TOLEDO TO DETROIT. 281 



a boy's pride and ambition. Fate seemed to be against 

 him. The clouds vanished one day, however, when 

 the Army of the Potomac was encamped on the north 

 bank of the Chickahominy near Richmond. 



General Barnard, of the Engineers, starting out to 

 discover if the river was fordable at a certain point, 

 called upon Custer to accompany him. Arrived at the 

 bank of the stream, he ordered the young officer to 

 **'jump in.'' He was instantly obeyed, although the 

 pickets of the enemy were known to be on the op- 

 posite side, and dangerously near. Nor did Custer re- 

 turn, after having found that there was firm bottom, 

 until he had made a thorough reconnoissance of the 

 Confederate outposts. 



Upon their return, Barnard rode up to McClellan, 

 who was about to visit with his staff his own out- 

 posts, and began reporting the recently acquired in- 

 formation, while his late aide, wearied with the under- 

 taking, and covered with Chickahominy mud, had 

 fallen to the rear. Gradually it came out that Custer, 

 and not Custer's superior officer, had performed the 

 important duty. He was immediately called for, and 

 to his great embarrassment, for his appearance was far 

 from presentable, was asked by McClellan to make a 

 report of the situation himself. At the end of the re- 

 cital he was asked bv his commander, to his amaze- 

 ment, how he would like to join his staff. McClellan 

 had, by a rare power peculiar to him, in that short 

 interview, won Custer's unfailing loyalty and affection, 

 and when Custer was asked afterwards how he felt at 

 the time, his eyes filled with tears, and he said : 

 " I felt I could have died for himJ' 



This promotion marked the beginning of his future 



