Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-03-28
'llNCOLN'S CALL ON GEN.
PICKETT.
An Incident of the War Presidents
Day in Richmond, Told by Mrs.
Pickett

The story is told by Mrs. Pickett,
widow of the confederate general,
George E. Pickett, who led the famous
charge at the battle of Gettysburg.
Va, and his home was in that city.
President Lincoln was at Gen. Grants
headquarters, at City Point, when the
last grand assault was made and Pc
tersburg was captured, the confederate
government leaders fleeing southwark
from Richmond and Lee retreating
westward with his army toward APP
pomattaX. Richmond was burning,
and everything in confusion The
Union troops took possession.
In Il few days Mr.. Lincoln went up
on gunboat, with few friends, and
visited various parts of the city. While
making the rounds he inquired where
Gen. Pickett lived Ct think, however,
he happened to see the name, George
+. Pickett" on the door plate) He
stopped. reflected moment or two.
then Knocked at the door. The sum-
mons was answered by Mrs. Pickett
herself. on opening the door she saw
a very tall, ungainly looking man, who
asked if George Pickett lived there.
General Pickett lives here, SIR
with special emphasis on the word
ieneraD. answered Mrs Pickett, but
he is notat home. he is with the army
under General Lee
We'll" answered the stranger, will
you please tell him when he returns
that his old friend Abe Lincoln called
to see him? / wish YOU good day
madam and he walked away.
From that day says Mrs Pickett.
Il have always had the greatest re-
spect for Mr.. Lincoln"
y common man would have said
president Lincoln" but Mr.. Lincoln
knew that he was known all over the
South as "Abc'' Lincoln, and / can
imagine a twinkle in his eye when he
said Abe to her. Years afterward
Mrs. Pickett became a widow, and be-
ing destitute, some kind friends OBJ
tanned elerkship for her in one of
the departments at Washington, where
she is yet. | saw dispatch few
days ago saying she was quite sick,
but recovering.
This incident was told a few years
|ago in Washington by Mrs. Pickett to
Mr.. Mccormick, q prominent lawyer
of Seattle. A good many people. ON
hearing the story wonder how Lincoln
and Pickett could be so intimate, one
an Illinoisan and the other a Nirgini-
an. but / happened to know some of
the circumstances leading to their ac-
quaintance. 1t seems that many years
before the Civil War, in fact before
the war with Mexico, young man
named George Il. Pickett, was cadet
at West Point United States military
academy. appointed from Virginia.
For some serious infraction of disci-
pliae' at school he had charges pre-
ferred against him which were liable
to result in his trial and dismissal
from the academy. Being on furlough
he went to visit some kinfolks in Illi-
nos not far from Springfield (some of
whom | afterward knew, and while
there they enlisted A. Lincoln, g young
lawyer of Springfield, to intervene to
save the boy from expulsion from
West Point. His efforts were success
| full; Young Pickett was retained as
cadet. He graduated with honor the
year the war with Mexico began. was
sent into the army, where he acquit-
ted himself with credit. This was the
beginning of the acquaintance OF
ABE" Lincoln with the afterward ia
mons Gen. Pickett of the confederate
army.-Chieago Inter-Ocean.