The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1878-01-15
Amenities Of War.
How Mcclellan and Custer
treated an old West POinl
COmrade.

In the summer of 1862, when Gen.
erals McClcanll and Joe johnson were
commanding the two opposing armies
in the attack and defense of Richmond.
freak of fate or decree Of destiny Or
dercG a singular coincidence in the sit
uation of the Northern and Southern
cadets. Custer was acting on General
McCleIlans staff, and his former friend
on that of General Joseph johnson,
each as aide to the commanding gen.
erals of the Northern and Southern ar
mics.
On the day of the battle Of Seven
Pines, or Fair Oaks. the Confederate
commander was severely wounded was
severely wounded by a shell, and his
place alterward filled by General Lee.
The same day Johnson's young aide
was captured BY the enemy while in the
discharge of his duty, and taken to Nc
Clellan's headquarters as a prisoner Of
distinction. 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 at the same time
with him, by whom he was welcomed
with much cOrdiality aud elee-kindest
and most cordial was Custer.
1t was sigular, q striking scene;
one that merits description among the
incidents 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 small green spot in
the dreary desert Of war. To Clusters
care Mcclellan especially consigned the
young Confederate officer, with the
charge, given in scrio-cOmic tone, that,
THE prisoner should not be treated
very severely, but be allowed a cigar
and other refreshments occasionally"
So that one night there was rather
jolli6caiion in one of the headquarters
tents which the party ocupied-rehears-
ing scenes at West Point in which
they had mingled, "skylarking" at
Benny Havsn'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
contending armies.
Afterward, when the Confederate
prisoner was ordered to be sent to Fort
Delaware, in parting with his acquain-
tance again, Custer, his generous guar
dian, suddenly struck with a kind
thought, exclaimed imprlsively, "You
must have some money, Jim; those pic
lures in your pockets Confederate cur
rency) 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 it impossible to persuade
him to take the money BE offered. step
ped up and stuffed some notes in his
vest pocket, nolens uolens. Such acts
are only prompted by noble heart.
During this detention at General
McClellan's headquarters, while one
day the Federal and u confederate officers
were seated together under tree, on
itinerant artist seized on the striking
feet of the singular situation and
promptly portrayed them In a photo
graph. AS an amusing and appropri-
ate addition to the scene, Custer had a
negro boy seated at his feet; putting, as
he said, laushingly, "the impressible
conflict between them" This picture
attracted much notice from the press
at the time with the singularity Of the
circumstances and incidents attending
upon the meeting Of the two young men