From the Richmond Dispatch, 2/19/1863, p. 1, c. 4

Escape of Prisoners – The following prisoners confined in the city jail, dug out of their cells about 1 o’clock on Tuesday, and traversing the old causeway or gutter under the edifice, made their way to the rear of the building and escaped through the coal hole of the “work-house” department — the members of the City Battalion appointed to watch them having retired under a shed out of sight to avoid the rain which was falling at the time — viz: George W Elam, charged with forging and passing forged Confederate States Treasury notes; Wm Reid, charged with stealing a $25 overcoat, belonging to G R Howard, in company with John T Smith; Albert Manning, a swindling substitute agent; Jas McQuade, charged with the larceny of money from Robert Lumpkin; and Samuel Blake, charged with stealing $200 worth of clothing, belonging to Wm. M. Blackford Captain of Engineers on Gen. Jackson’s staff. When the guard happened to look out of their covert they espied several other felons ready to follow the example of their levanting comrades, and stopped them. The guards who permitted the prisoners to escape were put in confinement for trial by Court-Martial.

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