Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1913-08-26
.GfN. P|CKETT'S FAMOUS
CHARGE At GETTYSBURG
God.
SO / came by the name Of Old
Glory

/ = q
Before repeating this matches:
tribute, Mrs. Morrison referred II
the G. A. r. post present in a body
as a court of honor for a confeder'
ate widow.
Mrs. Pickett's address on "Pick,
ett's Charge at Gettysburg" which
followed, beggars description. She
prefaced it with this little story
from her life: The day following
the evacuation of Richmond at the
close Of the war, there came knock
at her door, and she opened it, with
her baby in her arms, to see a tall
gaunt man, with kindly face. He
asked if this was the home of George
Pickett. Mrs. Pickett said it was
and she was the wife of George Pick
EFT but her husband was not at
home. The man assured her that
he knew that, but he had come to
see the home, that he was Abraham
Lincoln.
president Lincoln?" she exclaim-
ed, '.No, just Abraham Lincoln,
George Pickett's old friend. / want
to see the place he described to me
SO often when we were down in old
Quincy together, the roses his moth
er planted. Why, George and l
were great friends and secured his
appointment to West Point"
To the surprise of the mother the
little babe had thrown out its arms.
and put up its face to be kissed by
the man who drew little children to
him just as truly as the sun draws
the flowers. After he had seen all
about the place, his farewell to the
baby was, Goodbye little rascal,
I'll try to forgive your father for the
sake of those bright eyes and that
sweet kiss" 1.-TWO and a half years
ago." said Mrs. Pickett, that baby
was brought home to me from across
the sea wearing the military blue,
his hands folded upon his breast
the worthy son of worthy father"
The address, Pickett's charge. is
clothed in language that expresses
not only the bald facts but the hear
ersrealizes that the. heart, yea, the
soul of the woman, is in her words.
She tells us how nature had prepar-
ed this place in which two oppos-
ing armies were to meet and fight
the battle which was the turning
point in a great war. Not only had
nature done this, but men had fur
thered the preparation by the roads
which made 1t accessible in all direc-
tions.
In the spring of 1868, the Con-
federate armies were at the high
tide of success. In consequence the
Federal armies were at the low ebb
of defeat. Disaster after disaster
had come to the army Of the Poto-
mac. Leader after leader had been
unable to change the tide Of affairs.
In the flush of success, General Lee
planned the invasion of the north
Gen. Pickett tried to dissuade him.
giving as a reason that to invade
the homes of the opposing army.
would fire them with a new enthus-
iasm that might prove disastrous to
the enemy. Thus far the Federal
army in their attempt to invade the
southland had met with defeat. Gen.
Lee did not heed this warning and
the flower of the Confederate army
began the invasion of the north.
As the Virgiana troops five thous
and strong with Gen. Pickett at
their head were marching through
Charlottsburg, little girl came out
on the porch of her home, waving
the union flag and crying aloud,
Traitors. traitors. every one Of
you. Don't you dare to touch this
flag. | wish you were all dead!'
General Pickett rode up to her.
touched his hat. saluted the flag.
then back to his men and gave his
command and as they marched pass
ed each man saluted the nag. And
the little girl called after them
81 wish had rebel flag. and I'd
wave that, too.
Pickett's disastrous charge was
not made until the last day Of the
battle. When Gen. Lee was about
to order the Virginia troops to
charge the heights, Gen. Lon gstreet
again tried to prevent the awful
slaughter he knew would result. He
declared $1,000 men could not take
those heights. However, the order
was given and Longstreet said, 80
boys we are to storm those heights
and this will be sad day for old
Virginia" YES" replied Gen.