Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-05-30
MRS. PICKETT HERE.
ENTHUSIASTICALLY RECEIVED AT
THE CONFEDERATE FESTIVAL.
GIVES TWO DELIGHTFUL READINGS.
Intensely Interested i'm the Proposed
Home-BattIe of Gaines's Miii-her
Literary LnbOrs and Appalling
LOss-Futurc Plans.

/
Of the dauntless Picketts command
passed in review before the widow OF him
| whose memory they venerate above ali
| things. 1t was at the Armory last night,
surrounded by the brave old gatherings
Of the Confederacy, that this most i'm
portant and interesting event of the fes-
| tival took place.
The provision of a home for the widows
and orphans and the poor Of the Con-
| federacy is a movement in which Mrs.
Pickett is intensely interested. The idea
| of the establishment of such an institu-
ton. indeed emanated from her, and
has been one Of her pet schemes for seve-
raj years. Speaking to a Dispatch re-
porter last night. she said the need CT II
was borne in upon her by the numerous
applications she received for help. Every
month she has devoted the pension al
| lowed her by the United States in con-
| sideratiOn Of her husbands services in
the Mexican war to buying groceries,
which she has distributed among four
| Confederate families. She received so
many pathetic and urgent appeals that
| she decided to bend her energies TO the
establishment of such q home as the one
now I'm contemplation. She wrote 10 her
friends. asking them 10 help her, and
! then the camp decided to put their Shout
ders To the wheel.
RECEPTION AT THE ARMORY.
Mrs Pickett arrived in the city from
Washington last night over the Chesa-
peake and ohio railway. Nine o'clock
was the hour set for her reception at the
Armory and punctual TO the appointment
| she entered on the arm of Past-Com-
mander Northen, of Pickett Camp. The
| men Of her husbands command were
drawn up in double lines across the Ar
mory, and greeted her with three lusty
| cheers. Mrs. Pickett inspected the men,
and after visiting the numerous booths,
was conducted 10 Sanger Hall, where she
| had undertaken to give two readings for
the benefit Of the cause.
| She was introduced by Hon. ID. c.
Richardson in a few we'll chosen words
| The Last Review OF the Old Division"
| was the subject of Mrs. Pickett's first
reading. Intensely interesting and illu-
| minated with personal "reminiscences
Mr. Pickett held the attention Of her
hearers throughout the recital. She had
accompanied her husband on horseback
on that last review. She told graphically
| the thrilling story of the battle of
Gaines's Mill. the most remarkable event
OF that remarkable campaign. In II
| General Pickett was wounded. and the
| bone of his arm shattered. but still he
| led his men on. the wounded member
limp and paralyzed at his side, That
| battle decided McClellan's change Of
base.
THE PICKETT MEMOIRS.
Mrs Pickett told how she had devoted
| fifteen years Of her life TO writing the
life of General Pickett and his men, and
| the lives that had crossed theirs. The
memoir was compiled from General
Picketts notes. and her own observa-
tions. The notes Of the General had
| been written on odd scraps Of paper, such
as opportunity offered-p.eces Of wall
paper envelopes and letters. The man
uscript was all ready and had been ac-
cepted by a publisher, after Mrs. Pickett
| had declined an offer of $4,000 for 1t. 1t
had. however. TO be typewriter. and
| Mrs Pickett entrusted it to lady for
| that purpose. VINO was In INDECENT cir
cumstances Poverty and want, how
| ever. had done their work and the poor
woman's mind became unbalanced, and
I'm her frenzy she burned nearly all the
pages of the work on which fifteen years
of Mrs Pickett's life had been spent.
At the first intimation Of the woman's
| condition Mrs. Emily Thornton left for
Indiana. but was too late TO save any
Of the manuscript, except two chapters.
The news was a crushing blow to Mrs.
Pickett. and her hair turned white in
single night. and she suffered a stroke
of partial paralysis.
She read the two chapters that were
saved last night, by special request, and
announced her intention OF writing the
| book oyer again.
TO PUBLISH DIALECT SKETCHES.
Mrs. Pickett has also written a dia-
1act sketch-book. which is now ready for
publication. and the proceeds Of which
will be devoted to the cause which MIS-
Pickett has so close at heart.
81 do intend" she said, that the
women OF the Confederacy shall have
home. Mrs Hurst, Of California, has
guaranteed TO endow the institution as
soon as the building Is erected she
smoke with a great vigor Of determina-
ton along this lire. and said she never
failed in anything she undertook. MY
manuscript was burned and my heart
broken" she added, but l am going to
write il again
The work will contain n history Of the
hattie Of Gettysburg and as no account
Of il has ever been written. it will be
awaited with uncommon interest.
Mrs. Pickett is accompanied on her
visit by Mrs. and Miss Drummond, the
widow and daughter OF Union soldier.
She Is the guest 81 Mrs. \. Y. Stokes.
who is the nearest living relative OF
General Pickett. except his brother. She
will remain until after the Memorial
Day ceremonies tomorrow.
TO LECTURE HERE AGAIN.
Tn the fan she will give a reading at
the Academy or behalf OF the home.
and SAYS that she hopes upon that oc-
oasion every one viii come 70 hear her
She will draw the curtains aside, she
saws. and tell some stories that nave
never been made public.
In sneakng Of General Picketts notes
ofts- the reading Mrs Pickett said
s.rn,,,q feature Of them was that the
General never made use OF the personal
,rono,in but always said. 'AIv men did"
mis- or that. She caused n hearty laugh
~, telling how. as a chlld-bride. she
snont her DAYS IN the camp. and her
con was born there. ard passed. IN re-
,.tou, along the lines, and how she had
boen scarcely able 10 recognize her baby
Then he was returned TO her with his
clotbing all black and stained with pow
der through being passed from hand to
hand. Mrs. Pickett's address was fol-
lowed by an attractive musical pro-
gramme. arranged by Sergeant Whit
lccl, including the following numbers:
Miss Ellen Taylor recitation
Miss Anna c. Martin and Miss Ellen
Charters. duet
Miss Ellen TAYLOR. instrumental solo.
Mr. " s Watkins and Mr.. Oscar Lob
man. duet
Tony Miller sextette.
sfter the entertainment Mrs. Pickett
rela n reception in the Armory. and
very member Of the camp was intro
sucea 10 her. II has been decided that
Ne bazaar shall be kept open Tomorrow