Prisoners of War
Information on Prisoners of War in Richmond, VA during the Civil War

Written Accounts

1904-09-15, National Tribune; poem written by Col. Bartleson (KIA at Wilderness) on the wall of Libby Prison
1906-03-08, National Tribune; 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.
1906-06-28, National Tribune; man claims to be the one that caught and killed the dog at Belle Isle and ate it.
1906-08-30, National Tribune; 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.
1906-09-06, National Tribune; a veteran of Richmond prisons asks questions about them. Pemberton, the Belle Isle sutler, and the dog-slaying incident are mentioned.
1907-02-28, National Tribune; 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.
1907-03-07, National Tribune; more debate about the last people to leave Libby Prison before the city fell.
1907-05-30, National Tribune; more debate about the last Yankees to leave Libby Prison.
1909, "With Touch of Elbow"; David Wells (8th Mich. Cav.) gives an excellent account of Libby Prison and his escape through the famous tunnel.
1918-06-22, New York Evening World; highly fanciful account of the wartime career of Elizabeth Van Lew – includes the “Crazy Betty” story

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