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Wisconsin Solider Escapes from
Prison with help from Richmond Woman
Frank Moore wrote in 1866 about a Wisconsin Civil War solider experience with a noble Richmond woman. At the battle of Chickamauga in Georgia, he along with three thousand other Union soldiers were taken prisoner and transported to the Libby Prison in Richmond, VA. While in the prison hospital, he met a young lady who did all the planning and part of the execution of what would ultimately be his escape.
She sent a bag of tobacco to him with a note at the bottom that said: "Would you be free? Then be prepared to act. Meet me tomorrow at ___." The meeting took place and in a few hasty words her plan unfolded. A subsequent note, told him he could arrange for a single comrade to join him. It gave short, but specific directions for the future.
The plan involved faking a sickness and his death, in order to pass the guards. It was timed so, that on the appointed day four of his fellow-prisoners carried him between blankets to the "dead house" beyond the guards, but still within the high fenced enclosure. He laid there, "dead as a nit," from midday until dusk, all the time fearing that some troublesome guard might peep in, or a real dead one would be brought, and his deception disclosed; but neither happened. Meanwhile, a sham fight was started in another part of the enclosure among a lot of prisoners, this drew the guards from their legitimate line, during which he left the "dead house" and signaled his comrade by throwing pebbles at the hut where he was safely stowed. The two proceeded to scale the high fence by one clambering upon the shoulders of the other, reaching the top, then drawing up the other. After a while they reached the place appointed by the lady, where she joined them and as directed they follow her at a distance so that they were able to keep in view the white handkerchief she carried in her hand. They followed her for twenty-five blocks, where she led them into her father's house. Until now, the father did not know what his daughter was doing, but he received the rescued men cordially and quickly got to work to get them safely off to the North. He procured passes, for which he had to pay twenty-five hundred dollars in Confederate currency. In a few days, disencumbered of everything that could possibly expose the former prisoners, he furnished them a carriage so they could set forth for the Federal lines, which they reached on the 23d of December, 1863. Once, on the road, they were stopped and examined by Confederate detectives, but there was no apparent reason for their detention, so they were allowed to proceed.
Do you know of a similar experience?
To share your story, write it up and drop it off at the Iowa County Historical Society Museum 1-4 p.m. any weekday or E-MAIL it to IowaCountyScrapbook@gmail.com. If you would rather, you can call the Iowa County Historical Society at 935-7694.