From the Richmond Examiner, 2/12/1866, p. 3, c. 4

WHOLESALE ESCAPE FROM LIBBY PRISON. – Late on Saturday night, thirty of the negro prisoners (men), confined in the negro quarters of the Libby Prison, effected their escape by following the example of others who had gone before – digging through the partition wall and letting themselves into the feed store on the eastern wing of the Prison. From this point their final exit was easy. It is said the guard, who was stationed over the prisoners with instructions to shoot the first one who attempted to escape, made no effort to detain the prisoners. All the prisoners in this quarter might have escaped, but they refused to leave, esteeming, probably, their condition inside better then it might be outside. The prisoners who escaped were mostly charged with theft. – Two had been recaptured up to last evening.

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