The Washington weekly post., 1899-06-20

The latost contribution TO the history Of
the War OF the Rebellion. which has been
increasing in accuracy and charity. a.
~elI a. volume. since the close OF that
terrible interuscine struggle a thiTd Of
century ago b. rom the pen OF a South
orn uonsau. widow OF one OF the heroes Of
the CentederaCy-Cen George +. Pickett
Il has been SIii that the women Of the
south were the last TO surrender. and, IA
fact some few of them have not yet ar
rived Al a point where they can look
back upon those DAYS OF dlssster 20 them
selves and all they held dearest IN the
world with anything like eqUanimity,
stu lesS see anything beneficial result
inC from the downfall Of the Confederacy.
Nobody can blame them FOR ;heir bitter
ness. IOr The women of the south were
doubtless the principal sufferers from
that war. They not only shared with
their Northern sisters the pangs OF be-
rcavcuent by the death IN battle nos
pitals. or prisons Of their best beloved,
bat they had all the horrors OF war
hrousht home 10 them They knew what
II was 10 tremble At the roar of the
guns. 20 suffer siege priystion, and de-
feat. 10 see their bones go up In smoke
their property ruined. their servants scat
tered and themselves reduced from anu
euce 10 positive penuTy. Small wonder,
then. that even the hand OF time has not
Vet entirely smoothed out the wrinkles OF
wrath and hatred IN their hearts; but
this fact renders still more remarkable
the volume entitled Pickett and Ills
Men" written with loyalty to friend ani
charity to foe by la Sale COrbell Pickett,
81 this city.
As the child wife % the dashing Con-
fcderate General, she knew what II was
TO suffer all the anxieties and actual pri-
Nations OF waT; she saw the home 70
which she was taken a. a bride, and
where her first son was born, burned and
utterly destroyed; she waited in the fallen
city OF Richmond while her husband Was
making his last fierce fight at Five Forks,
and heard the newsboys calling on the
STREETS the happily untrue tidings of his
death. Even after he was restored to her,
there were more terrors to follow. She
knew what il was TO be a fugitive, fear
ful OF every eye. as with her baby in her
arms. she followed her husband TO Can
ada. alone and unprotected, twice under
arrest, and teTrOTiZed almost 10 death.
Then she knew What IL was 20 return 10
a desolated home and gather up the rem
nants OF shattered fortune To begin
life anew; and after the death OF her
husband she was obliged TO fight the bat
tie of life alone, silently and uncOmplain-
ingy. Yet this is the woman who writes
in her preface to the present volume:
why do | write this book2 To add
my tribute 40 the memory of my hero
husband and the noble men who followed
him through the trials, dangers, and
hardships of d four years war. The i'm
pusc which moves me is love. and l
have endeavored that nothing should be
written unworthy of that motive. If
anything expressed or implied shall give
pain 10 any, whether he wore the gray or
the blue. IL is contrary To the purpose
or the wishes of the author. contrary to
The chivarous soul OF the soldier and
patriot, George f. Pickett. whose courage
and constancy this work is intended 10
commemorate
Her dedication is likewise unique and
characteristic:
To my husband the MOI le leader of that hand Of
heroes, whose deeds sparkling jewels set in the
history Of the Army Of Northern Virginia | would
gladly nscribe this book-to him alone TO whom
my life had been dedicated; but remembering how
often. in the humility OF his great soul he has
said. Il did not do tiny men cid it all" feel
that he would be better pleased to know that the
lrave men Wlsm he Led through those four Ions
dark years have held high place In my thought, as
] have written. hence:
To the men OF Pickett's division Who vet CLASH
hands with NE in the friendship that was cemented
IN blood 10 grow stronger through all the passing
years, and 10 tse memory Of those who have gone
from our sight 10 he everpresent in oar hearts and
on the most glorious page Of eountry's history
THIS volume is lovingly dedicated.
Gen. Longstreets Tribute.
The preface by Gen. Longstreet is as
follows:
The distinguished subject Of these
memoirs ] first met as a cadet 1T Nest
Point IN the hey-day of his bright. Young
manhood, in 1872. Upon graduating, he
was assigned TO the regiment to which |
had been promoted, the Eighth United
States Infantry. and Lieut.. Pickett 81 rved
calamity with us continuously until. for
meriiortous service. he was promoted
Captain in 1856. He served with distin-
guished Vaior in all the battles of Gen.
Scott In Mexico, incluling the siege of
Vera Cruz, and was always CouSpIcuaus
for gallantTy. lie was The first to scale
the parapet Of ChapulteDec, On the 18th
OF september, l41, and was the praye
American who unfurled our hag over the
castle, as the enemies troops retreated.
firing Al the splendid Pickett as re fioated
our victorious COlOrs. In memory | can
see him, of medium height. Of graceful
build. dark. glossy hair. worn almost 10
his shoulders ii curly waves, of Wonorous
pulchritude and magnetic presence. as he
gdllantly rode from me on that nemJra-
bic 80 day of July, 1868, Saying in obedi-
ence 10 the imperative order 10 which |
could only bow assent: Il will lead MY di-
vision forward, Gen. LongsJreet."
He Was devoted TO his martial profess
sion, tolerating no rival near the throne.
except the beautiful. charming. and tai
ented lady, whose bright genius ana loyal
heart have penned these memories In her
noble soldier husband. and VINO. since he
left her, has fought. single-haaded and
aiCne the battle OF life. OF her and other
eX-Confederate widows, il can b. sid
that they have, since the war between
the States. fought as fierce battles as ever
their warrior husbands wsged. for n the
silent Passages OF the heart mday sevyrer
battles are waged than were ever fought
In Gettysburg.
George +. PicketJs greatest bate was
really AT Five Forks. April ]. 1850. Nrere
mis- plans and operations were mlstsrful
and skilful, and if they had oeal eArcut-
Cd as he designed them, there Iaisht nave
been no AppoaattOX, and despite the dis
parity OF Overwhelming numbers 4 lrn-
liant victory would have been his. if re-
endorsements, which he had vv--y reason
10 expect. had oPportune!y reached MIN.
but they were not ordered in ; sasop. and
did not Join th" hsrd-pT~ss-d Pickett I'M
I'll night, when his positions mad cong
since been attacked by vastly superior
numbers with repeating r.ffes tir WAS Of
a. open, frank, and genial temperament
but he felt very krcnly the distressing
calamities entailed upon lis beloved
sunny South by the results nf var: Vel
with the Characteristic iIrtitudc Of 4 .nl.
der hr bowed To the inevitable graceful
~ accepted the situation, TecJgnzal the
duty OF the unfortunate 90 ace -ot me re-
sult 10 no querul0us spirit. and felt his OBJ
legation te share its effects
no word Of blame or censu-c. even. Of
his superior OficeFs ever escaped Pick
crrs lips but he nevertheless frlt rro-
fOundly the sacrifice 0f his gallant .ol-
dierS whom he SO loved Al Five Forks