Libby Prison Confederate 1865

The prison was located in a three-story brick warehouse on Tobacco Row.

Prior to use as a jail, the warehouse had been leased by Capt. Luther Libby and his son George W. Libby. They operated a ship's chandlery and grocery business.

Libby Prison, used only for Union officers, opened in 1861. It contained eight rooms, each 103 by 42 feet (31.4 by 12.5 metres). Lack of sanitation  and overcrowding caused the death of many prisoners between 1863 and 1864. Because of the high death toll, Libby Prison is generally regarded as second in notoriety only to Andersonville Prison in Georgia.

In 1864, the Union prisoners were moved to Macon, Georgia, and Libby Prison was then used for Confederate military criminals.

After the occupation of Richmond in 1865 the prison was used by Union authorities for detaining former Confederate officers. Conditions were reportedly less harsh than they had been for Union officers or prisoners of both sides generally during the war.