The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1878-02-13
Amenities Of War.
HOW MCCLELLAN AND CUSTER TREATED
AN OLD WEST POINT ComRADE.

i -
AN OLD WEST POINT coMRADE.
In the summer of 1862, when Gene.
rails Mcclellan and Joe Johnston were
commanding the two opposing armies
in the attack and defense of Richmond
freak OF fate OF decree OF destiny or.
dered a singular coincidence 10 the sit.
uatIon of the northern and southern
cadets, Custer was acting on General
M'Clellan's staff, and his former friend
ON that of General Joseph .Johnst on,
each as'aids to the commanding gene
rails of the northern and southern ar
mics. On the day of the battle of
Seven Pines, or Fair Oaks, the confed
crate commander was severely wound
ed by shell, and his Place afterward
filed by General Lee.
The same day Johnson's yonng aid
was captured by the enemy while In
the discharge of his duty, and taken to
M'Clellan's headquarters as prisoner
of distinction. He had been known to
the federal general when at West
Point, and being courteonsly recog-
nized, was treated with much consid-
Grafton. Here, too, he met several
young officers who had been cadets at
the same time with him, Ivy whom he
was welcomed with much cordially
and glee; the kindest and most cordial
was Custer. 1t was singular, a stri-
XII scene-one that merits descrip-
ton among the incidents of sectional
war. The blue.jackets greeting the
gray. foes meeting rs friends, hands
clasping kindly that were armed in
deadly strife against each otler-just
a small spot in the dreary desert of
war.
To Clusters care Mcclellan especially
consigned the young confederate off
Ger, with the charge, given in seri-
comic tone, that, "The prisoner should
not be treated very severely, but al
lowed cigar and other refreshments
occasionally" So that night there
was rather a jollification in one of the
Headquarters tents which the party oc-
cupied; rehearsing scenes at West
Point in which they had mingled,
"shylarking' at Benny Haven's, and
other hap-hazard frolics, stories of
study and drill. and mutual inquiries
for friends scattered south and north
amid the ranks of the confederate
-:
Afterward, when the confederate
prisoner was ordered to be sent to
Fort Delaware, in parting with his &C
quaintance again, Custer, his generous
guardian, exclaimed impulsively -
''Yoa must have some money, Jim,
those pictures in your pockets (confed-
crate currency don't pass up there;"
and in spite Of the earnest protest of
who assured him he could
readily draw on relatives in Baltimore
for needed funds, finding it impossible
TO persuade him to take the money he
offered, stepped up and stuffed some
notes in his vest pocket nolens volens.
such acts are only prompted by no.
Die heart.
During this detention at General
HClellan's headquarters, while one
lay the federal and confederate officers
we're seated together under o tree, an
tinerant artist seized on the striking
fleet of the singular situation; and,
portrayed them in o photo
,raph. As an amusing and appropri.
tie addition to the scene, Custer had a
'egro boy seated at their feet, putting
8 he laughingly said, "the irrepressi-
lie conflict between the two parties"
his picture attracted much notice
rom the press at the time on account
1 the singnlarity of the circumstances
nd the incidents attending upon the
1eetlng of the two young men.
i Mrs. E. B. Washington 10 Philadel-
hia Weekly Times.