THE IMMORTAL SIX HUNDRED
which he could not control; and he also had the testimony in letters from the Union prisoners of war confined in Charleston City, that they were not under fire at all, and all Foster had to bolster up his infamous scheme and slander was the testimony of the runaway niggers and Confederate deserters. Here is the letter of protest against Foster's action:
Charleston, S. C., July 1, 1864.Maj.-gen. J. G. Foster,
Commanding Department South,
Hilton Head, S. C.General:
The journals of this morning inform us, for the first time, that five general officers of the Confederate service have arrived at Hilton Head, with a view to their being subjected to the same treatment that we are receiving here. We think it just to ask for these officers every kindness and courtesy that you can extend to them in acknowledgement of the fact that we, at this time, are as pleasantly and comfortably situated as is possible for prisoners of war, receiving from the Confederate authorities every privilege that we
43
