From the Richmond Sentinel, 12/30/1863

The Libby Prison. - Although the Northern journals have blazoned forth the fact that the prison, even to the walls, is infested with vermin, yet nothing can be further from the truth. The statement is characteristic of their usual mendacity. Every precaution is used by the prison authorities to promote the cleanliness of the persons there confined. The floors are regularly scoured with sand and water, the walls kept constantly whitewashed; abundance of water is furnished, and the entire prison fumigated with tar every day. There are certainly no vermin in the rooms when assigned to prisoners, and if they exist at all, then it is from the fact that they are brought there by the prisoners themselves, among whom are many whose naturally filthy habits preclude them from being free of such pests.

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