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?
Pickett's uncle, Andrew Johnston, was a lawyer and politician in Quincy, Illinois. According to the story, Pickett wanted to go to West Point but the local congressman, John T. Stuart, was a political rival of Johnston. A mutual friend of the two men was engaged by Johnston as an intermediary to plead Pickett's case, and the appointment to West Point was obtained. The intermediary was Abraham Lincoln, who is supposed to have taken a liking to Pickett and remained in touch with him during his military career.
How much truth there is to that is open to question. What is true is that Pickett graduated dead last in a West Point class that included George McClellan, Thomas Jackson, Darius Couch, John Gibbon, Jesse Reno, A.P. Hill and over a dozen other generals.
I don't know the whole story, but I do know that Pickett would not tolerate anyone bad-mouthing Lincoln in his presence!