George E. Pickett was a famous Civil War General and controversial Confederate general who is best known for Pickett's Charge, a failed frontal assault at the Battle of Gettysburg.
He was known for his flamboyant appearance and his close friendship with James Longstreet. Although he was often blamed for the failure of Pickett's Charge, he had little responsibility for its planning or execution.
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He saw success in 1862, and then after he was wounded at the Battle of Gaines Mill, he trended downward. His bitterness over Pickett's Charge never left him, and it resulted in him blaming others for his mistakes.
He made many mistakes while heading the Department of North Carolina, the biggest when he executed 22 soldiers who were Confederate defectors. These men were killed and stripped in front of their families.
After the war, he was accused of war crimes but was never convicted. He fled to Canada until amnesty was granted by President Andrew Johnson on the recommendation of Ulysses S. Grant.
His reputation was rehabilitated after his death by his third wife, LaSalle Corbell Pickett, who turned him into a Lost Cause hero.
Family Overview
George Pickett came from a tragic family.
His father and mother gave birth to eight children and saw five of them die before the age of 1. His mother had to say goodbye to 3 consecutive children until she had her first, who survived into adulthood. After that, she gave birth to a daughter and a son who also died in infancy.
George Pickett saw much of the same when he lost his first child and his wife within a year of their marriage. He then lost his second wife, but the child survived due to his ethnicity at the time; he sent his son to live with a trusted friend who raised him.
His third marriage resulted in two children, with one dying at a young age, but George Pickett did not live to see that death.
His sister gave birth to five children, and only 2 made it to adulthood. His youngest brother gave birth to four children, all living a longer life.
His third son would die young but married and had a son who continued Pickett's line.
Family Tree Chart
Parents:
Robert Pickett (1799 - 1856) - He was a businessman who dealt in the coal industry. He became a wealthy man and owned many slaves. However, his business began to falter, and he had to abandon it. He became a Colonel in the military but never saw any action. His son George would eventually command his unit.
Mary Johnston (1805 - 1860) - She and her husband had many children, but both died prior to the Civil War. Her father and husband were business partners, and there was a point where her father had to help her husband with his finances.
Spouse:
Sally Harrison Steward Minge (1829 - 1851) - She died in childbirth after an Indian raid on November 13, 1851, at Fort Gates, Texas. George took leave and escorted the bodies home to be buried. She was buried with her infant son, who was believed to be male. She and George did not even celebrate a year's anniversary.
Unknown Wife (???) - She was a Native American from Alaska. The two had a son, but she died, and the only record of the two is their son.
LaSalle Corbell Pickett (1843 - 1931) - She was an amazing woman. She married George during the war, and afterward, when they fled to Canada due to his war crimes, she kept them afloat by teaching Piano and languages. When they returned, they struggled to make it work, and the loss of wealth hurt her husband. He would die of Scarlett fever, and she was left destitute. She then became an author and resurrected her husband's reputation. She traveled and lectured and earned a nice living for herself and their children.
Children:
Infant Pickett (1851) - The child died during childbirth with his mother.
James Tilton Pickett (1857 - 1889) - In 1861, Captain Pickett, who had decided to join other Virginians in defense of their dominion, had two problems with "Jimmie". The first was a battle zone was no place for a child, especially with a father who was a single soldier. The second was the society of Eastern America was not ready to deal with a "half-breed' American. Pickett and his friend, Major James Tilton, felt that the best solution was to find a childless family. This was accomplished through Isaac and Catherine Collins, whom Pickett knew and regarded as the best of his choices. George Picketts then kept contact with "Jimmie" through Major Tilton, but before leaving, he presented "Jimmie" with his official commission in the United States Army, a family Bible with a transcribed page, a letter about his mother, and a lock of his baby hair. He had a conflict with his other siblings as he grew up, but would become successful. His stepmother, who never claimed him, eventually painted a portrait of him in honor of her husband. Jimmy became an artist and was known as a genius. He died at the young age of 39 in Portland, Oregon.
George Edward Pickett Jr. (1864 - 1911) - He attended Virginia Military Institute from August 1878 and graduated in the class of 1883. Upon the outbreak of the Spanish-American War, he entered the United States Army as a volunteer paymaster. After the war was concluded, he remained in the United States Regular Army Active, receiving a commission on February 8, 1901. He served a number of years as a Major in the Paymaster Corps. He married and had one child.
David Corbell Pickett (1866 - 1884) - He died around the age of 18 and was known for his playful style. He would be the second of General Pickett's children to die.
Siblings:
Elizabeth Johnston Pickett (1826 - 1827) - She died as an infant.
Mary Seldon Pickett (1829 - 1830) - She died at 11 months old. This was the second child to die before their first birthday.
Olivia Pickett (1831 - 1832) - She died at 5 months of age.
Virginia Beverley Pickett (1833 - 1884) - She married and gave birth to five children. Only two of those children made it to adulthood.
Mary Pickett (1835 - 1836) - She only lived until she was 4 months old. She is buried under the same monument as her other sisters, who died in infancy.
Robert Johnston Pickett (1838) - He also died in infancy and is buried under the same monument as his sisters.
Charles Francis Pickett (1840 - 1899) - He enlisted in the Confederacy after Virginia seceded from the Union. He was appointed Captain and made aide-de-camp in February. In June, he was made the Adjutant General’s chief of staff. When Pickett’s Division was attached to General James Longstreet’s Corps, Robert Pickett became the adjutant General and received his promotion to Major. At Gettysburg, Major Charles Pickett found himself in the midst of hand-to-hand combat when his unit penetrated Federal lines at Cemetery Hill. Although he and his men found themselves surrounded all the 4th of July at their new post inside the old Union lines. That night, they slipped out of their position, out of sight, and joined the march back into Virginia. He married and had four children who lived into adulthood.