The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1889-12-14
Mother Of Our Union"

history is not only exceptionally in
teresting, but in a sense nationally
so-for to her belongs the honor of
bringing about fraternal union of
the Blue and the Gray who survived
the late war of the rebellion. The
first interest, however. attaches to
her as the widow of the late Confed.
crate General, George Pickett. whose
bravery and manliness both sides
concede.
All mankind-and we grant at
once that they only are judges of
what constitute womaniy beauty
consider Mrs. Picket a beautiful wo-
man. She Is above medium height,
Her figure Is all soft lines and curves.
Her eyes and hair are black. the first
large. melting or flashing as is her
mood. Her hands and feet are small,
and her taste in dress Is good. and
she is still in her early forties, and rs
charming as when she became a
bride at fifteen. with that additional
grace of manner which comes only
with maturity.
On a recent occasion Mrs. Pickett
was persuaded by the writer to go in.
to the details of the fact so often sim
ply stated that after the close of the
war Gen. Pickett and wife sought
safety from possible arrest for treason
by an incognito residence in Canada.
She said:
"As l told you once before. 1 was
only fifteen when / was married. my
home was in possession of the Yam
KEGS. My lover was on the other
side-Gen. Pickett. Our wedding
day was at hand. and he could not
come for me, but he managed to
communicate with me. All strata
gems are fair in love and war. My
family got permission to 60 through
the lines. and Gen, Pickett with a
guard came as far on the way to meet
me as he dared. We met half way
and were married at Petersburg by
the Rev. DR.. Platt. We at once
went into the fed. and must say
wac happier in the midst of wars
alarms than I was at home with ab-
sence and anxiety for companions.
IL was as arrant little rebel as the
South ever provided. l did not be.
lieve Yankee could be as refined
and intelligent gentleman as those
on our side, nor did / think them as
well educated or as brave. | would
scarcely look at one, much less shake
hands. All this amused my hus-
band. for he was educated at West
Point, was cosmopolitan, and look
ed upon my opinions as the i'll formed
ideas of mere girl. A change IN my
sentiments came about after the war
in this wise. We had become self.
imposed exiles. because we supposed
all active participants, such as Off
GERS, would be punished for treason.
We fed to Canada under my hus-
bands mothers family name of
Edwards. and we were as poor and
obscure as church mice. l will tell
you about that directly. Well, after
various vicissitudes. and remaining
there a year and half, Gen. Grant
heard of our case and he telegraphed
to Gen. Pickett that he could return
to the States, as the terms of the sur
render would be carried OUT We
returned to New York and a recep-
ton WAS given to my husbend by old
comrades in the city, and so many
Union officers came to see US and
treated US so kindly, were so well ed
ucated. so refined. I was heartily
ashamed of my former estimate of a
Yankee. especially after Gen. Grant
offered to make my husband marshal
of Virginia.
ITO give some expression to my
feelings, on our return to Virginia,
thought would have my husbands
watch, which was an heirloom, en-.
graved unknown to him and present
il to him on the anniversary of the
battle of Gettysburg. to indicate to
him my changed sentiments. 1
thought by giving all the battles In
which he had fought during the
Mexican War. and as a Confederate,
and by crossing the flags to symbol.
ize the union of the Blue and the
Gray, that I could DO SO. No jeweler
In Richmond would engrave such a
piece of 'treachery to the South
Public sentiment was against any
such feeling being expressed and 1
had to send it to Baltimore to have
it done, after which had the pleas
ure Ofgiving it to my husband on the
anniversary of the battle of Gettys.
burg. as had planned.
"Returning to our Canadian exper-
fence, as 1 said. we were without any