Rose was born at Bucks County, Pennsylvania on March 12, 1830, and spent his early years educating himself across several schools and academies with the help of his father.

[3][4] Rose was determined to not spend his final days of the war there and began devising ways to escape due to the extremely poor living conditions there such as no beds, sparse rations and the temperature constantly being cold there.

[4] Rose formed a group of 15 men to begin digging a tunnel to the sewer line at the prison at an unused storage basement room that was infested with rats.

[4] Their tools consisted of meager supplies such as a table knifer, an auger, a chisel, a couple of spoons or even their bare hands as two men would take turns digging the tunnel each day.

[4] Reportedly, Rose was so obsessed with freedom that he was digging 24/7 one day and would only take small breaks for air before going back down and covering the tunnel with a wooden plank.

[4] The next day, the Confederates found out about the escapees and John H. Winder suspected that the guards that night were all bribed and called for their arrests as well as the searching of all of their money.