The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1913-06-24
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 Washineton-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 Cen
eral George e. Pickett, G. 5. A. there
is an extremely Interesting story. 1t
appears that while at Richmond, just
latter the surrender, she was summon
ed to the door by sharp rap. She
gives a 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
the accent of the north, asked:
is this George Pickett's placer
Eyes, SIR | answered, but he is
not here"
II know that, ma'am," he replied,
but l just wanted to see the place.
/ am Abraham Lincoln"
"The PRESIDENT | gasped.
The stranger shook his head and
said: mo, ma'am; no, ma'am. Just
Abraham lincoln; Georges old friend"
81 am George Piekett's wife. and this
Is lis baby" was all could say.
Ny baby pushed away from me and
reached his hands to Mr.. Lincoln, who
took Linn 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,
;nfantlie kiss AS Mr.. Lincoln gave
the little one back to me, shaking his
finger at him playfnlly. he said:
'"Tcll your father. the rascal, that /
forgive him for the sake of that kiss
,,,!d those bright eyes"
Mrs Pickett explains the interest
Lincoln showed In her husband by
stating that 1t 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 and 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 Mt the time of the birth Of Gen
eral Pickett's first baby. Mrs. Pickett
telling the story. says:
On the occasion of my sons birth
bonfres were lighted in celebration all
along Pickett's line. Grant saw them
aud sent scouts to learn the cause
When they reported he said to General
| ingalls,: Haven't we some kindline
on this side of the line? Why DOM
we strike a light for the young Pick
ett"
In a little while bonfires were fam
ing from the Fereral line. A few day.
later there was taken through the line!
baby's silver service engraved. "Tt
George E. Pickett. Jr., from his
fathers friends. o. s. Grant, Rufus In
| SdllS, GeOrSe OuChley
General Pickett, in a letter from
Washington. relates another incident II
which this same kindly feeling wal
manifested:
After breakfast we went, as ar
ranged, to see Grant. l can't just tel
you my darling, about that visit
You'll have to wait till see you to tel
you how the warm hearted, modest oh
warrior and loyal friend met me; hov
he took In his the hand Of your heart
sore soldier-poor, broken, defeated
profession gone-and, looking at hin
for a moment without speaking, sal
slowly, pickett, If there is anythin
on the top of Gods green earth ca
do for you, say So"
When | started to go Grant pulle
down a checkbook and said, "Picket
it seems funny, doesn't it, that shout
have any money to offer. but hoy
much do you need?"
mot any. old fellow; not CEN
thank you" said. II have plenty"
'fBut Rufus tells me that you hav
begun to build a house to take th
place of the one old Butler burned. an
how can you build it without money
You do need some
II have sold some timber to pay fc
it," | told him, and to show my nppr'
citation and gratitude, unobserved,
affectionately squeezed his leg, whe
he called out: Rufus. it's the sam
old George Pickett. Instead of pullin
my leg, he's squeezing it"