Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1877-12-29
AMENITIES OF VAR.
How Mcclellan and Custer Treated
an Old West Point COmrade.
[Mrs. e: B. WASHINGTON in Paaa. WeeLlv

HGEatN
Times.
In the summer of lS62, when Generals Ne
Clellan and Joe Johnston were commanding
the two opposing armies in the attack aud de
fence OF Richmond, freak of fate or decree
OF destiny ordered singular coincidence I'm
the situation of the northern and southern
cadets. Custer was acting on General Nc
Clellan's staff, and his former friend GA that
of General Joseph Johnston, each as aide 40
the commanding generals of the northern and
southern armies. On the day of the hattie of
Seven Pines, or Fair Oaks. the confederate
commander was severely wounded by shell
and his place afterwdrd filed by General Lee
The same day JohnSton's young aide was cap
tured by the enemy while in the discharge Of
his duty, and taken to Gen. McClellan's head
quarters as a prisoner of distinction. He had
been known TO the federal general when at
West Point, and being courteouSly recUg-
nlZed was treated with much consideration.
Here, too, he met several young officers who
had been cadets at the same time with him
by whom he was welcomed with much cordi-
ality and glee-kindeSt and most cordial was
Custer. Ii was singular. a striking scene
one that merits description among the Incl
dents of a sectional war. The blue Jackets
greeting the gray, foes meeting as friends
hands clasping kindly that were armed in
deadly strife against each other. Just a small
green spot in the dreary desert of war. To
Clusters care Mcclellan especially consigned
the young confederate officer, withthe charge,
given ia a serio-comic tone. that, The pfis-
oner should not be treated Uery severely, but
allowed cigar and other refreshments occa-
SlOllalH- 80 tIaI night there WAS Rather a
Notification in one of the headquarters tents
which the party occupied. Rehearsing scenes
at West Point i'm which they had mingled
.'skylarking'' at Benny Ravens. and other
hap-haZard frolicS, stories of study and drill
and mutual inquiries for friends scattered
south and north amid the ranks of the con
tending armies. Afterward. when the con-
federate prisoner was ordered To be
sent to Fort Delaware, in parting wi n
his acquaintance again, Custer, his gen
erOuS guardian, suddenly struck with a
kind thought. exclaimed impulsiyely: You
must have some money. Jim: those pictures in
your pockets Confederate currency don't
pass up there and in spite of the earnest
protest of his friend, who assured him he could
readily draw on relatives in Baltimore for
needed funds. finding il impossible To persuade
him TO take the money he offered. stepped up
and stuffed some notes i'm his vest pocket, no
lens r0IeaS. Such acts are only prompted by a
noble heart. During this detention al General
MoClellan's headquarters, while one day the
federal and confederate officers were seated
together under tree an itinerant artist seized
on the striking effect of the singular situation
and promptly portrayed them in photograph.
AS an amusing and appropriate addition 10
the scene, Custer had a negro boy seated at
their feet putting. he said laughingly, 1.-THE
irrepressible conflict between them" This
picture attracted much notice from the press
at the time with the singularity of the circum-
stances and incidents attending upon the
meeting Of the two young men.
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