Libby Prison Escapees - Surnames Starting with P-R
(69) 1st Lieutenant William Reynolds (73rd Indiana Infantry, Company K) - Reynolds was born in New York state about 1830, going to Indiana when he was a youth.
At the Battle of Stone River on December 31, 1862, Reynolds was marching at the lead of his company to meet the enemy when he was shot in the left side of the head and left on the battlefield to die. He suffered a severe head wound, in which a 2-inch square piece of his skull was blown away, caused him severe pain, partial deafness, dizziness and mental confusion throughout the remainder of his life. He was captured at Rome, Georgia on May 3, 1863. There is evidence that additional pieces of his skull while he was in Libby. He was 34 years old when he successfully escaped from Libby Prison. In an article copied to his memorial, Reynolds said he learned of the escape plan about 3 weeks before the tunnel was completed. Here's more of his recollections of the escape: "This tunnel business was a profound secret. Some of my most intimate friends I left there, not daring to tell them, and great was the surprise of the inmates of Libby in waking up next morning to find so many of their comrades missing, but greater still was the surprise of the rebel clerk when he came up about nine o'clock next morning to get the men in line, to find their ranks so depleted... I shall never forget the night when I first emerged into the open air. Just as Capt. Phelps had helped me from the tunnel the guard sang out not twenty yards from where we stood "Post No. 7 half-past one o'clock and all is well." I thought, "Old fellow, you don't know as much as you think you do." Reynolds was discharged on a surgeon's certificate on August 8, 1864. Before the war, he was a contractor but was physically unable to work after the war. Reynolds came to Muskegon a short while after the war closed. He remained in that city until he went to Florida to make his home. In 1849 he was married to Martha D. Bewley in Indiana. He celebrated his golden wedding anniversary in 1899. She predeceased him in 1904. He was elected justice of the peace for six years and served as a notary public for 31 years. Reynolds retired to a fruit farm near Orlando, Florida in 1910. In 1912, returning to Muskegon from Orlando, he was married to Mrs. Mary Collins in this city. Gindlesperger mistakenly said he died October 15, 1904, but he died on October 15, 1914 at his home in Orlando, Florida. He is buried in Greenwood Cemetery in Orlando, Florida. (70) Lt. Colonel Andrew Fuller Rodgers (80th Illinois Infantry) - He was born on 13 October 1827 in Howard County, Missouri. In 1844, at the age of seventeen, he clerked at a hardware store and pursued a business life until the outbreak of the Mexican-American War.
In 1846, Rodgers volunteered to fight in the Mexican-American War and joined Company E of the Second Illinois Regiment under the leadership of Col. William Henry Bissell. Their unit saw substantial action at the Battle of Buena Vista Afterwards, he went to California in 1849 along with thousands of others in the California Gold Rush. In 1851 he was appointed deputy sheriff of Sacramento and then later served a second term while still mining. At the death of his father in 1853, Rodgers returned home to Illinois and farmed. In 1862, Rodgers volunteered to fight in the Civil War and joined the 80th Illinois. He was captured at Rome, Georgia on May 3, 1863. He escaped from Libby Prison, but he was recaptured. He was transferred to Macon, Georgia on May 7, 1864 and from there to Charleston, South Carolina. He was paroled and exchanged on August 3, 1864. He was promoted to Colonel but not mustered. He was discharged on November 25, 1864. After the war, he was nominated as the Democrat candidate for the Illinois House of Representatives in 1870 and won. He was Mayor of Upper Alton, which has since been incorporated in the larger city of Alton, Illinois. Rodgers died on 20 January 1922 at the age of 94. His is buried in Oakwood Cemetery in Upper Alton, Illinois. Gindlesperger spells his name as Andrew F. Rogers while Hamilton's account lists him as A.F. Rogers. He has his own Wikipedia article, which provides more information about him. There's also an article here about him and his family. |
(71) Captain Gottlieb C. Rose (4th Missouri Cavalry, Company C) - He was captured at Union City, Tennessee on July 11, 1863. He successfully escaped from Libby Prison, suffering frostbite of toes in the process.
He was promoted to Major on November 16, 1864. He was cashiered by General Order #223, Department of Missouri, on December 12, 1864, for refusing to give up his mare when ordered to do so by the provost, saying he had properly traded for the horse and it was his. The War Department changed it to an honorable discharge in 1905, effective December 12, 1864. Major Hamilton's article lists him as Capt. S.C. Rose of the 4th Wisconsin Cavalry. (72) Colonel Thomas Ellwood Rose (77th Pennsylvania Infantry) - He was captured at Chickamauga on September 20, 1863. He originally escaped while en route to Libby Prison but was recaptured near Weldon, North Carolina.
He is considered the leader of the tunnel escape on February 9, 1864. He escaped but was recaptured five days later within sight of Company K of the 11th Pennsylvania Cavalry. Suffering badly from scurvy, he was exchanged for a Confederate colonel on April 12, 1864. He was wounded at Kennesaw Mountain, Georgia on June 26, 1864. He was brevetted Brigadier General on July 22, 1865. He mustered out on December 6, 1865. After the Civil War, he served as captain of the 11th U.S.Infantry. He was breveted Major on March 2, 1867 for gallantry and meritorious service at Liberty Gap and Lt. Colonel on March 2, 1867 for gallantry and meritorious service at Chickamauga. Rose also was honored in official reports of the Battle of Stones River for having taken command of his regiment when his commander was wounded, and for "keeping the regiment together and setting a good example by leading the attack." He was transferred to the 16th U.S. Infantry in 1870 and retired on March 12, 1894. Lt. William Reynolds declared he knew positively that Col. Rose of the 77th Pennsylvania Infantry was the originator of the tunnel project. He was assisted in formulating the plan by Capt. Hamilton of the 12th Kentucky Cavalry and Capt. Johnson, of a New England regiment. Many who knew him prior to his capture said later that he suffered from a personality change as a result of his imprisonment, becoming uncharacteristically irritable, emotional and suspicious. Rose died on November 6, 1907 in Washington, D.C. of a cerebral hemorrhage and is buried in Arlington National Cemetery. (73) Captain William C. Rossman (3rd Ohio Infantry, Company F) - Immediately after President Lincoln’s call for volunteers in April 1861, Captain William C. Rossman, a clerk at Rossman’s Dry Goods, organized the Hamilton Guards which became Company F, 3rd Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He was captured at Rome, Georgia on May 3, 1863. Only one other man from his regiment was captured this date. He was 28 when he escaped from Libby Prison, but he was recaptured. Rossman was transferred to Macon, Georgia on May 7, 1864 and then to Charleston, South Carolina, from where he escaped on November 4, 1864. He did not reach Union lines at Dalton, Georgia until December 6, 1864. He was discharged on December 7, 1864. Hamilton's account lists him as W.C. Roseman. After the war, his health was broken. He was appointed postmaster of Hamilton, but never confirmed because his nomination became entangled in the politics of the impeachment of President Andrew Johnson. Rossman died July 11, 1867 -- 19 days before his 32nd birthday -- of ailments attributed to his imprisonment. (74) Captain Charles E. Rowan (96th Illinois Infantry, Company F) - He was captured at Chickamauga on September 20, 1863. He was 24 when he successfully escaped from Libby Prison, being rescued by the 1st New York Rifles. Rowan was honored for his gallantry and meritorious conduct before Nashville on December 16, 1864, when he pursued and captured many of the enemy, with only 20 of his own men. He was brevetted major on March 6, 1865. He mustered out on June 10, 1865. |
(75) Captain William W. Scearce (51st Indiana Infantry, Company K) - He was captured at Rome, Georgia on May 3, 1863.
He was 26 when he successfully escaped from Libby Prison. He was rescued 19 days after the escape, on February 28, 1864, by the USS Ella at Blackstone Island, in Potomac River, with Major Bedan McDonald, Colonel Abel Straight and Lieutenant John Sterling.
Scarce was wounded in the thigh at Nashville on December 16, 1864.
He was promoted to Major on May 15, 1865 and then promoted to Lt. Colonel on June 1, 1865. He was discharged on December 13, 1865 on a surgeon's certificate for chronic bronchitis and other ailments resulting from the time he was confined in Libby Prison.
Before the war, he had worked as a farmer. He died on January 23, 1897. He was buried in Pomona Cemetery and Mausoleum in Los Angeles, California.
(76) 2nd Lieutenant Edgar Schroeders (74th Pennsylvania Infantry, Company D) - He was born in Koenigsberg Prussia in 1835. He was educated at the military academy there and entered the Prussian Army as an officer. In 1859, he left the Prussian Army and joined the Austrian army, serving as an officer in several minor campaigns.
He came to the United States in 1860 and enlisted in the 103rd New York Infantry from January to May 1862. He then served the 74th Pennsylvania in Company K before being promoted to 2nd Lieutenant of Company D. During the Civil War, his technical knowledge as a topographer secured his promotion to 1st Lieutenant and as topographer to General Alexander Schismelfenig.
He suffered an injury to his right leg when his horse fell on him at Chancellorsville on May 1, 1863.
He was captured at Gettysburg on July 1, 1863. His obituary states he assisted in digging the tunnel but other accounts don't mention him. He did use the tunnel to escape from Libby Prison, but the 29-year-old was recaptured the next day with Captain Francis Irsch.
Schroeders had been in the hospital in December 1863 for diarrhea and scorbutus, and in January and February 1864 for an unknown illness.
He was transferred to Macon, Georgia on May 7, 1864 and then to Charleston, South Carolina and then to Columbia, South Carolina, from where he was exchanged and paroled on March 1, 1865.
He was transferred to Company I on September 16, 1864 and promoted to 1st Lieutenant on July 1, 1865. He mustered out on August 29, 1865.
Schroeder received a disability pension for total deafness in his left ear and partial deafness in his right ear, and depressed scars of the scalp and face, resulting from scurvy, which gave him excruciating headaches during cold and damp weather. He also suffered from rheumatism and his leg injury.
In civilian life, he was employed as a draftsman and surveyor. He was a civil engineer for the Atlantic and Pacific Railroad Company. He was then an engineer under General George M. Wheeler, who was in charge of the U.S. exploration west of the 100th Meridian. After leaving government service, he worked for Ammerman & Ford, civil engineers of New York City, for ten years. From 1899 to 1909, he was a draughtsman for the Topographical Bureau of the City of New York.
He died at the age of 90 in Brooklyn, New York on February 4, 1909. He was buried in Woodlawn Cemetery.
(77) 2nd Lieutenant Hugo Schroedter (82nd Illinois Infantry, Company F) - He was born in Kaiserswaldan, Prussia in about 1832.
He was captured at Gettysburg on July 1, 1863. He was in the hospital from September 20 through September 26, 1863 for an unknown illness, but it was believed to be hemorrhaging of the lungs. He was reported by other prisoners as having been sick his entire stay in Libby.
At age 32, he escaped from Libby Prison, but he was recaptured the next day. In Hamilton's account, he is listed as 1st Lt. H. Scroeter at the time of the escape. He was placed in a dungeon upon his return to Libby.
He was transferred to Rolla, then Charleston South Carolina, then Macon, Georgia, beginning May 7, 1864. He was paroled on March 1, 1865 and mustered out May 15, 1865.
After the war, he worked as a liquor dealer. According to the Cook County, Illinois, Deaths Index, 1878-1922, his occupation was a saloon keeper.
He died on December 17, 1880 at the age of 48 at his home in Chicago, of tuberculosis acquired in Libby Prison. He was buried in Graceland Cemetery in Chicago, Illinois. His name is listed as Hugo Schroder in the cemetery's listings.
Some reports also listed his name as Schwester or Chivester, due to misreading of handwritten records.
(78) 2nd Lieutenant Edward S. Scott (89th Ohio Infantry, Company G) - He was captured at Chickamauga on September 20, 1863. At age 21, he successfully escaped from Libby Prison with Captain Wesley Adams and Lieutenant Edgar Higby.
He was promoted to 1st Lieutenant on March 19, 1864. He was wounded on July 20, 1864 at the Battle of Peachtree Creek in Georgia.
Scott was appointed adjutant on September 20, 1864. He mustered out with his regiment on June 7, 1865.
(79) 1st Lieutenant Godwin Scudmore (80th Illinois Infantry, Company A) - He was captured at Rome, Georgia on May 3, 1863.
He successfully escaped from Libby Prison after wandering in the swamps surrounding Richmond for several days and nights.
He was promoted to Captain but not mustered. He mustered out on August 31, 1864.
In various records, his first name has appeared as Goodwin and his last name as Scuttermore and Scudamore.
(80) 2nd Lieutenant Horace B. Seeley (86th New York Infantry, Company K) - He was captured at Gettysburg on July 1, 1863. He was promoted to 1st Lieutenant on July 2, 1863 and then to Captain on May 15, 1865.
He escaped from Libby Prison, but he was recaptured. He was transferred to Danville, Virginia on May 7, 1864 and from there to Columbia, South Carolina.
Seeley was wounded on May 10, 1864 at Po River, Virginia in what may have been another escape attempt. He was placed on the sick list for the loss of a great toe.
He was paroled on March 1, 1865. He developed rheumatism and kidney disease while in prison, requiring hospitalization after his parole.
He was promoted to 1st Lieutenant on July 2, 1863 and then to Captain on May 15, 1865. He mustered out on June 27, 1865.
He is not listed in Hamilton's published account. Seeley's personal account of the Libby Prison escape is transcribed here.
Gindlesperger says he died August 10, 1904 in Addison, New Jersey. There is no Addison in New Jersey. There is one in New York. However, there was a Horace Bradley Seeley who was a Captain for the 86th New York who died in 1895 and he is buried in Edgewood Cemetery in Missouri.
(81) 1st Lieutenant John D. Simpson (10th Indiana Infantry, Company H) - He was a nephew of General Robert Anderson and he served as an aide to General Fry and General Steadman.
He was captured at Chickamauga on September 20, 1863.
Simpson was in the final tunnel group only. He escaped from Libby Prison, but he was recaptured. He was transferred to Macon, Georgia on May 7, 1864, and from there to Columbia and then Charleston, South Carolina, where he was placed on the list of sick and convalescent prisoners, suffering from general debility. He was paroled on December 10, 1864 and then discharged on December 19, 1964.
(82) 1st Lieutenant Melville Rench Small (6th Maryland Infantry, Company H) - He was captured at Harper's Ferry, Virginia on July 19, 1863 while in the process of a court martial for unspecified charges. He escaped from Libby Prison, but he was recaptured 2 days later.
He was paroled on April 30, 1864, returning to his regiment on June 7, 1864.
He is also listed as Adj’t M. R. Small.
Small died of complications from wounds to his left leg suffered at Cedar Creek. Gindlesperger says he died on October 19, 1864 but his tombstone says he died on November 17, 1864. He is buried in Rose Hill Cemetery in Hagerstown, Maryland.
(83) Captain Edmund L. Smith (19th U. S. Infantry, Company G) - He was captured at Chickamauga on September 20, 1863.
He escaped from Libby Prison, but he was recaptured about 4 days later at Charles City Crossroads with Lt. James H. Gageby and Lt. Adam Hauf after being run down by bloodhounds. His recapture was published in the Richmond Sentinel on February 15, 1864, six days after the escape.
Smith was transferred to Macon, Georgia on May 7, 1864 and from there to Charleston and Columbia, South Carolina, from where he was paroled.
He was awarded brevet major on September 20, 1863 for gallantry and meritorious service at Chickamauga, for having taken command of the 19th U.S. after the commander was badly wounded. He resigned his commission on July 23, 1867.
He died on September 11, 1891.
(84) Lt. Colonel John P. Spofford (97th New York Infantry) - He was captured at Gettysburg on July 1, 1863.
At age 45, he escaped from Libby Prison, but he was recaptured two days later.
Spofford was transferred to Macon, Georgia on May 7, 1864 and from there to Charleston.
He 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 paroled on August 3, 1864, suffering from rheumatism and general debility.
Spofford was promoted to colonel on February 18, 1865. He mustered out on July 18, 1865 at camp in Field, Virginia. He was promoted brevet brigadier general USV (war service) on March 13, 1865.
He had been wounded in the side, with a fractured rib, at Hatcher's Run on February 6, 1865.
He died on August 28, 1884.
He was listed as Col. S. P. Spofford at the time of the escape.
(85) Captain George H. Starr (104th New York Infantry, Company D) - He was captured at Gettysburg on July 1, 1863. He was 24 years old when he escaped from Libby Prison; however, he was recaptured the next day.
He was transferred to Macon, Georgia on May 7, 1864. He escaped from Macon in July 1864, but he was recaptured and transferred to Columbia, South Carolina. He eventually escape again in October 1864.
Starr was aided in his flight to Union lines by a woman who had two sons in the Confederate army, telling Starr that she hoped someone would do the same for her sons if they were ever captured.
He mustered out on January 6, 1865.
(86) 1st Lieutenant John Sterling (30th Indiana Infantry, Company A) - He was captured at Chickamauga on September 20, 1863.
He was 28 years old when he successfully escaped from Libby Prison.
He was rescued 19 days after the escape, on February 28, 1864, by the USS Ella at Blackstone Island, in Potomac River, with Major Bedan McDonald, Colonel Abel Straight and Captain William W. Scearce.
He mustered out on September 29, 1864.
(87) Colonel Abel D. Streight (51st Indiana Infantry) - He was captured at Rome, Georgia on May 3, 1863.
He successfully escaped from Libby Prison. He was suffering from what was described as general debility at the time of escape.
He was rescued 19 days after the escape, on February 28, 1864, by the USS Ella at Blackstone Island, in Potomac River, with Major Bedan McDonald, Captain William W. Scearce and Lieutenant John Sterling.
Streight returned to duty in May 1864. He took command of the First Brigade, Third Division, Fourth Corps on November 17, 1864, relieving Colonel John A. Martin. He was promoted brevet brigadier general on March 13, 1865. He resigned his commission on March 16, 1865.
He was erroneously credited for many years with being the mastermind behind the escape.
Streight died on May 26, 1892. He is buried in Crown Hill Cemetery in Indianapolis, Indiana.
(88) 1st Lieutenant Lewis Sutherland (126th Ohio Infantry) - He was captured at Germantown Ford (Locust Grove) Virginia on November 27, 1863.
Sutherland was 33 years old when he escaped from Libby Prison. He lost his boots while fording a stream during the escape and wandered several days in sub-freezing temperatures in his bare feet. He was recaptured about 4 days later.
After his return to Libby Prison, he was confined in a basement cell for eight days and nights, resulting in severe rheumatism.
He was transferred to Macon, Georgia on May 7, 1864 and from there to Charleston and Columbia, South Carolina, from where he attempted another escape on November 1, 1864. He was run down by bloodhounds and returned to Columbia , from where he escaped again three weeks later, this time successfully. He reached Union lines at Knoxville.
He was promoted to Captain on June 27, 1864. He was discharged on June 17, 1865. He also served as adjutant.
A farmer, he died of dropsy in 1904 in Smithfield, Ohio.
He was listed in one account as L.D. Sutherland and also as Lewis W. Sutherland.
(89) 1st Lieutenant John W. Thomas (2nd Ohio Infantry) - He was captured at Chickamauga on September 20, 1863. He was 23 years old when he successfully escaped from Libby Prison. He reported back to his regiment on April 20, 1864.
He was erroneously listed in Libby records as G.W. Thomas of the 10th Wisconsin Infantry.
Thomas had been promoted to 1st Lieutenant to replace W.S.B. Randall, another Libby escapee, when Randall was promoted to Captain.
He was killed in battle before Atlanta on July 20, 1864.
(90) Colonel Charles W. Tilden (16th Maine Infantry) - He had also served in the 2nd Maine Infantry in 1861 as a 1st Lieutenant and Captain.
While in the 16th Maine Infantry, he was captured at Gettysburg on July 1, 1863.
He successfully escaped from Libby Prison. He was captured again at Weldon Railroad on August 19, 1864. He escaped while en route to Libby Prison for the second time, rejoining his regiment three nights later.
Tilden was badly wounded on February 6, 1865 at Hatchers's Run, and was officially recognized for returning the next day to lead his regiment despite his severe pain.
He was brevetted Brigadier General on March 13, 1865. His command was honored for gallantry and steadiness while under fire at Fredericksburg, the regiment's first battle. The 16th Maine and Colonel Tilden's leadership were held up as an example for more veteran regiments.
He mustered out on June 5, 1865.
He died in 1914.
(91) 1st Lieutenant Morton F. Tower (13th Massachusetts Infantry, Company B) - He was captured at Gettysburg on July 1, 1863.
Age 23, he successfully escaped from Libby Prison. He suffered from chronic diarrhea as a result of his confinement.
He was promoted to Captain on October 23, 1863. He mustered out on August 1, 1864 as Captain of Company C.
He died on November 1, 1914 in Oregon and is buried in Marshfield Pioneers Cemetery in Coos Bay, Oregon.
(92) Captain Samuel A. Urquhart (C.S., 6th Corps) - He was born in Trenton, New Jersey on July 2, 1839. His family moved to Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania when he was about 12.
He served in the Civil War and had the unlucky distinction of being captured on two different occasions and sent to Libby Prison.
Urquhart's experiences in his own words:
"When Colonel Sturdevant entered the army entered the army in 1861 I went with him as clerk. In the spring of 1862, I was commissioned 1st Lieutenant of cavalry and aide de camp to General Slocum. I was commissioned Commissary of Subsistence on the staff of General Bartlett. I was on duty about 15 days and on October 2, 1862 I was taken prisoner by Col. John S. Mosby near Fairfax.
I remained at Libby Prison, Richmond
He was captured at Chatilly, Virginia on October 15, 1863.
He escaped from Libby Prison, but was recaptured. He was sent north on March 21, 1864.
Urquhart was brevetted Major on July 7, 1865 for efficient and meritorious service, and was ultimately promoted to Colonel. He mustered out on July 7, 1865.
After the war, he served as vice president of the Libby Prison Tunnel Association.
He lived in Pittson, Pennsylvania for 24 years.
He was a locomotive engineer for the Lehigh Valley Railroad until his failing health, caused by conditions he suffered in Libby, forced him to take lighter work.
He died at his son's home in Wilkes Barre on June 3, 1909 and he is buried in Forty Fort Cemetery in Forty Fort, Pennsylvania.
I couldn't find him in the CWSS.
(93) Major Alexander T. Von Mitzel (74th Pennsylvania Infantry) -
Alex T. Von Witzel in Hamilton's account
(94) Major Ivan T. Walker (73rd Indiana Infantry) -
(95) 2nd Lieutenant Robert P. Wallace (120th Ohio Infantry, Company E) -
(96) 1st Lieutenant Albert Wallber (26th Wisconsin Infantry, Company I)
(97) Captain William Wallick (51st Indiana Infantry, Company G) -
(98) 2nd Lieutenant John M. Wasson (40th Ohio Infantry, Company G) - he was recaptured 2 days later
(99) 1st Lieutenant William L. Watson (21st Wisconsin Infantry, Company G)- he was recaptured the next day -_ listed as 1st Lt. W. L. Watson at the time of the escape
(100) 2nd Lieutenant James M. Wells (8th Michigan Cavalry, Company F) -
(101) Lt. Colonel Theodore S. West (24th Wisconsin Infantry) -
(102) 1st. Lieutenant Albert Benton White (4th Pennsylvania Cavalry, Company F) - he was recaptured 2 days later; listed as 1st. Lt. A.B. White, A. Benton White and Albert B. White;
(103) 2nd Lieutenant Plympton. A. White (83rd Pennsylvania Infantry, Company D) - he was recaptured 2 days later;
(104) 1st Lieutenant William H. H. Wilcox (10th N. Y. Zouaves) - he was recaptured about 4 days later; the article misidentifies him as a member of the cavalry when he was in the infantry; articles often referred to him as W.H.H. Wilcox and even Harry Wilcox; he was a lieutenant at the time of the escape but was a brevet captain earlier in the Civil War
(105) Captain James E. Wilkins (112th Illinois Infantry, Company I) -
(106) 2nd Lieutenant Leander Williams (73rd Infantry, Company K) -
(107) 2nd Lieutenant William A. Williams (123rd Ohio Infantry, Company H)