Libby Prison Escapees - Surnames Starting with T-V
(89) 1st Lieutenant John W. Thomas (2nd Ohio Infantry) - He was captured at Chickamauga on September 20, 1863. He was 23 years old when he successfully escaped from Libby Prison. He reported back to his regiment on April 20, 1864.
He was erroneously listed in Libby records as G.W. Thomas of the 10th Wisconsin Infantry.
Thomas had been promoted to 1st Lieutenant to replace W.S.B. Randall, another Libby escapee, when Randall was promoted to Captain.
He was killed in battle before Atlanta on July 20, 1864.
(90) Colonel Charles W. Tilden (16th Maine Infantry) - He had also served in the 2nd Maine Infantry in 1861 as a 1st Lieutenant and Captain.
While in the 16th Maine Infantry, he was captured at Gettysburg on July 1, 1863.
He successfully escaped from Libby Prison. He was captured again at Weldon Railroad on August 19, 1864. He escaped while en route to Libby Prison for the second time, rejoining his regiment three nights later.
Tilden was badly wounded on February 6, 1865 at Hatchers's Run, and was officially recognized for returning the next day to lead his regiment despite his severe pain.
He was brevetted Brigadier General on March 13, 1865. His command was honored for gallantry and steadiness while under fire at Fredericksburg, the regiment's first battle. The 16th Maine and Colonel Tilden's leadership were held up as an example for more veteran regiments.
He mustered out on June 5, 1865.
He died in 1914.
(91) 1st Lieutenant Morton F. Tower (13th Massachusetts Infantry, Company B) - He was captured at Gettysburg on July 1, 1863.
Age 23, he successfully escaped from Libby Prison. He suffered from chronic diarrhea as a result of his confinement.
He was promoted to Captain on October 23, 1863. He mustered out on August 1, 1864 as Captain of Company C.
He died on November 1, 1914 in Oregon and is buried in Marshfield Pioneers Cemetery in Coos Bay, Oregon.
(92) Captain Samuel A. Urquhart (C.S., 6th Corps) - He was born in Trenton, New Jersey on July 2, 1839. His family moved to Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania when he was about 12.
He served in the Civil War and had the unlucky distinction of being captured on two different occasions and sent to Libby Prison.
Urquhart's experiences in his own words:
"When Colonel Sturdevant entered the army entered the army in 1861 I went with him as clerk. In the spring of 1862, I was commissioned 1st Lieutenant of cavalry and aide de camp to General Slocum. I was commissioned Commissary of Subsistence on the staff of General Bartlett. I was on duty about 15 days and on October 2, 1862 I was taken prisoner by Col. John S. Mosby near Fairfax.
He was captured at Chatilly, Virginia on October 15, 1863.
He escaped from Libby Prison, but was recaptured. He was sent north on March 21, 1864.
Urquhart was brevetted Major on July 7, 1865 for efficient and meritorious service, and was ultimately promoted to Colonel. He mustered out on July 7, 1865.
After the war, he served as vice president of the Libby Prison Tunnel Association.
He lived in Pittson, Pennsylvania for 24 years.
He was a locomotive engineer for the Lehigh Valley Railroad until his failing health, caused by conditions he suffered in Libby, forced him to take lighter work.
He died at his son's home in Wilkes Barre on June 3, 1909 and he is buried in Forty Fort Cemetery in Forty Fort, Pennsylvania.
I couldn't find him in the CWSS.
(93) Major Alexander T. Von Mitzel (74th Pennsylvania Infantry) -
Alex T. Von Witzel in Hamilton's account
He was erroneously listed in Libby records as G.W. Thomas of the 10th Wisconsin Infantry.
Thomas had been promoted to 1st Lieutenant to replace W.S.B. Randall, another Libby escapee, when Randall was promoted to Captain.
He was killed in battle before Atlanta on July 20, 1864.
(90) Colonel Charles W. Tilden (16th Maine Infantry) - He had also served in the 2nd Maine Infantry in 1861 as a 1st Lieutenant and Captain.
While in the 16th Maine Infantry, he was captured at Gettysburg on July 1, 1863.
He successfully escaped from Libby Prison. He was captured again at Weldon Railroad on August 19, 1864. He escaped while en route to Libby Prison for the second time, rejoining his regiment three nights later.
Tilden was badly wounded on February 6, 1865 at Hatchers's Run, and was officially recognized for returning the next day to lead his regiment despite his severe pain.
He was brevetted Brigadier General on March 13, 1865. His command was honored for gallantry and steadiness while under fire at Fredericksburg, the regiment's first battle. The 16th Maine and Colonel Tilden's leadership were held up as an example for more veteran regiments.
He mustered out on June 5, 1865.
He died in 1914.
(91) 1st Lieutenant Morton F. Tower (13th Massachusetts Infantry, Company B) - He was captured at Gettysburg on July 1, 1863.
Age 23, he successfully escaped from Libby Prison. He suffered from chronic diarrhea as a result of his confinement.
He was promoted to Captain on October 23, 1863. He mustered out on August 1, 1864 as Captain of Company C.
He died on November 1, 1914 in Oregon and is buried in Marshfield Pioneers Cemetery in Coos Bay, Oregon.
(92) Captain Samuel A. Urquhart (C.S., 6th Corps) - He was born in Trenton, New Jersey on July 2, 1839. His family moved to Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania when he was about 12.
He served in the Civil War and had the unlucky distinction of being captured on two different occasions and sent to Libby Prison.
Urquhart's experiences in his own words:
"When Colonel Sturdevant entered the army entered the army in 1861 I went with him as clerk. In the spring of 1862, I was commissioned 1st Lieutenant of cavalry and aide de camp to General Slocum. I was commissioned Commissary of Subsistence on the staff of General Bartlett. I was on duty about 15 days and on October 2, 1862 I was taken prisoner by Col. John S. Mosby near Fairfax.
He was captured at Chatilly, Virginia on October 15, 1863.
He escaped from Libby Prison, but was recaptured. He was sent north on March 21, 1864.
Urquhart was brevetted Major on July 7, 1865 for efficient and meritorious service, and was ultimately promoted to Colonel. He mustered out on July 7, 1865.
After the war, he served as vice president of the Libby Prison Tunnel Association.
He lived in Pittson, Pennsylvania for 24 years.
He was a locomotive engineer for the Lehigh Valley Railroad until his failing health, caused by conditions he suffered in Libby, forced him to take lighter work.
He died at his son's home in Wilkes Barre on June 3, 1909 and he is buried in Forty Fort Cemetery in Forty Fort, Pennsylvania.
I couldn't find him in the CWSS.
(93) Major Alexander T. Von Mitzel (74th Pennsylvania Infantry) -
Alex T. Von Witzel in Hamilton's account