Escape from Libby Prison

the long version

Mere words could never grasp completely the prison's conditions, the mental states of the prisoners, or what they went through to make their escape. We can only imagine the despair the unfortunate ones felt who were recaptured, knowing that not only were they going back into the prison they had worked so hard to escape, but that they also would probably be treated worse than before for having fled. Of the 109 who escaped from Libby Prison on February 9, 1864, 48 were successful in reaching Union lines. Few of those who made their way out through the tunnel did so without being bitten by the rats in Rat Hell. The prisoners who were unable to get out through the tunnel would report that they were told the next day by several guards that the guards had seen the men exiting through the gate but didn't bother them. They assumed it was their own men sneaking out after stealing items from the prisoners' packages!