Libby Prison, a notorious Confederate warehouse-turned-prison during the American Civil War, housed thousands of captured Union officers in cramped and deplorable conditions. Yet, within its walls, a daring escape plan took root, orchestrated by the indomitable Colonel Thomas Rose. Rose's story is one of meticulous planning, unwavering determination, and the resilience of the human spirit in the face of captivity.

Upon his capture at the Battle of Chickamauga in 1863 and subsequent arrival at Libby, Rose harbored only one desire: escape. He found a kindred spirit in Major A.J. Hamilton, and together they devised a plan to dig a tunnel out of the prison's basement, a fetid area known as "Rat Hell." Secrecy was paramount. Working in shifts, Rose and his fellow prisoners used shovels fashioned from scrap metal and boards to conceal the excavated dirt. The tunnel, painstakingly dug over several months, stretched an estimated 50 yards, barely wide enough for a man to crawl through.

The chosen night for the escape arrived on February 9th, 1864. A loud musical performance outside the prison provided much-needed cover for the escapees. One by one, 109 Union officers, including Rose, squeezed through the cramped tunnel and emerged outside the prison walls. Freedom, however, remained elusive. The escape was discovered the next morning, and a frantic search ensued.

While some escapees managed to evade capture and reach Union lines, Rose's own odyssey fell short. He was recaptured just miles from safety. Despite the setback, his leadership and resourcefulness had secured the success of the escape. Even within Libby's walls again, Rose remained unbowed. He was eventually exchanged for a Confederate officer in April 1864, returning to his regiment to continue the fight.

The Libby Prison escape, masterminded by Colonel Thomas Rose, stands as a testament to human ingenuity and the unwavering pursuit of liberty. The escape, though not a complete success for Rose himself, stands as a significant event in Civil War history, a testament to the indomitable spirit of the prisoners and the strategic brilliance of its architect, Colonel Thomas Rose.
00:00 Introduction
01:36 Escape from Libby Prison
06:01 A Little Background for You
07:32 Who was Thomas Rose?
13:08 The Breakthrough
16:27 The Special Roll Call
19:12 The Great Escape
25:25 Back to Libby
27:05 The Forgotten History

свернуть