THE IMMORTAL SIX HUNDRED
and wounded men. We cannot feed them; we cannot care for them." But Secretary Stanton said "No, we will make no exchange; our men in your hands must suffer." The Union prisoners of war in all the Southern prisons were fed the same ration that was given the Confederate soldier in the field. What more could the Confederates do? General Lee, in an order, said "all wounded on the field must be treated alike; all prisoners of war must be treated humanely"; and the Confederate Congress passed a law to this effect. Mr. Stanton and General Grant both said "We cannot, we will not, exchange prisoners of war. The South cannot feed our men; we cannot get any benefits from exchange, while the men we return to the South only help to swell Lee's army. Our men must suffer for the good of those who are now contending with the terrible Lee"; and these officials in Washington found it cheaper to starve Confederate soldiers in Northern prisons than fight them on the battle-
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