The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1913-06-27
A NOVEL BATTLEFIELD SCENE
When the Blue and the Gray Joined In
a Birthday Celebration-A Meeting
With Grant In Washinston--Lin-
coins Visit to Mrs. Pickett.

Birthday Celebration-A Meeting
With Grant In Washinston--Lin-
coins Visit to Mrs. Pickett.
In Mrs. Pickett's Introductory chap.
ter to THE Heart of Soldier. AS Re
vealed In the Intimate Letters of Gen
eral George E. Pickett, c. S. A. there
Is an extremely interesting story. 1t
appears that while at Richmond, just
after the surrender, she was summon
ed to the door by sharp rap. She
gives charming account of what fol-
lowed:
With my baby on my arm answer
ed the knock. opened the door and
looked up at tall, gaunt, sad faced
man In Ill fitting clothes, who, with
Che accent of the north. asked:
rs this George Pickett's place."
"Yes. sir" / answered, but he is
not here"
II know that, ma'am," he replied.
"but / just wanted to see the place.
/ am abraham Lincoln"
''rhe PRESIDENT | gasped.
The stranger shook his head and
said: mo, ma'am; no, ma'am. Just
Abraham Lincoln; Georges old friend"
81 am George Pickett's wife, and this
is his baby" was all | could say.
My baby pushed away from me and
reached his hands to Mr.. Lincoln, who
took him In his arms. AS he did so
an expression of rapt. almost divine
tenderness and love lighted up the sad
face. 1t was a look that | have never
seen on any other face. My baby
opened his mouth wide and insisted
upon giving his fathers friend dewy,
infantile kiss. As Mr.. Lincoln gave
the little one back to me- shaking his
finger at him playfully, he said:
'"Tell your father. the rascal. that /
forgive him for the sake of that kiss
and those bright eyes"
Mrs. Pickett explains the interest
Lincoln showed in her husband by
stating that it was through Mr.. Lin
coins influence that her husband re-
ceived his appointment to West Point
One impression the book conveys Is
that of the kindly aud generous feeling
that existed between Confederates
and Unionists graduated from West
Point who had been friends before the
war. An exhibition of this feeling was
made at the time of the birth Of Gen
eral Picketts first baby. Mrs Pickett
telling the story, says:
On the occasion OF my sons birth
bonfires were lighted in celebration all
along Pickett's line. Grant saw them
and sent scouts to learn the cause
When they reported he said to General
Ingalls,: Haven't we some kinding
on this side OF the line? Why don't
we strike a light for the young Pick
ettY'
In a little while bonfires were fam
ing from the Fereral line A few days
later there was taken through the lines
baby's silver service engraved, ITO
George e. Pickett. Jr., from his
fathers friends. o. s. Grant. Rufus In
gals. George Suckley."
General Pickett. In a letter from
Washington, relates another incident In
which this same kindly feeling was
manifested:
After breakfast we went, as ar
ranged, to see Grant. can't just tell
you, my darling, about that visit
You'll have to wait till see you to tell
you how the warm hearted modest old
warrior and loyal friend met me; how
he took In his the hand of your heart
sore soldier-poor. broken, defeated,
profession gone-and, looking at him
for moment without speaking, said
slowly, pickett. if there Is anything
on the top of Gods green earth | can
do for you, say So"
When | started to go Grant pulled
down a checkbook and said, pickett,
1t seems funny. doesn't 1t, that should
have any money to offer, but how
much do you need?"
mot any, old fellow; not cent
thank you" / said Il have plenty
"But Rufus tells me that you have
begun to build a house to take the
place Of the one old Butler burned, and
how can you build 1t without money I
You do need some"
81 have sold some timber to pay for
It," told him, and to show my appre,
citation and gratitude, unobserved, !
affectionately squeezed his leg, when
he called out: Rufus. It's the same
old George Pickett Instead of pulling
my leg, he's squeezing it."