Libby Prison Escapees - Surnames I Through L
(48) Capt. Francis Irsch (45th New York Infantry, Company D) - He was hospitalized for an unknown length of time on April 26, 1863 for an unspecified illness.
Kirsch was captured at Gettysburg on July 1, 1863. At 23 years old, he escaped from Libby Prison, but he was recaptured 2 days later with 2nd Lieutenant Edgar Schroeders. He was transferred to Macon, Georgia on May 7, 1864 and from there to Danville and then to Charleston, South Carolina. He was paroled on March 1, 1865. He was discharged on May 15, 1865.
He was awarded the Medal of Honor for heroism at Gettysburg for "gallantry in flanking the enemy and capturing a number of prisoners and in holding a part of the town against heavy odds while the Army was rallying on Cemetery Hill."
In some accounts he is listed as Capt. F. Irch.
(49) Engineer Isaac Johnson (Gunboat USS Satellite) - He was from New York and also served on the USS Cambridge. He was captured in Rappahannock River on August 23, 1863. He escaped from Libby Prison, but he was recaptured 2 days later;
He was transferred to Macon, Georgia on May 7, 1864. From there he was moved to Savannah and then to Charleston and from there he was paroled.
Johnson would report that he never had a blanket while in Libby, and had gone for 145 days without meat at one stretch.
He was found guilty of cowardice during the capture of his ship by the Naval Board of Inquiry, with several other officers. The hearing found that he had stayed in his cabin and offered no resistance during the capture. He resigned on December 30, 1864.
Johnson was lost at sea in March 1866 on the steamship Juno of the Murray Ferris Line. All onboard perished in the accident.
(50) Captain I.N. Johnston (6th Kentucky Infantry, Company H) - He had been severely wounded in the face at Shiloh on April 7, 1862 while leading a charge. He was mentioned in Colonel W.C. Whitaker's official report on Battle of Stones River for gallant conduct and efficient service.
He was captured at Chickamauga on September 20, 1863. He was originally believed to have been killed in action and was reported as such by Brigadier General W.B. Hazel.
Johnston was in both the original and final tunnel groups and successfully escaped from Libby Prison. He mustered out with his regiment on December 31, 1864 at Nashville, Tennessee.
(51) Captain David J. Jones (1st Kentucky Infantry, Company D) - He was captured at Graysville, Georgia on September 10, 1863 in a skirmish with Confederate cavalry.
He successfully escaped from Libby Prison and returned to duty on April 9, 1864, following a short leave to recover from the rigors of his imprisonment. He mustered out with his company on June 18, 1864 at Covington, Kentucky.
Maj. Hamilton's published account does not list him.
(52) Colonel W.P. Kendrick (3rd West Tennessee Cavalry) - He was captured at Corinth, Mississippi on June 10, 1863.
He successfully escaped from Libby Prison.
Little is known about Kendrick as his regiment did not exist as it is listed and his name does not appear on any Tennessee regimental rosters. The information concerning his escape was taken from Libby Prison register and other sources, all of which list his name and regiment in this manner.
Kendrick is known to have written a letter to President Lincoln just 12 days after the escape, telling him of conditions at Libby and Belle Isle and imploring the president to do something before more prisoners died.
(53) Captain John Lucas (5th Kentucky Infantry, Company F) - He was captured at Chickamauga on September 20, 1863. Lucas, 27 at the time, was in both the original and final tunnel parties and escaped from Libby Prison, but was recaptured. He was transferred to Camp Asylum at Columbia, South Carolina, from where he escaped on November 29, 1864. He reached Union Lines at Lenore Station, East Tennessee. He was discharged on January 13, 1865.
He had also served as adjutant of his regiment. He was originally listed as killed in action at Chickamauga.
Kirsch was captured at Gettysburg on July 1, 1863. At 23 years old, he escaped from Libby Prison, but he was recaptured 2 days later with 2nd Lieutenant Edgar Schroeders. He was transferred to Macon, Georgia on May 7, 1864 and from there to Danville and then to Charleston, South Carolina. He was paroled on March 1, 1865. He was discharged on May 15, 1865.
He was awarded the Medal of Honor for heroism at Gettysburg for "gallantry in flanking the enemy and capturing a number of prisoners and in holding a part of the town against heavy odds while the Army was rallying on Cemetery Hill."
In some accounts he is listed as Capt. F. Irch.
(49) Engineer Isaac Johnson (Gunboat USS Satellite) - He was from New York and also served on the USS Cambridge. He was captured in Rappahannock River on August 23, 1863. He escaped from Libby Prison, but he was recaptured 2 days later;
He was transferred to Macon, Georgia on May 7, 1864. From there he was moved to Savannah and then to Charleston and from there he was paroled.
Johnson would report that he never had a blanket while in Libby, and had gone for 145 days without meat at one stretch.
He was found guilty of cowardice during the capture of his ship by the Naval Board of Inquiry, with several other officers. The hearing found that he had stayed in his cabin and offered no resistance during the capture. He resigned on December 30, 1864.
Johnson was lost at sea in March 1866 on the steamship Juno of the Murray Ferris Line. All onboard perished in the accident.
(50) Captain I.N. Johnston (6th Kentucky Infantry, Company H) - He had been severely wounded in the face at Shiloh on April 7, 1862 while leading a charge. He was mentioned in Colonel W.C. Whitaker's official report on Battle of Stones River for gallant conduct and efficient service.
He was captured at Chickamauga on September 20, 1863. He was originally believed to have been killed in action and was reported as such by Brigadier General W.B. Hazel.
Johnston was in both the original and final tunnel groups and successfully escaped from Libby Prison. He mustered out with his regiment on December 31, 1864 at Nashville, Tennessee.
(51) Captain David J. Jones (1st Kentucky Infantry, Company D) - He was captured at Graysville, Georgia on September 10, 1863 in a skirmish with Confederate cavalry.
He successfully escaped from Libby Prison and returned to duty on April 9, 1864, following a short leave to recover from the rigors of his imprisonment. He mustered out with his company on June 18, 1864 at Covington, Kentucky.
Maj. Hamilton's published account does not list him.
(52) Colonel W.P. Kendrick (3rd West Tennessee Cavalry) - He was captured at Corinth, Mississippi on June 10, 1863.
He successfully escaped from Libby Prison.
Little is known about Kendrick as his regiment did not exist as it is listed and his name does not appear on any Tennessee regimental rosters. The information concerning his escape was taken from Libby Prison register and other sources, all of which list his name and regiment in this manner.
Kendrick is known to have written a letter to President Lincoln just 12 days after the escape, telling him of conditions at Libby and Belle Isle and imploring the president to do something before more prisoners died.
(53) Captain John Lucas (5th Kentucky Infantry, Company F) - He was captured at Chickamauga on September 20, 1863. Lucas, 27 at the time, was in both the original and final tunnel parties and escaped from Libby Prison, but was recaptured. He was transferred to Camp Asylum at Columbia, South Carolina, from where he escaped on November 29, 1864. He reached Union Lines at Lenore Station, East Tennessee. He was discharged on January 13, 1865.
He had also served as adjutant of his regiment. He was originally listed as killed in action at Chickamauga.