Near Manassas, Virginia
October 1863
Pounding hooves and barking dogs announced the arrival of Brigadier General George Custer. McClellan pulled his watch from its pocket. He must have ridden like the devil to get here so quickly.
Boots pounded on the wooden platform that supported McClellan’s tent. An aide, pushed aside by the boy general, announced, too late, “sir, General Custer” as Custer snapped to attention, executed a crisp salute, and stood at ease, speaking without being prompted. “Sir, welcome home. The army is delighted. Sir, what’s afoot and how can I be of service?”
Custer had not aged, but he was all of twenty-three years old. The face was the same as the young lieutenant, fresh from West Point, who’d done yeoman staff work for McClellan on the Peninsula. The hair was short, the mustache drooping, but the chin was clean. He probably can’t grow anything there, mused McClellan. The uniform was new and clearly of his own design, a wide collar, oversized buttons, white gauntlets, polished boots, and a red neckerchief. The felt hat, held under his left arm, was pinned up on one side and sported a black plume. No one in the Army of the Potomac embraced war like George Custer, and nobody so thoroughly enjoyed himself in its practice. He was having the time of his young life.
“General, thank you for coming at this late hour. There will be changes in this Army, starting immediately, and men of enterprise and resourcefulness are much in demand. I have been entrusted by President Lincoln with nothing less than saving the Union. There is much to be done. Washington City must be protected.”
Custer’s shoulders slumped. “Important work to be sure, General, protecting Washington. I have no doubt that the infantry and field artillery are equal to that crucial task. I pray that the cavalry might take the fight to the enemy, sir.”
“I wasn’t aware that you were a believer, General, but perhaps your prayers will be answered on this one occasion. As you are aware, General Burgoyne has crossed into New York and is even now driving south with an enormous army. Pinkerton assures me he wouldn’t have invaded with fewer than 50,000 men. Perhaps many more. He will be followed by regulars from Britain who may even now be on the sea. We must mount a force sufficient to defeat them, but that will take time. In the meantime, we must strike a blow . . . slow them down to give us sufficient time to put our army in the field.”
Now Custer was leaning forward on the camp stool, hands gripping the legs on either side, and staring intently at McClellan.
“Captain Wilson will deliver written orders to your headquarters in the morning, but let me explain what I have in mind.” He unpinned the large map from the tent and spread it across two stools.
“You will take the First and Third Divisions of the Cavalry Corps by rail from Washington City to New York. You will leave the cars just north of the city and proceed northward along the line of the Hudson until you find the enemy. You will have sufficient force and mobility to harass, confuse, and detain him until such time as I arrive with this army. At that time, we will give battle and save this Union from the predicament that successive failures of leadership have created.”
Custer could barely contain himself. “Sir, as you are aware, I’m outranked by Pleasonton, that is, by Generals Pleasonton, Buford, Kilpatrick. Even Merritt.”
“Not anymore, General. You are as of this moment breveted Major General. And I have important plans for Pleasonton and the others. There will be no disagreement about who commands your troops.”
Custer shot to his feet and stood, rocking back and forth from his toes to the balls of his feet. “Then I haven’t a moment to lose, sir. I will have my men in Washington, ready to board the cars, by the day after tomorrow.”
McClellan studied his young protégé in the lantern light. “General, to be clear, I need you to delay Burgoyne. Keep him away from New York City. Harass his supply lines and communications. By all means, engage his cavalry screen. Make him believe you have ten times the force that you actually have. But do not bring on a general engagement. The moment for that will be when the Army of the Potomac in all its glory has arrived. Is this all clear?”
Custer smiled. “Yes sir. Harass and delay. No general engagement. I look forward to seeing you up north, sir.” And he was gone as quickly as he had appeared.
McClellan thought back to Mexico, where he had also chafed under authority and had been sure he knew better than his superiors. We’ll need to get started as soon as possible, he thought.