THE IMMORTAL SIX HUNDRED
in the South. This prison was fairly well conducted as to quarters, but most miserably as to rations. There were two large mess halls in which the prisoners were fed twice each day. The ration for breakfast was a chunk of bread cut wedge shape, a small portion of molasses as black as it was bitter, with a tin cup of very black coffee without sugar. The dinner menu card was a tin of soup (so called), a small piece of fat meat or beef with slice of bread. For supper, wind. General Schoepf, U. S. V., commandant of the post, was a German, in his way a very good sort of an old fellow who, no doubt, did all he dare do, if report is correct, to alleviate the condition of Confererate prisoners of war. But he had about him some very mean, low men and prison officials. It was the general report amongst the prisoners of war that General Schoepf's wife was a Virginia lady who was in sympathy with her State and people. For this reason the General was not given a command in the field, but as-
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