Robert P. Watson, Distinguished Professor of American History at Lynn University in Boca Raton, FL, is the author of many books on American history and politics including, most recently, The Nazi Titanic: The Untold Story of a Doomed Ship in World War II,,The Ghost Ship of Brooklyn: The Untold Story of the American Revolution, and Affairs of State, The Untold Story of Presidential Love, Sex, and Scandal, 1789-1900.

Richmond’s Libby Prison has long been described as “notorious”—the Abu Ghraib of the Confederacy. This deeply researched, well written page-turner at last helps us understand why, offering gruesome details about mistreatment, abusive and sadistic staff, and hideous conditions. Robert Watson has added to this a compelling story about an extraordinary breach of Libby’s equally notorious security, and the result is an important contribution to Civil War literature that manages to unfold like a thriller.

• PrefacePrologue: The TunnelPart I: War1 “The Great Unpleasantness”2 Libby & Son3 “What Is to Be Done with the Prisoners?”4 To WarPart II: Prison5 “The Castle of Despair”6 Captured7 “All Hope Abandon, Ye Who Enter Here”8 The Libby LyceumPart III: Tunnel9 “The Underground Road to Liberty”10 “Rat Hell”11 Close Calls12 The Evil TurnersPart IV: Escape13 Desperation14 “Godspeed!”