Volunteers from April to July 1861.
Randolph was captured at Winchester, Virginia on June 15, 1863 and was wounded at the time. While in Libby Prison, he was active in the prison minstrel troupe. He was a 1st Lieutenant when he successfully escaped from Libby Prison.
He was brevetted captain on June 14, 1863 for gallantry and meritorious service in defense of Winchester, and major on March 13, 1865 for good conduct and gallant service during the war. He was promoted to captain on July 28, 1866; to major of 3rd U.S. Artillery on April 25, 1888; to Lieutenant Colonel on March 8, 1898; to Colonel of the 1st Artillery on October 17, 1899, and to Brigadier General of Volunteers on May 27, 1898.
He was honorably discharged on November 30, 1898.
(68) 1st Lieutenant Thomas Jefferson Ray (49th Ohio Infantry, Company K) - He had been wounded in the leg and right hip at Stones River on December 31, 1862. Gangrene set in and his leg was eventually paralyzed.
He was captured at Chickamauga on September 20, 1863. He was 23 when he escaped from Libby Prison, but he was recaptured with Colonel William Ely and 1st Lieutenant W.H.H. Wilcox near Charles City court house. Ray was placed in a dungeon, with no shoes, for 12 days after his recapture. He was suffering from rheumatism when he was released from his cell.
He was transferred to Macon, Georgia on May 7, 1864 and from there to Charleston, South Carolina. He moved to Columbia, South Carolina when hello fever broke at Charleston.
He was promoted to Captain of Company E on August 11, 1864.
Ray escaped from Columbia on December 5, 1864.
He was given a 60-day leave of absence personally by President Lincoln, which was extended to allow additional recovery from his rheumatism.
Ray returned to Company K in May 1865. He was placed in the hospital a short time later, and was in and out of hospitals several times over the next several months. He mustered out with Company K on November 11, 1865.
He died in Bartlesville, Oklahoma of a cerebral hemorrhage, accompanied by nephritis.
Moore was paroled at Charleston, South Carolina on December 10, 1864. He mustered out on May 2, 1865 on surgeon's certificate due to a generally debilitated condition which the surgeon attributed to exposure, starvation and chronic diarrhea. He worked in private life as a miller. Listed as McCaslin Moore in Gindlesperger's book.
(59) 1st Lieutenant Archibald Moores (4th Kentucky Mounted Infantry, Company E) - He was captured at Chickamauga on September 20, 1863. As a 26-year-old 1st Lieutenant, he escaped from Libby Prison, but he was recaptured 2 days later. He was transferred to Macon, Georgia on May 7, 1864. He was transferred again to Columbia, South Carolina, from where he escaped on November 29, 1864.
Moores was promoted to Captain on August 7, 1864, while still in prison, and was mustered in on July 21, 1864. He reached Union lines in December 1864.
Maj. Hamilton's published account listed him as 1st Lt. A. Moore at the time of escape.
(60) 2nd Lieutenant Frank Moran (73rd New York Infantry, Company H) - He was captured at Gettysburg on July 1, 1863. While in Libby Prison, he was active in the prison minstrel troupe. At age 21, he escaped from Libby Prison, but he was recaptured the next day. He was transferred to Macon, Georgia on May 7, 1864.
Moran escaped five times from different Confederate prisons but was recaptured each time. He was finally released from prison on March 1, 1865 in Wilmington, North Carolina.
He a 1st Lieutenant at the time of the Libby Prison escape. He was promoted to Captain on March 30, 1865. He was discharged on May 15, 1865.
He is listed as 1st Lt. F. Moran but couldn't find a Frank Moran in the 73rd Infantry in the CWSS.
Maj. Hamilton's published account in 1893 listed him as dead at that time.
(61) 1st Lieutenant. Charles H. Morgan (21st Wisconsin Infantry, Company F) - He had been captured at Chaplin Hills, Kentucky on October 8, 1862, at which time he was paroled. He returned to the fighting and was captured at Chickamauga on September 20, 1863. He escaped from Libby Prison, but he was recaptured the next day.
Morgan escaped again from the train transporting him to Charlotte, North Carolina on February 15, 1865.
Morgan was promoted to Captain of Company H on May 1, 1865.
At the time of the escape, he was listed as 1st Lt. C. H. Morgan.
He served as congressman after war.
(62) Lt. Colonel Charles H. Morton (84th Illinois Infantry) - He was captured at Chickamauga on September 20, 1863. He was 40 years old and a Lt. Colonel when he escaped from Libby Prison. He was recaptured and later paroled on March 14, 1864. In a mentally debilitated state when released, those who knew him said he was never the same after imprisonment.
Morton mustered out as a colonel on June 8, 1865.
He was honored for his gallantry at Stones River, Chickamauga, Atlanta and Nashville.
He owned a real estate business. He also served as county clerk and police magistrate.
Morton died under mysterious circumstances in 1880 (Gindlesperger said on July 26, 1880 but newspaper article says he died May 26,1880). His death was ruled a suicide brought on my mental infirmity, but some officials intimated that he may have been murdered.
He is buried in Woodland Cemetery in Quincy, Illinois.
Morton is not listed in Maj. Hamilton's published account.
(63) Captain Daniel H. Mull (73rd Indiana Infantry, Company A) - He was captured at Rome, Georgia on May 3, 1863. He escaped from Libby Prison, but was recaptured. He was transferred to Macon, Georgia on May 7, 1864 and from there to Charleston, South Carolina. He was paroled from Charleston on December 10, 1864. He mustered out on May 27, 1865.
(64) Captain Ithamer D. Phelps (73rd Infantry, Company K) - He was born in Canada.
He was captured at Rome, Georgia on May 3, 1863. He was 33 years old when he escaped from Libby Prison (Maj. Hamilton's published account lists him as L.D. Phelps). Phelps had wandered through Chickahominy Swamp with fellow escapee, Major Ivan Walker, an old friend from before the war, for five days in freezing weather. He was recaptured when he refused to abandon Walker, who had become disabled and begged Phelps to continue on without him. He was placed in a dungeon upon his return to Libby.
Phelps was approved for exchange in May 1864, but instead was transferred to Macon, Georgia and from there to Charleston, South Carolina. In October 1864, he was moved to Columbia, South Carolina , from where he was finally paroled on March 1, 1865 with an unknown disability. He was discharged at Nashville on July 1, 1865.
He refused to apply for pension as long as he felt he could work, despite his illnesses, which were acquired in prison.
He was so admired by his fellow citizens that they regularly elected him to public office so that he would have an income while he was ill. Phelps served as sheriff of LaPorte County from 1866 to 1870. He became partner in an insurance business around 1874.
Before the war, Phelps had served as an officer of the Northern Indiana State Prison.
He died on Aprill 11, 1900 at LaPorte, Indiana of diarrhea and dyspepsia. He was buried in Pine Lake County.
(65) Captain William P. Pierce (11th Kentucky Cavalry, Company A) - He was captured at Marysville, Tennessee on November 14, 1863. He escaped from Libby Prison, but he was recaptured the next day.
He was exchanged on April 30, 1864, suffering from dysentery.
He was transferred to 12th Kentucky Cavalry. He had served as adjutant before being promoted to Captain.
Pierce was mentioned in Official Records for his action in pursuit of the enemy at Creelsbourough, Kentucky, and for his part in the capture of Brigadier General John Hunt Morgan in July 1863.
He was discharged on January 3, 1865.
He was listed as Lt. W.B. Pierce at the time of the escape.
(66) Captain William S.B. Randall (2nd Ohio Infantry, Company C) - His skull had been fractured when he was struck by minie ball at Stones River on December 31, 1862.
He was captured at Chickamauga on September 20, 1863. He participated in the final tunnel party only. He was 30 years old when he successfully escaped from Libby Prison.
He mustered out on October 10, 1864.
Maj. Hamilton's published account in 1893 listed him as W.S.B. Randall and as deceased.
(67) 1st Lieutenant Wallace F. Randolph (5th U.S. Artillery, Battery L) - He had previously served in the 17th Pennsylvania Volunteers from April to July 1861.
Randolph was captured at Winchester, Virginia on June 15, 1863 and was wounded at the time. While in Libby Prison, he was active in the prison minstrel troupe. He was a 1st Lieutenant when he successfully escaped from Libby Prison.
He was brevetted captain on June 14, 1863 for gallantry and meritorious service in defense of Winchester, and major on March 13, 1865 for good conduct and gallant service during the war. He was promoted to captain on July 28, 1866; to major of 3rd U.S. Artillery on April 25, 1888; to Lieutenant Colonel on March 8, 1898; to Colonel of the 1st Artillery on October 17, 1899, and to Brigadier General of Volunteers on May 27, 1898.
He was honorably discharged on November 30, 1898.
(68) 1st Lieutenant Thomas Jefferson Ray (49th Ohio Infantry, Company K) - He had been wounded in the leg and right hip at Stones River on December 31, 1862. Gangrene set in and his leg was eventually paralyzed.
He was captured at Chickamauga on September 20, 1863. He was 23 when he escaped from Libby Prison, but he was recaptured with Colonel William Ely and 1st Lieutenant W.H.H. Wilcox near Charles City court house. Ray was placed in a dungeon, with no shoes, for 12 days after his recapture. He was suffering from rheumatism when he was released from his cell.
He was transferred to Macon, Georgia on May 7, 1864 and from there to Charleston, South Carolina. He moved to Columbia, South Carolina when hello fever broke at Charleston.
He was promoted to Captain of Company E on August 11, 1864.
Ray escaped from Columbia on December 5, 1864.
He was given a 60-day leave of absence personally by President Lincoln, which was extended to allow additional recovery from his rheumatism.
Ray returned to Company K in May 1865. He was placed in the hospital a short time later, and was in and out of hospitals several times over the next several months. He mustered out with Company K on November 11, 1865.
He died in Bartlesville, Oklahoma of a cerebral hemorrhage, accompanied by nephritis.