Libby Prison Escapees - Surnames C Through D
(9) Captain David Stidmond Caldwell (123rd Ohio Infantry, Company H) - He also was known as D.S. Caldwell. He was a member of the 123rd Ohio Infantry. He was captured at Winchester, Virginia on June 15, 1863, with nearly his entire regiment. This was his (and his regiment's) first battle. He was 42 years old when he escaped from Libby Prison. He is listed as Capt. D.S. Caldwell in Major Hamilton's account.
He rejoined his regiment on March 30, 1864. He was elected by the other prisoners to serve as the unofficial chaplain of Libby Prison. He was discharged on July 24, 1864. He died September 6, 1889 in Nevada, Ohio and he was buried in Nevada Cemetery in Nevada, Ohio. (10) Captain Henry B. Chamberlain (97th New York Infantry, Company I) - Henry enlisted as a private in the 97th New York Infantry and rose to the rank of Captain.
He was captured at Gettysburg on July 2, 1863. He was 27 year old when he successfully escaped from Libby Prison. He is listed as H.B. Chamberlain in Major Hamilton's account. He was wounded at Weldon Railroad, Virginia on August 19, 1864. He mustered out on February 25, 1865. He served in the marines from 1857 to 1859, 34th New York Infantry from June to November 1861 and as lieutenant in the 108th U.S. Colored Infantry from August 17, 1865 to March 21, 1866. He died June 20, 1877. He was buried in Mountain Grove Cemetery and Mausoleum in Bridgeport, Connecticut. (11) Captain Terrence Clark (79th Illinois Infantry, Company A) - He was born May 17, 1839 in Monroe County, Ohio.
He was a Captain in the 79th Illinois Infantry and rose to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He was captured at Chickamauga on September 20, 1863. He was in both the original and final tunnel groups. He successfully escaped from Libby Prison. He was promoted to Major on March 21, 1864 and to Lieutenant Colonel on September 5, 1864. He resigned January 24, 1865 and became a highly successful banker in civilian life. He died of heart disease on December 19, 1909 in Metcalfe, Illinois. He was buried in Edgar Cemetery in Paris, Illinois. (12) Major Joseph P. Collins (29th Indiana Infantry) - He started as a Captain in the 29th Indiana Infantry and rose to the rank of Major. He was captured at Chickamauga on September 20, 1863. He successfully escaped from Libby Prison and is noted as Maj. J.P. Collins in Major Hamilton's account.. He had also served as captain of Company D. He was mentioned in an official report of the Battle of Stone River for "...fighting nobly and gallantly..." after he took command when his lieutenant colonel became separated from the regiment. He also was singled out in the Official Records for his coolness and general gallantry at Chickamauga. He died of typhoid fever on October 5, 1864 in Chattanooga, Tennessee. (Note: he is mentioned in a 1914 article as visiting the city of Chicago, Illinois, which would mean he died after 1864 as mentioned in the book). He was buried in Ganshorn Cemetery in Bourbon, Indiana. (13) 1st Lieutenant Henry B. Crawford (2nd Illinois Cavalry) - He was captured at Hernando, Mississippi on June 19, 1863 while on a scouting mission. He had been hospitalized on November 9, 1863 for rheumatism and again on July 21, 1864 for dysentery, both for unknown periods of time. When he was 41 years old, he escaped from Libby Prison, but he was recaptured about 4 days later (In Major Hamilton's account, he's listed as Lt. H. P. Crawford; he's also referred to as Henry B. Crawford, Henry P. Crawford, H.J. Crawford and H.P. Crawford). He was transferred Macon, Georgia on May 7, 1864 and from there to Charleston, South Carolina. He was exchanged on March 25, 1865. Crawford was promoted to Captain and discharged on June 24, 1865. In civilian life, he was a physician. |
14) Captain Thomas Cummings (19th U.S. Infantry, Company A) - He was from Pennsylvania.
He was captured at Chickamauga on September 20, 1863, where he also was wounded. He was brevetted Major on the same day for gallantry and meritorious service at Chickamauga. He escaped from Libby Prison, he is noted as Capt. T. Cummings in Major Hamilton's account. He was recaptured. Cummings was paroled on March 26, 1864. He was cashiered on December 31, 1869, reinstated on unassigned list on March 28, 1870. He resigned on July 5, 1870. (15) 1st Lieutenant William A. Dailey (8th PA Cavalry) - he was recaptured 2 days later; listed as 1st Lt. W.A. Daly; Gindlesperger says his name is William A. Daily; there isn't anyone in the 8th PA Cavalry listed on CWSS by either spelling. His name on his tombstone is spelled William A. Dailey and is listed as having a final rank of First Lieutenant in CWSS. In Major Hamilton's account, he is listed as Lt. W.N. Daily. He died September 16, 1916 and was buried in Lansdale Cemetery in Lansdale, Pennsylvania. (16) Captain George C. Davis (4th Maine Infantry, Company F) - He was born about 1842. Davis was captured at Gettysburg on July 2, 1863. He was 22 years old when he successfully escaped from Libby Prison. He suffered wounds at Fredericksburg while leading his company in the assault of Marye Heights on December 13, 1862. He mustered out with his regiment. He died in 1911. (Note: There is no George C. Davis, but a George G. Davis in the CWSS). (17) Captain Robert Henry Day (56th Pennsylvania Infantry, Company D) - He was born September 25, 1835 in Bridgewater Township, Pennsylvania. He entered the services of the Erie Railroad in 1849. In 1865, he joined the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and had been an honorary member of the organization since 1911. He became the first road foreman of the Norfolk and Western Railway in 1882. He was wounded in the hip and back at the Second Battle of Bull Run on August 29, 1862. He was promoted to Captain June 13th 1863 of the 56th Pennsylvania Infantry. He was captured in July 2, 1863 at Gettysburg. He escaped from Libby Prison but was later recaptured. He was transferred to Macon, Georgia on May 7, 1864. He was moved from there to Columbia, South Carolina. He was sent North on December 8, 1864. He was discharged on January 10, 1865 and received several citations for gallantry. His wife was Velona Louise Taylor and they had a son, Arthur Taylor Day. He died Jan. 11, 1929 in Roanoke City, Virginia at the age of 94 after a brief illness. In his obituary, he is noted as the "last surviving member of the group of federal prisoners that tunneled their way to freedom from the Libby Prison at Richmond in 1865." Day Avenue in Old Southwest was named in his honor. He was buried in Evergreen Burial Park in Roanoke City, Virgnia. On Saturday, May 23, 2015, the Joshua L. Chamberlain Camp #20 Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War Roanoke, VA honored Major Robert H. Day in a ceremony and memorial service at Evergreen Burial Park |