Payette enterprise. (Payette, Canyon Co., Idaho) 1909-1935, 1913-09-04
General PICKETT.
The Friendship Between Him and
Lincoln and Grant.
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.
In Mrs. Pickett's Introductory chap
ter to 1.-THE Heart of a Soldier. AS Re
vealed In the Intimate Letters Of Gen
eral George e. Pickett G. 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 a charming account of what fol
| flowed:
With my baby on my arm answer
ed the knock. opened the door and
looked up at tall, gaunt sad faced
man in i'll fitting clothes, who, with
the accent of the north, asked:
rs this George Pickett's placer
Yes. sir" l answered, but he is
not here
Il know that, ma'am," he replied,
but | just wanted to see the place.
| am Abraham Lincoln"
THE PRESIDENT 1 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 1 could say.
My baby pushed away from me and
reached his hands to Mr.. Lincoln, who
nok him in his arms. AS he did so
IN expression of rapt, almost divine
-Guderness and love lighted up the sad
FACE 1t was Il look that have never
seen on any other face. My baby
lYaned his month wide and insisted
upon giving his fathers friend dewy,
'nfIntile kiss. AS Mr. Lincoln gave
Ae little one back to me, shaking bis
f@cer Mt him playfully. he said:
Tell your father, the rascal, that 1
s3rgive him for the sake of that kiss
nd those bright eyes"
Mrs Pickett explains the interest
Lincon showed in her husband by
stating that it was through Mr.. Lin
oln's influence that her husband re-
eiveI his appointment to West Point.
One impression the book conveys is
hat of the kindly and generous feeling
that existed between Confederates
ard Unionists graduated from West
:'oint who had been friends before the
var. An exhibition of this feeling was
Made mt the time of the birth of Gen
aral Pickett's first baby. Mrs. Pickett,
.el!ing the story, says:
On the occasion of my sons birth
tonares were lighted in celebration all
long Pickett's line. Grant saw them
md sent scouts to learn the cause.
When they reported he said to General
ingalls,: Haven't we some kindling
N this side of the line? Why don't
ve strike light for the young Pick
,tt?"
In little while bonfires were fam
ns from the Fereral line. A few days |
alter there was taken through the lines
baby's silver service engraved, ITO
!eorge e. Pickett. Jr., from his
ather'S friends, U. S. Grant, Rufus In
ais. George Suckley."
General Pickett. in letter from
Washington, relates another incident in
'hich this same kindly feeling was
After breakfast we went, as ar
lnged. to see Grant. l can't just tell
ou my darling, about that visit.
ou'll have to wait till I see you to tell
on how the warm hearted, modest old
'arrior and loyal friend met me; how
@ took in his the hand of your heart
ore soldier-poor, broken, defeated,
rofession gone-and, looking at him
)r a moment without speaking, said
owly, pickett, if there is anything
u the top of Gods green earth l can
0 for you. say So"
When 1 started to go Grant pulled
own a checkbook and said, pickett,
seems funny. doesn't it, that should
ave any money to offer, but how
uch do you need?"
mot any. old fellow; not a cent,
lank YOU" I said. 81 have plenty"
But Rufus tells me that you have
egun to build a house to take the
ace of the one old Butler burned, and Z
wv can you build it without money?
on do need some"
81 have sold some timber to pay for
i" told him, and to show my appre-
alton and gratitude, unobserved, /
fectionately squeezed his leg, when
, called out: rufus, it's the same =
l George Pickett. Instead Of pulling
Y leg, he's squeezing it."
Sugar For the Heart.