The Greatest Escape: A True American Civil War Adventure

The Greatest Escape: A True American Civil War Adventure

by Douglas Miller
The Greatest Escape: A True American Civil War Adventure

The Greatest Escape: A True American Civil War Adventure

by Douglas Miller

Hardcover

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Overview

The Greatest Escape: A True American Civil War Adventure tells the story of the largest prison breakout in U.S. history. It took place during the Civil War, when more than 1,200 Yankee officers were jammed into Libby, a special prison considered escape-proof, in the Confederate capitol of Richmond, Virginia. A small group of men, obsessed with escape, mapped out an elaborate plan and one cold and clear night, 109 men dug their way to freedom. Freezing, starving, clad in rags, they still had to travel 50 miles to Yankee lines and safety. They were pursued by all the white people in the area, but every Black person they encountered was their friend. In every instance, slaves risked their lives to help these Yankees, and their journey was aided by a female-led Union spy network.

Since all the escapees were officers, they all could read and write well. Over 50 of them would publish riveting accounts of their adventures. This is the first book to weave together these contemporary accounts into a true-to-life narrative. Much like a Ken Burns documentary, this book uses the actual words the prisoners recorded more than 150 years ago, as found in their many diaries and journals.


Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781493051823
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Publication date: 02/01/2021
Pages: 304
Sales rank: 422,269
Product dimensions: 6.20(w) x 9.10(h) x 1.50(d)

About the Author

Douglas Miller is a documentary filmmaker and writer/producer on more than twenty documentaries aired on the History Channel, the Discovery Channel, and Showtime, notably the series The Color of War, Modern Marvels, and Boneyards. He lives in Studio City, CA.

Table of Contents

Prologue vii

Chapter 1 Captured 1

Chapter 2 On to Richmond 7

Chapter 3 Fresh Fish 15

Chapter 4 The Prison and the City 29

Chapter 5 Chickamauga and Colonel Rose 37

Chapter 6 Libby Life 45

Chapter 7 Elizabeth Van Lew 61

Chapter 8 Colonel Rose Takes Over 73

Chapter 9 Tight Fit 83

Chapter 10 From Skirmishing to Catechism 91

Chapter 11 The Final Tunnel 111

Chapter 12 Acts of Cool Daring 117

Chapter 13 Exertions Almost Superhuman 131

Chapter 14 The Hospital 139

Chapter 15 Trapped in Rat Hell 145

Chapter 16 Big Mistake 155

Chapter 17 Breakthrough 161

Chapter 18 Breakout 167

Chapter 19 First Night 175

Chapter 20 A Day of Amused Excitement 183

Chapter 21 A Bare Chance 189

Chapter 22 Saved by Slaves 197

Chapter 23 Pluck and Luck 205

Chapter 24 Freedom 217

Chapter 25 Rose and Streight 225

Chapter 26 Make All the Damn Noise You Please 235

Chapter 27 Aftermath 241

Epilogue: Two Buildings 247

Notes 251

Bibliography 265

Index 271

About the Author 278

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