Libby Prison Escapees - Surnames Starting with H
(36) Captain Jacob S. Hagler (5th Tennessee Infantry, Company F) - He was born about 1823. He was captured in Morgan County, Tennessee on May 21, 1863. Hagler was 41 years old when he escaped from Libby Prison. He was recaptured after his Libby Prison escape and sent to Macon, Georgia on May 7, 1864. He was paroled on March 1, 1865. He can't be found in the CWSS.
Maj. Hamilton's published account in 1893 of the Libby Prison escape lists a Capt. J.C. Hall of the 112th Illinois Infantry. He is not listed in Gindlesperger's book.
(37) Captain Andrew G. Hamilton (12th Kentucky Cavalry, Company A) - He was captured at Jonesboro, Tennessee on September 20, 1863. He was in both the original and final tunnel parties, leading the escape from Libby Prison with Colonel Rose. Hamilton successfully escaped and his account was published in Story of the Famous Tunnel Escape from Libby Prison (possibly in 1893). He included a list of 104 of the escaped prisoners.
He was commissioned as Major on November 1, 1863 while in Libby, but never mustered in. He resigned on June 5 1865.
Hamilton was shot to death in Morgantown, Kentucky on April 3 1895. Sam Spencer and Alfred Belcher (who confessed) were indicted for the crime. A large article was published about Hamilton and the circumstances of his death. According to Belcher:
"Spencer and I were together last night most of the night. We were here attending court as witnesses, and live in Warren County...We left for the whiskey house just outside the town. We saw two men sitting near the roadside. One of them asked us where we were going. We replied that it was none of his --- business. The man started toward us, and I told him to stop. The second man raised up and called to his companion to come back. He did not do so, but came on to me and I knocked him down.
"As I knocked him down, Spencer fired at the other man who fell on his face. Spencer ran. I followed and brought him back. Spencer and I, assisted by the friend of the wounded man, helped the wounded man up, but he could not stand and could not speak. We laid him down and left. The man we found him with was drunk and did not give his name. He said the wounded man was Maj. Hamilton. I did not know that Spencer was going to shoot. The pistol found there was the one I had. We were drunk..."
Hamilton was buried in Mount Carmel Cemetery in Kentucky.
(38) Captain Thomas Handy (79th Illinois Infantry, Company F) - He was captured at the Battle of Chickamauga on September 20, 1863. He escaped Libby Prison but was recaptured and transferred to Macon, Georgia and from there to at least one other prison camp. He was paroled on December 10, 1864. He mustered out on May 29, 1865.
He died on August 10, 1870 and he is buried in Marshall, Illinois.
(39) 2nd Lieutenant David H. Harris (3rd Ohio Infantry, Company E) - He was born Wales and worked in Cincinnati as an iron worker in a rolling mill.
He was captured in Rome, Georgia on May 3, 1863. He was 26 years old when he successfully escaped from Libby Prison, reaching Fort Monroe on February 14, 1864. He mustered out on June 21, 1864.
He also is listed in records as D.H. Harris
After his escape, he suffered from general debility, rheumatism, catarrh, stomach disease, heart disease, liver disease, kidney disease and impaired eyesight.
He died at age 70 on March 13, 1908.
(40) 2nd Lieutenant John D. Hatfield (53rd Illinois Infantry, Company H) - He had been shot in the lower jaw on October 5, 1862 in a skirmish at Hatchie Bottom, Tennessee.
He was captured at Jackson, Mississippi on July 12, 1863. He successfully escaped from Libby Prison, reaching Union lines near Washington, D.C.
Hatfield was promoted to Captain on March 29, 1865. He mustered out on July 22, 1865
(41) 1st Lieutenant Adam Hauf (45th New York Infantry, Company H) - He was born in Germany and said that his name was really Hanf, but that it had been transcribed incorrectly. He finally got tired of trying to get it corrected.
He listed his occupation as "sugar" maker.
Half also served in the 5th New York State Militia. He was captured at Gettysburg on July 1, 1863.
He was 31 years old during the Libby Prison escape. He was recaptured during the Libby Prison escape with Lt. James Gageby and Capt. Edmund Smith after being run down by bloodhounds. His recapture was published in the Richmond Sentinel on February 15, 1864, six days after the escape; the article misidentifies him as a member of the cavalry when he was in the infantry.
Hauf spent several weeks in cells after his return to Libby. He was transferred to Macon, Georgia on May 7, 1864 and from there to Charleston, South Carolina and Columbia, South Carolina. From there, he was exchanged on March 1, 1865.
He suffered from general debility, rheumatism, scurvy and dysentery. He was discharged on March 11, 1865.
He suffered from chronic alcoholism later in life.
(42) Lt. Colonel Edwin Lewis Hayes (100th Ohio Infantry) - Earlier in the war, Hayes had also served as captain in the 44th Illinois Infantry (aka North Western Rifles), suffering wounds at Pea Ridge, Arkansas.
He was captured at Limestone Station, Tennessee on September 8, 1863. He was 44 years old when he escaped from Libby Prison, but he was recaptured.
He was transferred to Macon, Georgia on May 7, 1864, and from there to Andersonville, Georgia and Charleston, South Carolina, from where he was paroled and exchanged on August 3, 1864.
Hayes was one of several prisoners moved into the line of Union bombardment while at Charleston, in a Confederate attempt to halt the artillery fire.
As a result of his prison diet, he suffered from dysentery and chronic diarrhea, which caused severe hemorrhaging and loss of blood.
He was promoted to Colonel on January 2, 1865, but not mustered. He was brevetted Brigadier General on January 12, 1865. He resigned May 20, 1865.
Hayes was appointed governor of North Carolina during the Reconstruction.
The oldest remaining Union general, he died at Glen Ridge, New Jersey on January 1, 1917. He was buried in Bloomfield Cemetery in Bloomfield, New Jersey.
(Note: He is not listed in Major Hamilton's report).
(43) Major John Henry (5th Ohio Cavalry) - Henry was honored in official records of Colonel W.H. Morgan for his skill and assistance in establishing a defense in a skirmish at Davis' Mill on December 21, 1862.
He was captured at Hernando, Mississippi on June 19, 1863 with 75 of his men, while leading a demonstration. He was accused by some of gross carelessness for allowing his detachment to become surrounded and surprised.
At age 35, he escaped from Libby Prison, but was recaptured. He was promoted to Lt. Colonel on March 1, 1864. He was paroled on April 30, 1864.
He was granted leave on June 26, 1864 for treatment of severe neuralgia and lumbago acquired while in prison. He mustered out on November 18, 1864.
Henry returned to professional lecturing after the war.
He was commissioned as Major on November 1, 1863 while in Libby, but never mustered in. He resigned on June 5 1865.
Hamilton was shot to death in Morgantown, Kentucky on April 3 1895. Sam Spencer and Alfred Belcher (who confessed) were indicted for the crime. A large article was published about Hamilton and the circumstances of his death. According to Belcher:
"Spencer and I were together last night most of the night. We were here attending court as witnesses, and live in Warren County...We left for the whiskey house just outside the town. We saw two men sitting near the roadside. One of them asked us where we were going. We replied that it was none of his --- business. The man started toward us, and I told him to stop. The second man raised up and called to his companion to come back. He did not do so, but came on to me and I knocked him down.
"As I knocked him down, Spencer fired at the other man who fell on his face. Spencer ran. I followed and brought him back. Spencer and I, assisted by the friend of the wounded man, helped the wounded man up, but he could not stand and could not speak. We laid him down and left. The man we found him with was drunk and did not give his name. He said the wounded man was Maj. Hamilton. I did not know that Spencer was going to shoot. The pistol found there was the one I had. We were drunk..."
Hamilton was buried in Mount Carmel Cemetery in Kentucky.
(38) Captain Thomas Handy (79th Illinois Infantry, Company F) - He was captured at the Battle of Chickamauga on September 20, 1863. He escaped Libby Prison but was recaptured and transferred to Macon, Georgia and from there to at least one other prison camp. He was paroled on December 10, 1864. He mustered out on May 29, 1865.
He died on August 10, 1870 and he is buried in Marshall, Illinois.
(39) 2nd Lieutenant David H. Harris (3rd Ohio Infantry, Company E) - He was born Wales and worked in Cincinnati as an iron worker in a rolling mill.
He was captured in Rome, Georgia on May 3, 1863. He was 26 years old when he successfully escaped from Libby Prison, reaching Fort Monroe on February 14, 1864. He mustered out on June 21, 1864.
He also is listed in records as D.H. Harris
After his escape, he suffered from general debility, rheumatism, catarrh, stomach disease, heart disease, liver disease, kidney disease and impaired eyesight.
He died at age 70 on March 13, 1908.
(40) 2nd Lieutenant John D. Hatfield (53rd Illinois Infantry, Company H) - He had been shot in the lower jaw on October 5, 1862 in a skirmish at Hatchie Bottom, Tennessee.
He was captured at Jackson, Mississippi on July 12, 1863. He successfully escaped from Libby Prison, reaching Union lines near Washington, D.C.
Hatfield was promoted to Captain on March 29, 1865. He mustered out on July 22, 1865
(41) 1st Lieutenant Adam Hauf (45th New York Infantry, Company H) - He was born in Germany and said that his name was really Hanf, but that it had been transcribed incorrectly. He finally got tired of trying to get it corrected.
He listed his occupation as "sugar" maker.
Half also served in the 5th New York State Militia. He was captured at Gettysburg on July 1, 1863.
He was 31 years old during the Libby Prison escape. He was recaptured during the Libby Prison escape with Lt. James Gageby and Capt. Edmund Smith after being run down by bloodhounds. His recapture was published in the Richmond Sentinel on February 15, 1864, six days after the escape; the article misidentifies him as a member of the cavalry when he was in the infantry.
Hauf spent several weeks in cells after his return to Libby. He was transferred to Macon, Georgia on May 7, 1864 and from there to Charleston, South Carolina and Columbia, South Carolina. From there, he was exchanged on March 1, 1865.
He suffered from general debility, rheumatism, scurvy and dysentery. He was discharged on March 11, 1865.
He suffered from chronic alcoholism later in life.
(42) Lt. Colonel Edwin Lewis Hayes (100th Ohio Infantry) - Earlier in the war, Hayes had also served as captain in the 44th Illinois Infantry (aka North Western Rifles), suffering wounds at Pea Ridge, Arkansas.
He was captured at Limestone Station, Tennessee on September 8, 1863. He was 44 years old when he escaped from Libby Prison, but he was recaptured.
He was transferred to Macon, Georgia on May 7, 1864, and from there to Andersonville, Georgia and Charleston, South Carolina, from where he was paroled and exchanged on August 3, 1864.
Hayes was one of several prisoners moved into the line of Union bombardment while at Charleston, in a Confederate attempt to halt the artillery fire.
As a result of his prison diet, he suffered from dysentery and chronic diarrhea, which caused severe hemorrhaging and loss of blood.
He was promoted to Colonel on January 2, 1865, but not mustered. He was brevetted Brigadier General on January 12, 1865. He resigned May 20, 1865.
Hayes was appointed governor of North Carolina during the Reconstruction.
The oldest remaining Union general, he died at Glen Ridge, New Jersey on January 1, 1917. He was buried in Bloomfield Cemetery in Bloomfield, New Jersey.
(Note: He is not listed in Major Hamilton's report).
(43) Major John Henry (5th Ohio Cavalry) - Henry was honored in official records of Colonel W.H. Morgan for his skill and assistance in establishing a defense in a skirmish at Davis' Mill on December 21, 1862.
He was captured at Hernando, Mississippi on June 19, 1863 with 75 of his men, while leading a demonstration. He was accused by some of gross carelessness for allowing his detachment to become surrounded and surprised.
At age 35, he escaped from Libby Prison, but was recaptured. He was promoted to Lt. Colonel on March 1, 1864. He was paroled on April 30, 1864.
He was granted leave on June 26, 1864 for treatment of severe neuralgia and lumbago acquired while in prison. He mustered out on November 18, 1864.
Henry returned to professional lecturing after the war.
(44) 2nd Lieutenant Edgar Judiah Higby (33rd Ohio Infantry, Company C) - He was captured at Chickamauga on September 20, 1863. He successfully escaped from Libby Prison with Captain Wesley Adams and Lieutenant Edward Scott. Sadly, he was killed just three months later on May 14, 1864 at Resaca, Georgia at the age of 21.
Major Hamilton's account says his name was Lt. E.J. Higley (Higby) of the 23rd Ohio Infantry.
Author Gindlesperger wrote that he was buried at Chattanooga, Tennessee; however, he was buried at Grandview Cemetery in Chillicothe, Ohio.
His tombstone transcription says:
Lieutenant Edgar J. Higby
33rd Regt. O. V. I.
who fell at the battle
of Resaca GA., May 14, 1864
Aged 21 Yrs. 2 Mo.
Major Hamilton's account says his name was Lt. E.J. Higley (Higby) of the 23rd Ohio Infantry.
Author Gindlesperger wrote that he was buried at Chattanooga, Tennessee; however, he was buried at Grandview Cemetery in Chillicothe, Ohio.
His tombstone transcription says:
Lieutenant Edgar J. Higby
33rd Regt. O. V. I.
who fell at the battle
of Resaca GA., May 14, 1864
Aged 21 Yrs. 2 Mo.
(45) 1st Lieutenant Henry H. Hinds (57th Pennsylvania Infantry, Company A) - He was captured at Gettysburg on July 2, 1863 when his company was overrun at Sherfy House, near the peach orchard. He is listed as 1st Lt. H. H. Hines in Major Hamilton's account. He was recaptured 2 days after escaping from Libby Prison.
He was transferred to Macon, Georgia on May 7, 1864. Hinds was placed on the list of sick, suffering from bronchitis and transferred to Columbia, South Carolina. He was paroled on March 1, 1865. He was wounded at Chancellorsville. He was promoted to captain and discharged on May 15, 1865.
He died February 7, 1925 and was buried in Forest Hill Cemetery in Stanton, Michigan.
(46) Lt. Colonel Harrison Carroll Hobart (21st Wisconsin Infantry) - He was captured at Chickamauga on September 20, 1863. He successfully escaped from Libby with Lieutenant Colonels Theodore West and Joseph Boyd, reaching Union Lines after five days and six nights in the swamps. Promoted to Colonel March 1, 1864 and to Brigadier General of U.S. Volunteers on January 12, 1865. He had also served as captain of the 4th Wisconsin Infantry in the early part of the war. He mustered out on June 8, 1865.
Before the war, he had been leader in the Wisconsin House of Representatives and a candidate for governor. He was considered the father of the Homestead Law, adopted by many states.
After the war, he served as president of the Libby Prison Tunnel Association. He was selected by escapees, along with Col. William McCreery, to be spokesman at a group meeting with President Lincoln after the escape.
He died on January 26, 1902. He was buried in Forest Home Cemetery in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Maj. Hamilton's published account listed him as H.C. Hobert.
(47) Major J. Harris Hooper (15th Massachusetts Infantry) - He had prior service as a private in the 13th New York State Militia from April 13, 1861 to August 6, 1861. Hooper had later served the Massachusetts Infantry. He had been commissioned as lieutenant colonel on July 4, 1863 but was not mustered.
Hooper had been declared missing in action at Ball's Bluff, Virginia. He was wounded on December 13, 1862 at Fredericksburg, Virginia He was captured at White Plains, Virginia on July 26, 1863. He successfully escaped from Libby Prison, aged 24, and returned to his regiment on March 28, 1864. Hooper also was wounded on June 22, 1864 near Petersburg, Virginia. He mustered out on July 28, 1864.
He was transferred to Macon, Georgia on May 7, 1864. Hinds was placed on the list of sick, suffering from bronchitis and transferred to Columbia, South Carolina. He was paroled on March 1, 1865. He was wounded at Chancellorsville. He was promoted to captain and discharged on May 15, 1865.
He died February 7, 1925 and was buried in Forest Hill Cemetery in Stanton, Michigan.
(46) Lt. Colonel Harrison Carroll Hobart (21st Wisconsin Infantry) - He was captured at Chickamauga on September 20, 1863. He successfully escaped from Libby with Lieutenant Colonels Theodore West and Joseph Boyd, reaching Union Lines after five days and six nights in the swamps. Promoted to Colonel March 1, 1864 and to Brigadier General of U.S. Volunteers on January 12, 1865. He had also served as captain of the 4th Wisconsin Infantry in the early part of the war. He mustered out on June 8, 1865.
Before the war, he had been leader in the Wisconsin House of Representatives and a candidate for governor. He was considered the father of the Homestead Law, adopted by many states.
After the war, he served as president of the Libby Prison Tunnel Association. He was selected by escapees, along with Col. William McCreery, to be spokesman at a group meeting with President Lincoln after the escape.
He died on January 26, 1902. He was buried in Forest Home Cemetery in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Maj. Hamilton's published account listed him as H.C. Hobert.
(47) Major J. Harris Hooper (15th Massachusetts Infantry) - He had prior service as a private in the 13th New York State Militia from April 13, 1861 to August 6, 1861. Hooper had later served the Massachusetts Infantry. He had been commissioned as lieutenant colonel on July 4, 1863 but was not mustered.
Hooper had been declared missing in action at Ball's Bluff, Virginia. He was wounded on December 13, 1862 at Fredericksburg, Virginia He was captured at White Plains, Virginia on July 26, 1863. He successfully escaped from Libby Prison, aged 24, and returned to his regiment on March 28, 1864. Hooper also was wounded on June 22, 1864 near Petersburg, Virginia. He mustered out on July 28, 1864.