The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-05-19
Voice Of the People
Exon.rnics general pickett.

| q lne liulior OIL Inc IlmeS-l1lS pa ten.
Sir.--ln your paper OF March : |
there appeared an article headed, Pie
lure Pickett AS Enemy OF C;encra!
Lee. that tells OF q painful meeting
of the Two generals at the Ballard
House, IN Richmond. which was cold
and formal. and evidently embarrass-
inG"to both commanders. Fortunate
ly. ~ noble woman OF Richmond (Aliss
Is. G. Stilcsl, was present AT this very
meeting. and she writes. "Shc saw no
stiffness. That Colone. Mosby speaks
Of hut that General Lee rose and
introduced me- cher, 10 General Pickett
and colonel Mostly "in his Own cordial.
diSnified manner. We chattcd to-
gether a while pleasantly and then
these two gentIcmcn took their leave
Now this statement of Miss stiles is
sufficient to prove the falsity Of Colonel
Mosby's Impressions To every true Con
icdcratc. hut deny that there was
ever any unpleasant feelings tro:n GEN
cr'u Pickett to General Lee, hut that
General Pickett always TO tic day OF
his death spoke OF General Lee as
every Confederate always did. in the
klndcst and most reverential manner.
NOM, Vas the brotiier-in-Iaw of Gen
eral Pickett; married his only sister.
and there was always between nix Tie
most cordial and confidential relations
~ was an officer in General Pickctt's
diViHion tile last TWO years OF tho war.
and was perhaps nearer to him and
saw as much Of him as any ono. save
his brother Major Charles pickett. who
was adjutant- general OF his division.
and always with him. and from the
day after lie battle Of Five Forks. (
rode with him ana ny regiment every
step of the way 10 AppomattoX and
was with him AT the very time OF the
...Yt, s..F
ing sen, in by Grant and shortly ar
forwards when the terms OF tic sur
render came to General Pickctt's head
Quarters | know, therefore. that Gen
eral Pickett was in comma nd of his
I division at Five Forks. and after that
his division brought IN the rear OF
General Lees army all .thc way from
/ the Petersburg lines 10 Sailors Creek.
I "ncre his division bore the br,int OF
mat herce fight, and where one OF his
brigadters General Hunton) was can
,tured with some OF his men. and from
that tight We escaped that night and
soi together the same night near the
IfiSh Bridge at Gwathrncy's firm
about TWO miles below Farnlville Tho
next morning We began the retreat
ne ranks having nllcd up considerable,
anu we marched along together, and !
! I'm sure was with General Pickett
almost every hour until tile close OF
tie Confederate struggle L. therefore
feel confident and competent To assert
that General Pickett never was under
arrest al any time, and that he was in
| command of his division to the latcsi
moment OF lie existence OF General
Lee army at AppomattoX. IL is most
painful and distressing and difficult 10
understand how an officer. who was as
distinguished as Colonel Mosby was
can now: after twenty years Che says
ne has known this). publish such. 81
slur upon The name Of a distinguished
, roihrade. and thai. too. after he IS
dead and every officer above a ma ior.
i'm his division. is dead cxcep, onr
'l-ieutena Colonel Edmond Bcrkley
OF The Eighth Virginia, hear, is Nv
ing), who could and would brand This
statement as n most Infamous false
hood
shame. say. on colonel Arosby and
shame upon all others, such as Paul
iNcnablc tha, did utter such. n lhel,
nave Just been shown most worthy.
ana positive refutation Of this vile
SANDER, written by Or NJ G; Elzey.
ana published in Tile Times Dispatch OF
sunday. April .. every word Of which
Is true. as DR.. Elzey was an officer I'm
TIE same command as myself and ,yas
win us all the way from where we
So'ilii'ehcen TIC retreat 70 the final end
; oi our army at APPROXIMATION. His ar
lic'e expresses the whole truth and
| SO much better than mine that accep,
II and thank him and will close by
ieassertinE that General George T..
: lcKctl was never al any time nor al
any place under arrest. but was In fun
command of what was left of his divi-
sion until the end Of General Lees
army. and consequently OF the death
oil me Confederate states.
| :. BLAIR iBuRyVf5LT. n D.
surgeon Of the Eighth Virginia Rcgi-
! ,nent' iinnton's Brigade. PicketCs
Ii Division
i'owhatan county.