Omaha daily bee., 1908-08-13
HOW GRANT HOyORED ENEMY
Federal Leader Ordered Bonhres for
Confederate's First Born.
MRS. PICKETT TELLS ANECDoTE
widow OF southern General who Led
Famous Charge at G~ettysburE
speaks TO Grand Army
Veterans.

Mrs. George z. Pickett, widow Of the
late confederate general, George r. Pickett.
leader Of the famous charge OF Picketts
division at the battle OF Gettysburg. de-
livered an a. lress last evening at the Ben
son Grand Army reunion grounds on the
Battle Of Gettysburg."
Il did not become the bride Of General
Pickett until shortly after the battle Of
Gettysburg." said Mrs. Pickett in an inter
view yesterday afternoon. though
was familiar with every detail OF the
battle from his reports and letters. Gen
eral Pickett died eleven years after the
war. We have one son, who is named
after his father. He is now a major in the
United States army, connected with the
paymaster's department and is on duty at
the Preside, San Francisco, Cal He has
served also in the Philippines and II is =
| pride to me to know that when the op-
p~ortunity offered he proved himself worthy
Of his father.
Grant Pays q Tribute.
Major Pickett. our son. was born July
Il, 1861. at Richmond. At that time you
will remember General Grant had begun
the investment Of Richmond and the two
armies were pretty close together. While
on his road to Richmond to see his boy.
General Pickett. who was very popular
with the army. was constantly on
graduated by his soldiers and officers and
some Of them built bonfires in honor Of
the event. These bonfires attracted the at
tention Of General Grant, who asked the
cause. Being told that General Pickett
was thus being congratulated over his new
son. General Grant remarked, Put a match
to some Of the brush heaps along out front
there in honor Of Pickett's boy Later a
set Of baby s~ilverwars was sent through
] the lines to our house with the donors
names attached to a card and the most
cordial expressions of congratulations. The
signers were General Phil Sheridan, Cen
eral Meade and other old friends and West
Point classmates Of my husband.
Il think / am one Of the few widows Of
confederate generals now living. MIS-
''Stonewan' Jackson is still living. She 1,
quite aged and is extremely rig and
vivacious for her years. She has a most
charming personality and she and 1 enjoy
a very dear ard close personal aoquain.
lance.
Cordially Greeted in North.
Everywhere go / find that the bitter
ness of the was has completely vanished
The Grand Army of the Republic and tn,
wives and daughters Of union soldiers, ex
tend to me that same cordiality that comes
from the confederates. 1 love TO NEE
them. There is a fraternity OF sympathy
between those who passed through tina
mighty struggle Of nearly half a %centur!
ago. both north and south, that grows witt
the years and which none but they can un
derstand."
How strongly this was manifested a
Appomattox. when General Sheridan. VIII.
was a class mate Of General Pickett, aske'
him to be his guest and entertained hin
with the sincerest hospitality for the da.
or two following until the terms Of tn
dispersal OF the confederate army could b
arranged. Only a short while before the
were engaged In the most deadly conflict
and within a few short hours were renew
ing the friendships of former years an
were again boys at the historic old academ
at West Point, forgetting and forgiving
and cementing anew a friendship that onl
ceased with ny husbands death"
During the day Mrs. Pickett was visite
by a number OF Grand Army men and sew
eral confederate veterans now living 4
Omaha. A delegation OF women Of bot
the Union and Confederate Auxiliary asso
Citations called upon Mrs. Pickett durin
the afternoon.