General Pierce Manning Butler (P.M.B.) Young &
A rare moment of humor in America?s Civil War

Pierce Manning Butler Young was a young West Point cadet in 1861 from Cartersville, Georgia. His roommate, George Armstrong Custer, was a Yankee. They were best friends; but their worlds were different.

When Georgia seceded from the Union, Pierce followed his state; Custer followed the Union. Both soon became generals but for different countries and armies. As fate would have it, they met in conflict.

Early one evening in 1863, General Custer was eating dinner in a commandeered Virginia farmhouse with his staff. Confederates broke through the perimeter and Custer was forced to evacuate before he finishing dinner. Knowing his old roommate was commanding the assaulting Confederates, he told the reluctant hostess to tell his Southern friend, General Young, to enjoy his unfinished dinner.

General Young entered the home a hero and finished his Yankee friend's dinner. After a good Southern night's sleep, breakfast was served by his grateful hostess, but soon interrupted.

This time Custer's Union forces broke through the perimeter and Young and his staff were forced to evacuate before finishing breakfast. Young, knowing his adversary, told the hostesses to tell his Yankee friend Custer to enjoy the rest of his breakfast.

Custer re-entered the Southern home. Legend has it that he left a note for his old Rebel friend thanking him for a most enjoyable breakfast.

After the Civil War Young went on to become a United States Congressman, Ambassador to Guatemala and Honduras, and Consul-General to St. Petersburg, Russia. His Yankee roommate went to the Little Big Horn. Today, very few have heard of General P. M. B. Young. Everybody has heard of General George Armstrong Custer.