Posted on 01/28/2005 8:52:47 AM PST by Valin
Born in Richmond, Va. On January 28,1825,Pickett graduated from West Point in l846,last in a class of 59. Among his several classmates who became generals were George B. McClellan and Thomas J. Jackson.
In the war with Mexico Pickett was brevetted lieutenant and captain for his service in the Siege of Vera Cruz and during the subsequent advance on Mexico City. He served in Texas, Virginia, and Washington Territory until 1861, when he resigned his commission to enter the Confederate army.
His name in Civil War history was secured in a losing cause, the charge against the Federal center on the third day at Gettysburg. Following bloody but inconclusive movements 1-2 July, Lee ordered the massive assault, which followed an intensive but basically ineffectual cannonade.
Under Pickett's immediate command were the brigades of Brig. Gens. James L. Kemper, Richard B. Garnett, and Lewis A. Armistead. According to reports, Pickett was in excellent spirits and expected to carry the Union defenses. At mid-afternoon the forward movement began with the troops dressed as if on parade as they marched into the Federal guns.
Pickett, as division commander, attempted to coordinate the ill-fated movement and, contrary to the view of some critics, acquitted himself bravely and well. But the task was impossible, and he ordered his men to withdraw when clearly they could not break the Union center.
Notwithstanding the bravery of his troops and his own efforts on the field, Pickett's military reputation was afterward in decline. He fought in battles at New Berne, Petersburg, and Five Forks. General R. E. Lee relieved him of his command after Sayler's Creek, only days before the final surrender at Appomattox.
Following the war he was an insurance salesman in Richmond and died in Norfolk July 30, 1875.
Source: "Historical Times Encyclopedia Of The Civil War" Edited By Patricia L. Faust
George Armstrong Custer also graduated last in his class from the Point.
Robert E. Lee also blamed himself for the charge since he ordered it.
Kudos to you for Celebrating Diversity by honoring and recognizing the achievements of the Confederates who have contributed to the multicultural quilt that is America. These people are part of our heritage and the vast majority of them acted honorably and they acquitted themselves on the fields of battle as stout hearted men.
They deserve our respect and recognition.
My understanding is that Pickett was sought by commanders/ subordinates on that day and was nowhere to be found. It's been suggested that he hid or cowered behind that house that still sits smack in the middle of the open fields his men traversed.
I have heard he fumbled or disappeared later too. Five Forks? If I recall, I read the story in a bio of AP Hill or Winfield Hancock.
The best of the stories is Armistead/Hancock. Although Francis Barlow and John Gordon's exchanges and later friendship are a great tale.
My understanding is that Pickett was sought by commanders/ subordinates on that day and was nowhere to be found. It's been suggested that he hid or cowered behind that house that still sits smack in the middle of the open fields his men traversed.
I have heard he fumbled or disappeared later too. Five Forks? If I recall, I read the story in a bio of AP Hill or Winfield Hancock.
The best of the stories is Armistead/Hancock. Although Francis Barlow and John Gordon's exchanges and later friendship are a great tale.
I was listening to an interview with Shellby Foote, in it he said (I paraphrase) It's taken a while but we as a nation have finally come to a consensus on this war. The south has said that it's a good thing they lost, and the north has said the the south fought bravely and with honor.
I'm sure there are those who will object to both parts of the above but they work for me.
Memo to those who do object GET OVER IT!
Pickett Ping
The best of the stories is Armistead/Hancock
It's been years since I first heard this story, a couple of weeks ago I weas telling a guy I work with the tale...I still get a lump in my throat.
What a coincidence! I just watched "Gettysburg" again last night- one of my favorite movies of all time.
NO true southerner thinks that losing our war for FREEDOM was a good thing AND
the majority of damnyankees TODAY say NOTHING but HATEFILLED, SELF-righteous, ignorant foolishness & LIES about our dixie HERO-MARTYRS!
that is ONE reason that we MUST free dixie.
free dixie NOW,sw
Here's raising a glass in toast to all the brave fighters on both sides of that terrible conflict.
Thanks for remembering the bd of George Pickett, an honorable and tragic figure of the battle of Gettysburg. Had Lee listened to his Corp Commander James Longstreet and, instead of getting his army destroyed at Gettysburg, turned south to undefended Washington DC, the capitol could have been taken along with the "busybody", war mongering, interventionist republicans and we might have been looking at quite a differant United States today.
Shoulda, Coulda, Woulda.
That part of the story was well-portrayed in "Gettysburg". "Gettysburg" was very even-handed in it's portrayal of the desires of the South and the North.
"Give'em Cold Steel boys".
The connection between Pickett and Lincoln is interesting and I have always wondered about it. Why did an Illinois congressman nominate a Virginian to West Point? After Richmond fell in 1865, Lincoln, unbelievably alone without an escort, went to Pickett’s house there and visited with Mrs. Pickett. (The General was of course still otherwise engaged in rebellion against his country).
Does anybody know how Lincoln and Pickett were first connected?
"Thanks for remembering the bd of George Pickett, an honorable and tragic figure of the battle of Gettysburg. Had Lee listened to his Corp Commander James Longstreet and, instead of getting his army destroyed at Gettysburg, turned south to undefended Washington DC, the capitol could have been taken along with the "busybody", war mongering, interventionist republicans and we might have been looking at quite a differant United States today."
Agreed on your assessment of Lee/Longstreet, but to suggest that DC was undefended was ludicrous. There was a pretty large-scale network of forts around DC that would've been tough to overrun as easily as you imagined.
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