Portrait of a civilian 233
three times published appreciative notices of
the kindness bestowed on sick and wounded
soldiers by women of the neighborhood,
'especially ... the ladies of "Clover Lea."'
A few weeks later, the same newspaper
reported the death of baby Betty. It is hard
to avoid the speculation (but impossible to
prove) that microbes from the hundreds of
sick, wounded, and infected soldiers
convalescing in the vicinity might have
brought on the infant's demise.
Although the Federals failed to capture
Richmond during that spring of 1862, they
did capture Ella's stepson, Lieutenant James
Washington. The youngster, who had been
serving on the staff of Confederate army
commander Joseph E. Johnston, found
himself in the hands of a friend from West
Point days, George A. Custer. The quondam
classmate treated Washington to a cigar and
something to drink, and rounded up some
other friends serving in the Union army.
That evening, Ella wrote later, the prisoner
and his captors enjoyed 'rather a jollification
in one of the headquarters tents,'
reminiscing about their cadet days at the
famous Benny Haven's Tavern near the
military academy grounds.
When the provost guard took young
Washington away to head for a prisoner-of-
war camp, Custer stuffed some US currency
in his friend's vest pocket to help smooth his
captivity. 'You must have some money, Jim,'
Custer said, 'those pictures in your pockets
[Confederate currency] don't pass up there.'
The cartel for exchange of prisoners had not
yet broken down at that stage, so James went
back to Confederate service upon exchange
after a short period in captivity. Two years
later, George Custer would be in a position
to help James Washington's stepmother in
a more substantial fashion.
War's mailed fist went rampaging
northward for nearly two years after the