Milford chronicle., 1935-07-05
THE LIBBY PRISON KEY

Among the noteworthy relics dis
played at the home of Mr.. and Mrs,
Rodney Sharp at RehObOth on Old
Sussex Day, was the Libby Prison
Key. This key opened the exit door
through which more than 12,5OO
prisoners passed.
C. w. Jarrett, Bratten Heights, is
the owner of the key which has been
in his family since 1862. The fol-
| lowing is the authentic and attested
history of this relic:
Libby Prison in Richmond. Va, re-
ceiyed its name from the following
circumstance: The building was
originally a warehouse. After the
first battle of Bull Run so many
Federal prisoners were taken to
Richmond that it was necessary for
the Confederates to provide large
buildings for their confinement. Gen.
J. H. Winder, in command at the
city. notified Libby, the owner of the
warehouse, that he would take pos
session of the building within 4S
hours. BY an oversight the sign OF
Libby & Son" was left hanging up.
Thus the building became known as
Libby prison.
COmrade William Jarrett was
member of Company B, Fifth Penn
sylYania Reserves. having enlisted
from Northumberland, Pa. During
the seven days battle in front Of
Richmond in June. 1862. Jarrett and
Joseph Martin. from the same COM
pany and 'neighbOrhoOd in Pennsyl- !
vania, were taken prisoners and con- !
fined in Libby prison. After an i'm !
prisOnment of about two months, Ow-
ing to the crowded condition of the |
prison. a number of the prisoners !
were transferred to Belle Isle. where !
they we're afterwards exchanged and
sent to Camp Parole, near Alexan
dria, Va, and from Camp Parole they !
rejOined their company and It was
at the time of leaving Libby prison
that COmrade Jarrett became the
possessor Of the large key that open
ed the exit door of Libby prison. /
During the march out from the
prison Jarrett noticed the large key
lad been earelessly left in the door
md in an instant his mind conceived
he idea of possessing it, so when
III was in confusion from the trans
er of the prisoners Jarrett unper-
'eived. by any Of the guards or fell
ow prisoners procured the key and
it about his person. On
eaehing Belle Isle ne eOnflded to
dartin that he had taken the key
nd showed IL to him. Martin at
nee realized the dangerous position
n which Jarrett would be placed il
he key was found in his possession,
nd told Jarrett that undoubtedly
here would be a search made among
be prisoners for the key and then
is life would be in danger. Jarrett
BOX the key and buried 1t in the
and Of the island. and sure enough
S soon as the loss Of the key was
call for a thorough
saroh Of the prisoners was issued
nd the search was made, but the key
as not found le
A few days later a second search
as made but the key lay quietly 1
lried in4the sand. When the prison
IS were exchanged and sent to :
leir own company, Jarrett dug the
sy up and succeeded in getting to {
IS eompany withait still In his pos I
issi0n, and when ne sent a package 7
)me he placed the key Ia It and II ,
ached its destinati0n in safety. I
Irrett was always proud OF his dar- (
8 feat and in various Grand Army v
unions he was always a welcomed &
sitor and the story Of how he cap
red the key to Libby prison was e
,tened to with great interest by 4
mrades and friends Of the old sol 4
er. q