George Edward Pickett

Posted by Adam Youngs on August 04, 2001 at 15:34:13:

In Reply to: Re: General George Edward Pickett; I'am his great-great grandson posted by john king pickett on January 02, 2001 at 08:43:28:

It was not Pickett's fault that the Confederacy lost the Battle of Gettysburg. Pickett commanded his division consisting of three brigades under the command of Lewis A.Armistead, James L. Kemper, and Richard B.Garnett. Pickett's Division was located in James Longstreet's 1st Corps. Pickett and Longstreet were very good friends and had fought in the Mexican War together. The High Water Mark of the Confederacy was dubbed the name "Pickett's Charge" because Longstreet was commanding and Pickett's Division was the only main division under his command. Longstreet was also given command of Ambrose Powell Hill's (A.P.Hill)divisions under the command of Issac Trimble and James Pettigrew. Pickett's Division was the last of Longstreets Divisons to be engaged at Gettysburg. Although Longstreet used some of Hood's and McLaws's Division to penetrate the Union Center on Cemetery Ridge on July 3rd, Pickett's Division outnumbered the other charging divisions. Before the charge occured Lee insisted that Longstreet order a cannonade to weaken the Union center in hope to break the Union line. Longstreet was still upset from the battle on the 2nd day that occured in the Devil's Den where Hood and McLaws had ordered their men forward. Lee was cautious and was upset stating that the procedures and charges were not properly coordinated. Longstreet mentioned to Lee that there was enough artillery to have another good fight and he also told Lee that Pickett's Division was not yet engaged. He also suggested that there was an open gap to the right of Big Round Top. On the morning of July 3rd Longstreet told Pickett to deploy his brigades forward. Lee finally told Longstreet that he wanted to attack the Union center where the line was the weakest. Ordering Col.E.Porter Alexander to apply force on the Union center by weakening the Union by cannon fire Lee was about to procede with the dealiest assault in American history known today as Pickett's Charge, The High Water Mark, or Longstreet's Big Mistake. For almost 2 hours artillery from both sides of the 1 mile stretch overshot eachother. Some cannon overheated and were shooting 2 miles at the most. With utter confusion neither side could tell whether or not the shell's were hitting near the enemy. Pickett placed Garnett and Kemper in the front and Armistead's brigade in support. Trimble and Pettigrew were placed on the left. As the columns lined up the drummerboy cadence started drumming a steady beat and slowly deployed forward. It was a deadly charge over open ground with canister fire and cannon balls bursting over and around the ranks. They passed over the mile stretch with cannon fire coming from all sides with Cushing to their left , cannon up ahead and cannon fire from Little Round Top. Once they reached the Emmitsburg Road it was a deadly hail of musketry as the blue clad stood up from the low lying stone wall. Thinking this was the weakest point the Union gained reserve support and put up a big fight. Up and over the stone wall went Kemper and Garnett. Garnett being crippled from a horse kick to the knee cap was unable to walk so he rode forward on his horse becoming the perfect target. Kemper was felled also with a mortal wound and Armistead was wounded near Cushing's Battery. Of all of the officers that participated in Pickett's Charge 7 were killed 6 were wounded. Pickett never forgave Lee for ordering the deadly attack and would always regret how his division was destroyed at Gettysburg. Pickett was a great officer but he wasn't really well educated in military tactics considering the fact that he graduated last in his class at West Point. He also participated in the Battle of Chepultepec during the Mexican and he stormed the ramparts there with Longstreet and a few others. Pickett also paid for the funerals of Longstreets children when three of the four died within a month. Pickett was a very humorous and a very serious man. He was one of the souths most beloved generals.

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• Re: George Edward Pickett Adam Youngs 15:40:37 8/04/2001 (1)
  • Re: George Edward Pickett Adam Christopher Youngs 15:41:46 8/04/2001 (0)

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:  It was not Pickett's fault that the Confederacy lost the Battle of Gettysburg. Pickett commanded his division consisting of three brigades under the command of Lewis A.Armistead, James L. Kemper, and Richard B.Garnett. Pickett's Division was located in James Longstreet's 1st Corps. Pickett and Longstreet were very good friends and had fought in the Mexican War together. The High Water Mark of the Confederacy was dubbed the name "Pickett's Charge" because Longstreet was commanding and Pickett's Division was the only main division under his command. Longstreet was also given command of Ambrose Powell Hill's (A.P.Hill)divisions under the command of Issac Trimble and James Pettigrew. Pickett's Division was the last of Longstreets Divisons to be engaged at Gettysburg. Although Longstreet used some of Hood's and McLaws's Division to penetrate the Union Center on Cemetery Ridge on July 3rd, Pickett's Division outnumbered the other charging divisions. Before the charge occured Lee insisted that Longstreet order a cannonade to weaken the Union center in hope to break the Union line. Longstreet was still upset from the battle on the 2nd day that occured in the Devil's Den where Hood and McLaws had ordered their men forward. Lee was cautious and was upset stating that the procedures and charges were not properly coordinated. Longstreet mentioned to Lee that there was enough artillery to have another good fight and he also told Lee that Pickett's Division was not yet engaged. He also suggested that there was an open gap to the right of Big Round Top. On the morning of July 3rd Longstreet told Pickett to deploy his brigades forward. Lee finally told Longstreet that he wanted to attack the Union center where the line was the weakest. Ordering Col.E.Porter Alexander to apply force on the Union center by weakening the Union by cannon fire Lee was about to procede with the dealiest assault in American history known today as Pickett's Charge, The High Water Mark, or Longstreet's Big Mistake. For almost 2 hours artillery from both sides of the 1 mile stretch overshot eachother. Some cannon overheated and were shooting 2 miles at the most. With utter confusion neither side could tell whether or not the shell's were hitting near the enemy. Pickett placed Garnett and Kemper in the front and Armistead's brigade in support. Trimble and Pettigrew were placed on the left. As the columns lined up the drummerboy cadence started drumming a steady beat and slowly deployed forward. It was a deadly charge over open ground with canister fire and cannon balls bursting over and around the ranks. They passed over the mile stretch with cannon fire coming from all sides with Cushing to their left , cannon up ahead and cannon fire from Little Round Top. Once they reached the Emmitsburg Road it was a deadly hail of musketry as the blue clad stood up from the low lying stone wall. Thinking this was the weakest point the Union gained reserve support and put up a big fight. Up and over the stone wall went Kemper and Garnett. Garnett being crippled from a horse kick to the knee cap was unable to walk so he rode forward on his horse becoming the perfect target. Kemper was felled also with a mortal wound and Armistead was wounded near Cushing's Battery. Of all of the officers that participated in Pickett's Charge 7 were killed 6 were wounded. Pickett never forgave Lee for ordering the deadly attack and would always regret how his division was destroyed at Gettysburg. Pickett was a great officer but he wasn't really well educated in military tactics considering the fact that he graduated last in his class at West Point. He also participated in the Battle of Chepultepec during the Mexican and he stormed the ramparts there with Longstreet and a few others. Pickett also paid for the funerals of Longstreets children when three of the four died within a month. Pickett was a very humorous and a very serious man. He was one of the souths most beloved generals.


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