Libby Prison, August 1863

[John Hartwell]

I don't know if this has been posted before. It claims to be "the only picture in existence," but I seems to me I have seen others.

Courtesy USMHM.

 

[James N.]

Well, there's always the photo this print was based on....

 

[BillO]

Probably the only picture in print at the time of publishing but I've seen several different ones, possibly on this site.

 

[Henry Whitworth]

Why, it looks a charming place! Perhaps we'll book a room when the kids are back from Camp Douglas.

 

[John Hartwell]

It's an engraving done about 1882 (date of copyright). On the back are the names of several officers (CS and US) and a couple of prisoners, who "hereby certify that this picture is what it purports to be."

 

[Henry Whitworth]

Expired Image Removed

There's this one with, I believe, the Stars and Stripes on the pole. I think this may be from shortly after the fall of Richmond?

 

[Henry Whitworth]

Expired Image Removed Here are two that show the sign in different locations.

 

[JPK Huson 1863]

 

[Henry Whitworth]

This is an amazing one. Libby can be seen in the wreckage of Richmond. Green arrow.

Expired Image Removed

 

[JPK Huson 1863]

 

[BillO]

Never believe an officer, politician or lawyer. A good simple rule to live by. Used car salesmen and preachers should be suspect as well.

 

[JPK Huson 1863]

It's one of the most haunting images, Libby. So many men, so many stories. Tend to save photos of it. Love the one with the sign, as if anyone could mistake it!

 

[JPK Huson 1863]

Someone posted a before/after photo of Carey St. somewhere. It made the topic even more haunting, gosh, really gets to you. Looks like mostly alleys and parking lots, the kind of place you drive through looking around making sure another car isn't coming, sure as heck not thinking about Libby. I'm honestly not referring to North V South or how awful prisons were, all of them were, just the men vanishing from Time here. Like a giant eraser took them, not a conflict and disease and violence.

Thanks for posting that @John Hartwell . Is it an engraving or one of those weird things they did where someone kind of drew on a photograph? You see some portraits like that, where the subject has been almost cartoonishly ( it's a word ) enhanced.

 

[John Hartwell]

On the back it is stated to be an engraving "from the Original Photograph, taken August 23, 1863." Which is obviously the first picture in your post # 6. It is a very close copy, down to some very small detail, while it is also quite a bit "cleaned up" -- it may be something of an 1880's "photoshop" equivalent. Anyway, the engraver can't be accused of taking "Artistic License."

I wonder just when those bottom floors were whitewashed.

jno

 

[Rob9641]

My great great grandfather and great great great grandfather were prisoners there for a time, in June 1863, on their way to Belle Isle. Thanks for the photos.

 

[JPK Huson 1863]

On the back it is stated to be an engraving "from the Original Photograph, taken August 23, 1863." Which is obviously the first picture in your post # 6. It is a very close copy, down to some very small detail, while it is also quite a bit "cleaned up" -- it may be something of an 1880's "photoshop" equivalent. Anyway, the engraver can't be accused of taking "Artistic License."

I wonder just when those bottom floors were whitewashed.

jno

That's a great question! Was whitewashing a way to prevent insect infestations hence fend them off tobacco leaves? You see other tobacco warehouses have received the same treatment. And trees? I'm unclear if trees in modern times use some insecticide with it- orchards useit as do homeowners. OR was it a way to keep the temperature down a far as possible in a place they could range quite high in the summer? Humid heat might be terrible for drying leaves, the cooler they were while drying the better? All guesses here.

 

[John Hartwell]

Apparently, it was whitewashed while in use as a prison, some time after that August 1863 photo. I was thinking it might help date some photos: early/late war.

It probably had some relation to its use as a prison. Possibly making anyone skulking around outside more visible?

I'm also curious as to just how the guards were placed. It was in the middle of a city (albeit a "warehouse district"). Prisoners were forbidden to look out the windows -- some were shot by guards for standing too close to one (talk about misery on a hot summer's day!) So some guards must have stood well back from the walls to keep better watch. Yet, photos don't seem, to show it "cordoned off" at all. Street traffic must have been interrupted.

 

[JPK Huson 1863]

Apparently, it was whitewashed while in use as a prison, some time after that August 1863 photo. I was thinking it might help date some photos: early/late war.

It probably had some relation to its use as a prison. Possibly making anyone skulking around outside more visible?

I'm also curious as to just how the guards were placed. It was in the middle of a city (albeit a "warehouse district"). Prisoners were forbidden to look out the windows -- some were shot by guards for standing too close to one (talk about misery on a hot summer's day!) So some guards must have stood well back from the walls to keep better watch. Yet, photos don't seem, to show it "cordoned off" at all. Street traffic must have been interrupted.

Oh my gosh, we are so lucky- one of the accounts written by one of the officers, maybe Colonel Thomas Rose, can't remember, is so hair raising you can't stand it. Hamilton? Rats, now I'll have to dig it out and read it again- it's super! There's an exact description of where all the guards were posted, times they made their rounds ( I don't think any were not in motion outside the prison? ) and how many were posted across from Libby. It was really pretty intense. The tunnel ended up coming up within sight of the place from what I remember, or at least fairly close to it.

We owe an awful lot to that book or publication- a description of the prison, its routine, conditions, prisoners- and the guards' charming habit of taking pot shots into windows, yes. It's always amazed me there's never been a feature film of Rose's master minded plan- incredible. Hate to get stuck back in that story. You simply do not put it down once opened.

Whitewashing prisons does make a lot of sense from the escaping point of view. Not sure they thought the idea all the way through since it made them awfully easy to spot for anyone planning a rescue. The photo where Libby is still a tobacco warehouse is from the 1850's apparently although the internet being what it is.... I should have sourced it, oops, have had it forever. One of the Virginia on-line Encyclopedias.

 

[John Hartwell]

I'd like to see that source (Thos. Rose, or whatever). The only one I've read, Prison Life in the Tobacco Warehouse at Richmond (printed in 1862) describes the warehouse at the very beginning of its use as a prison. I'be been researching several men who were captured at Ball's Bluff, in Oct. 1861, and sent there -- all were paroled by June '62.

jno

 

[JPK Huson 1863]

Sure! I'll dig it out- there's a briefer one sans the meticulous escape plans on-line, the account I'm referring to may be in one of the ' Great Escape ' books I have on Audio- promise to go skim through it today. Crazy good. Rose was the chief mastermind, 15 others ( I think ) accomplices then on escape day each could choose a certain number of friends to take with them. More went out, having discovered the tunnel.

It is surprising to me the story isn't a Civil War best seller? Yes, a lot of incredible stories through those years but this is one of the most enthralling, beginning to end. Ever see Steve McQueen in " The Great Escape ", based on a true story from WW2? One of my all time favorites ( tied with Jimmy Stewart in ' Harvey ' ). Easily that good a story.