Escapes
Information about prison escapes in Richmond, VA during the Civil War

Written Accounts

1901-07-04, National Tribune; Van Lew mansion to become a club house
1901-12-08, Richmond Dispatch; description of the escape of Richard R. "Dick" Turner from Libby Prison, after the close of the war. Includes engraving of Turner
1902-01-25, Richmond Times; former Union spy, once held in Castle Thunder, and member of a plot to kidnap Jefferson Davis, is here in Richmond doing Civil War research
1902-06-29, Washington Times; long article about the Van Lew house in Richmond and Elizabeth Van Lew’s wartime career as a spy – many biographical details
1902-07-06, Richmond Dispatch; editorial column dismissing the story of Miss Van Lew’s secret chamber, and denigrating her wartime service
1902-08-05, Richmond Times; former Libby Prison appeals his alimony suit on the point that he escaped through the Libby Prison tunnel
1902-08-14, Richmond Dispatch; man released from jail (for not paying his wife $4,000 in alimony) on the basis of his being a Libby Prison tunnel escapee
1902-08-14, Richmond Times; former Libby Prison tunneler is released from jail, charge with failure to pay alimony, based on the fact that he suffered in Libby
1902-10-10, Richmond Times; prisoner in Libby Prison is paroled to work for the Richmond Whig, setting type, in 1863
1902-10-23, National Tribune; notes from a former Libby Prisoner, who commanded the prison after the occupation of Richmond; mentions Dick Turner being imprisoned there.

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