The Classmates

Source

The Classmates

"Friends, and even relatives, who had enlisted on opposite sides... . Here, caught by the camera, is one of the many instances.  On the left sits Lieutenant J. B. Washington, C. S. A., who was an aide to General Johnston at Fair Oaks.  Beside him sits Lieutenant George A. Custer, of the Fifth U.S. Cavalry, aide on McClellan's staff, later famous cavalry general... . Both men were West Point graduates, and had attended the military academy together.  On the morning of May 31, 1862, at Fair Oaks, Lieutenant Washington was captured by some of General Casey's pickets.  Later in the day his former classmate ran across him and a dramatic meeting was thus recorded by camera."