THE IMMORTAL SIX HUNDRED
the front; that they loathed their positions as jailors over helpless, starving men, over whose treatment they had no control. We wrote Colonel Brown a petition on one occasion, asking him to come into our prison and see our actual condition. His reply was, "I cannot come and see the suffering of my fellow man which I am completely powerless to modify or prevent. My requests for you have all been ignored by headquarters; I can do nothing to alleviate your condition." On Sunday inspection Colonel Brown and his staff would rush through our prison like they were glad to get away from the sight of cruelty presented to them.
I want to say a few words for Colonel Brown's wife. One day, in a fit of desperation, I wrote Colonel Brown a note, asking him to grant me an interview. To my surprise, on the following day he granted it. A sergeant conducted me to his office quarters. The Colonel received me politely. I told him I had an uncle in St. Louis, St. Andrew Mur-
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