THE IMMORTAL SIX HUNDRED
General Foster did not state all the facts in his telegram to Washington City, nor did he think proper to await the due course of mail, but wired General Halleck a garbled and false statement of the facts in the case. (See War Records, Vol. XXXV, part 2, p. 141.)
On June 27, 1864, the following letter was sent by General Halleck to General Foster, which shows clearly how anxious these worthies were to begin their cruelty upon helpless human beings — prisoners of war.
Washington, D. C., June 27, 1864.
Maj.-Gen. J. G. Foster, Department of the South.
General:
Your letter of 16th instant, transmitting the correspondence between yourself and the commanding general of the Rebel forces at Charleston in regard to confining our officers — prisoners of war — in part of that city exposed to the fire of our batteries is just received. The Secretary of War has directed an equal number of Rebel generals and field officers to be sent to you, by Major Strong, to be treated in Washington, D. C, June 27, 1864.
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