The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1875-08-10
Death of General Pickett.

uiSuG. arrangements are DelDS maQe IOl
hold memorial meeting Monday even
ing, Of his comrades in the late war, and
the public generally, to give expression
to their feelings on this sad occasion.
The remains were, this afternoon, laid
in vault un il fall, when they will he re-
moved to Hollywood Cemetery, at Rich.
mond The funeral was attended by
large number of citizens, the Masonic
fraternity, city Council and military.
The foregoing telegram contains about
all that the papers df the day feel con-
strained tc say upon the death Of the man
who ledshe bloodiest charge in all the
battles Of the r R.bellion. Il
NAPOLEON at Lodi, and MCDONALD at
Wagram, had the prestige of victory to
carry their names and deeds to posterity
The Light Brigade had poet laureate to
embalm their heroism in immortal verse
The lost cause has had neither poet nor
historian to rescue her heroes from the
gloom Of fast-gathering oblivion, and
GEoReE F. PICKETT is dismissed to his
grave without even mention of Gettys-
burg.
1t was on the third day of the battle,in
the afternoon, when LEE had lost nearly
all the ground he had taken during the
first two days. The crisis had come, and
everything was to be risked on one bold
charge against the breastworks On Gene
terry Hill. A hundred and twenty pieces
of artillery opened on the rebel side,to be
,defautly answered by a still greater pun.
ber on the part of the Federals.
In the midst of the deafening roar,
three Rebel divisions were marshalled for
the assault, the central one led by PICK,
Err Out of the woods passed PIoKETrs
force, in three lines, and briskly,but stead
lily as on review day;they started across
the narrow valley, From our position we
could distinctly see broad lanes p!oughed
through theirranks, by cannon shot. but
the. intervals we're promptly closed
When within fifteen rods Of the breast
works terrific hail storm of musket
balls swept their firstliue down like reeds
before hurricane. Riddled and torn to
fragments the other lines pressed on, and
some even mounted the earth works and
fought the cannoniers with clubbed guns
Just then score of cannon on either
fl INK opened at short range an enfilading
FIRE of grape and canister which moved
down hundreds at every discharge This
could not last The other two divisions
failed to support PICKETT, and the little
remnant of his division sullenly fell back
across the valley, cores Of them falling
upon the b lies Of dead comrades,
OF eleven thousand men who started
on that charge, less than twelve hundred
many Of them wounded, answered at roll
call that evening. ,a
PICKETT went to his tent, some half {
mile in the rear, in atowering rage. W.
were near this tent "a prisoner) aftel
nightfall, when LEE called to see him :
PICKETT demanded, with fearful oaths, tt
know why the promised supports hat
failed. LEE replied that he could no
then tell, but that somebody shoult
promptly answer for it. Forgetting II
his wrath and grief the respect due to hi
commander, Pickett reproached LEE bit
terly for sending his heroic command "in
to the jaws of hell" LEE replied kindl
but sadly that it was the last lingerin
hope of saving the campaign from ruin
that he had selected PICKETT andhis me
because they were the flower Of the Cor
federate army. Pickett refused to b
appeased. He threw down his sword IAN
swore he would never lift it again, and B
kept his word almos. literally.
| He took no conspicuous part In th
, subsequent war. The little remains I
: his command was employed in post dut.
His spirit seemed to have died with III
devoted division. When asked why |
; did not arouse his energies, and aid h
countrymen, he replied in the language
e WEATHERFoRD to General jackson:
my braves would rally '7
And fight at their head;
VI But where is the warrior
,2 Can rally the dead?"
|3 GEORGE E PICKETT was hero, defet
u ed and in bad cause, but none the less
a. hero.