St. Landry democrat., 1878-02-02
AMENITIES OF WAR.
How Mcclellan and Custer EreaseN am
Old West Point CO1mrade.

RHOW We SAeAH2s2 anu SNSatA AASSHa~' 1-A
Old West Point COHalrade.
In the summer of 1862, when Generals
M'Clellan and Joe Johnston were cem'
manding the two opposing armies in the
attack and defense of Richmond, freak
of fate or decree of destiny ordered a
singular coincidence in the situation OF
the northern and southern cadets,
Custer was acting on General MClellan's
staff, and his former friend on that OF
General Joseph Johnston, each as aide
to the commanding generals OF the
northern and southern armies. On the
day of the battle of Seven Pines, or Fair
Oaks, the confederate commander was
severely wounded by shell, and his
place afterward filled by General Lee.
The same day Johnson's young aid was
captured by the enemy while in the dis
charge of his duty, and taken to M'Clel,
lan's headquarters as a prisoner OF dis
tinction. He had been known to the
federal general when at West Point, and
being courteously recognized, was treated
with much consideration. Here, too, he
met several young officers who had been
cadets st the same time with him. by
whom he was welcomed with much cor
diality and glee; the kindest and most
cordial was Custer. It was singular,
striking scene-one that merits descrlp-
ton among the incidents of sectional
war. The blue-jackets greeting the gray:
foes meeting as friends, hands clasp'ng
kindly that were armed in deadly strife
against each other-just small spot IN
the dreary desert of war.
To Clusters care Mcclellan especially
consigned the young confederate officer,
With the charge, given in seri. comic
tone, that, "The prisoner should not be
treated very severely, but allowed a cigar
and other refreshments occasionally"
So that night there was rather ajollifica-
ton in one of the headquarters tents
which the party occupied; rehearsing
scenes at West Point in which they had
mingled, shylarking" at Benny Hav-
EMS, and other hap-hazard lrolics, stories
of study and drill, and mutual inquiries
for friends scattered south and north
amid the ranks of the confederate armies.
Anerward, when the confederate pris-
oner was ordered to be sent to Fort Della
ware, in parting with his acquaintance
again, Custer, his generous guardian,
exclaimed impulsively: "You must
have some money, Jim, those pictures i'll
your pockets Confederate currency don't
pass up there;" and in spite of the earn
est protest of his friend, who assured him
he could readily draw on relatives in
Baltimore for needed funds, tluding it
impossible to persuade him to take the
money he offered, stepped up and stuffed
some notes in his vest pocket nolens
vov,as. Such acts are only prompted by
noble heart.
During this detention at General
M'Clellan's headquarters, while one day
the federal and confederate officers were
seated toge, her under tree, an itinerant
artist seized On the striking effect Of the
singular situation, and promptly per
trayed them in a photograph. AS an
amusing and appropriate addition to the
scene, Custer had a negro boy seated al
their feet, putting, as he laughingly said
tue irrepressible conflict between the
tive parties" This picture attracted
much notice from the press at the time
on account of the singularity OF the cir
cumstances and the incidents attending
upon the meeting of the two young men
HRS. E. B. Washington in Fhlla. Heekl!
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