On February 9, 1864 the largest mass prisoner-of-war escape in American history took place when 109 Union officers tunneled their way out of the Confederacy's infamous Libby Prison in Richmond, using only the crudest of tools. This story of bravery, determination, and refusal to quit under what must have seemed to be insurmountable odds is reported in meticulous detail in Escape From Libby Prison. For the first time ever, the names of the escapees are listed, with brief biographies of each man and a note telling whether he was able to escape of if he was recaptured. This book won the 1996 George Washington Honor Medal for Excellence, was featured in a Discovery Channel documentary, and the film rights were optioned by Warner Brothers. After renewing the option for several years, Warner Brothers decided not to pursue the project any further, and United Artists is now reviewing a proposal to pick up the screen rights.
