History’s Greatest Escapes with Morgan Freeman returns with another amazing stories with, “Tunneling to Freedom,” airing on History on Monday, September 9, 2024. The episode looks into a remarkable prison break during the Civil War, led by Colonel Thomas Rose, that freed hundreds of captured Union soldiers from the confines of Libby Prison in Richmond, Virginia.
Libby Prison was considered escape-proof, but Colonel Rose, a former schoolteacher turned soldier, engineered a daring plan involving a tunnel in a rat-infested zone, an area the Confederate guards avoided. The tunnel’s exit point was strategically chosen to allow the prisoners to walk out through a gate without arousing suspicion. Taking advantage of the reduced vigilance by the authorities, 109 prisoners escaped, with 59 successfully reaching Union lines. Unfortunately, 49 were recaptured, two drowned in the James River, and Colonel Rose was among those captured.
Undeterred, Colonel Rose made a final bold attempt to escape his Confederate captors but was unsuccessful. He was returned to Libby Prison, where he remained until his exchange on April 30, 1864. Rose’s determination and leadership during this prison break are a testament to his character. He rejoined the war effort and was brevetted Brigadier General in July 1865. Today, he rests in Arlington National Cemetery.
History’s Greatest Escapes with Morgan Freeman: Tunneling to Freedom airs on Monday, September 9, 2024, at 9:00 PM on History.
