Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1913-02-13
MiSsivos Written Mid Roar
Of Cannon In Bloody
Civil War.

Confederate General re-
markable series of communi-
cations sent by Il soldier to his beloved.
under the most dangerous and des-
perate circumstances-lette written
from the thick of war. ringing of love
and Of valOr-has been running in the
Pictorial Review The letters have
stirred up controversy that has run
with particular zest through the south
ern states. and now that the last of
them is about to be printed the woman
to whom they were written has con
scented that the anonymity be destroy.
ed They were written by General
George Pickett to the girl who was
first Lasalle Corbell, afterward Mrs
Pickett.
Mrs. Pickett is now living in Wash
ingtOn and has been the leader of the
southern cOterie there for many years
The little general to whom the let
tiers refer came in after years to be a
major in the United States army and
died a year and half ago. returning
from service in the Philippines. His
two little sons now live with their dis
tinguished grandmother in Washing
ton.
Allegiance to the South.
In the first one of the series Gen.
eral Pickett tells why his allegiance
went to the Confederacy. He writes:
80 No. my child. / had no conception
and hatred toward those who we're so
lately our friends and are now our enc
mics. l. Of course. have always strenu-
ously opposed disunion. not as doubling
the right of secession. which was taught
in our textbooks at West Point. but as
gravely questioning its expediency. | he
lieved that the revolutionary spirit which
infected both north and south was but a
passing phase Of fanatcism which would
perish under the rebuke Of all good citi-
zens who would surely unite In UNFOLDING
the constitution. but when that great as
sembly. composed of ministers. lawyers.
Judges. chancellors. statesmen. mostly
white haired men of thought met in South
Carolina. and when their districts were
called crept noiselessly to the table in the
center OF the room and affixed their sig
natures to the parchment on which the
ordinance Of secession was inscribed. and
when in deathly silence, in spite Of the
gathered multitude. General Jamison arose
and without preamble read. 1.-THE ordi-
nance Of secession has been signed and
ratified: proclaim the state Of South Car
DINA an Independent sovereignty" and.
lastly when my old boyhood friend called
for an invasion. 1t was evident that both
the advocates and opponents Of secession
had read the portents Alright
You know. my little lady. some Of those
cross stitched notices on the cardboard
samplers which used to hang on my nurs-
cry wall. such as HE who provides not
for his own household IL worse than an
1nfidel." Charity begins at home" ETC..
made lasting impression upon me. and.
while love my neighbor-that 10. my
country-1 love my household-that is. my
state-more. and l could not be an infldel
and lift my sword against my own kith
and kin even though do believe. my most
wise little counselor and conhdant, that
the measure Of American greatness can
be achieved only under one flag. and l
fear. alas. there can never again reign for
either of US the true spirit Of national
unity. whether divided and under two
hags or united under one.
The subject is pursued In q later let
ter. which runs:
Why Chulita mia. all that we ask II a
separa ton from people of contending in.
terests. who love US as a nation as little
as we love them: the dissolution Of un-
ion that has lost its holiness. to be let
alone and permitted to sit under our own
vine and fig tree and eat our figs peeled
or dried or fresh or picked. Just as we
choose. The enemy Is our enemy be-
cause he neither knows nor understands
us and yet will not let US part In peace
and be neighbors. but insists on fighting us
to make US one with him. forgetting that
both slavery and secession were his own
institutions The north Is fighting for the
Union and we for home and flreside All
the men ! know and love in the world
comrades and friends. both north and
south-are exposed to hardships and dan
gers and are fighting on one side or the
other and each for that which he knows
to be right
viii you come my darling. and have
some coffee with your soldier? 1t Is some
we captured. and It Is real coffee. Come!
The tin cup is clean and shining. but the
corn bread is greasy and smoked. And the
bacon-that is greasy. too but II is good
and tastes all right II It will only hold
out till our stars and bars wave over oul
land of the free and our home of the
brave and we have our own home. New.
ermore we'll hear of wars. but only love
and life with its eternal Joys
On the night before General Picket,
was wounded at Gaines Mills he wrote
the following note:
- This was never contemplated In
earnest. l believe that II either the north
or the south had expected that its diff
ferences would result in this obstinate
cruel war the cold blooded Puritan and
the cock hated Huguenot and cavalier
would have made compromise. Poor old
Virginia came oftener than Noah's dove
with her olive branch. Though she de-
sired to be loyal to the union Of states,
she did not believe in the right of coer-
cion. and when called upon to furnish
troops to restrain her sister states she re-
fused and would not even permit the pas
sage Of an armed force through her do
main for that purpose. With no thought
of COST no consideration of disparity OF
relative strength or condition, she rolled
up her sleeves. ready to risk all in defense
Of q principle consecrated by the blood OF
her fathers. And now. alas. 1t Is too late!
We must carry through this bitter task
unto the end. May the end be soon
Begged For Immediate Marriage.
In April. 1863 General Pickett, ~
distraught with the fear that death In
battle would overtake him before he
could make little Miss Sallie" his
wife. wrote her to come to him at once
and be married. if need be. by road
side. In this letter he says:
This morning I awakened from a beau
for you. II you knew the incessant
thought and longing and desire to make
you blessed. you would know how much
your answer will mean to me and how
while l plead, / am held back by rever-
ence and sensitive alteration for you
for. Chulita mia, you are my goddess, and
am only your devoted. loving
SOLDIER.
On Road to Gettysburg.
The following exquisitely lyrical and
spiritual passage was written on the