THE IMMORTAL SIX HUNDRED
bers, distribute to your sick men who cannot get about." At another time he gave Captain Chambers a half-barrel of damaged coffee, which had been condemned by the quartermaster department, and would have been thrown out. Some spy about the fort reported this matter to Major-General Foster, commanding department; and investigation was made, but nothing resulted from it to Major Place. No doubt had General Foster's investigation proved the giving of the coffee to the prisoners, Major Place would have lost his commission for his humanity to starving men. God bless you, Major Place! May you prosper in this world, and the world to come, for your goodness and humanity to our starving men. Yours was the true Christian charity the Master taught.
These six hundred Confederate officers—prisoners of war—who went through the fearful ordeal of fire and starvation were a noble body of men, There were a few scallawags in our num-
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