The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1913-06-20
GENERAL PICKETT.
The Friendship Between Him and
Lincoln and Grant.
4 NOVEL Battlefield SCENE


When the Blue and the Gray Joined In
Birthday Celebration "A Meeting
With Grant IN Washinston--Lin.
coins Visit to Mrs. Pickett.
ii Mrs. Pickett's Introductory chap
ter to THE Heart Of Soldier As Re
vealed In the Intimate Letters OF Cen
erai George b. Pickett, G. S. A, there
ii an extremely interesting story. It
appears that. while at Richmond, just
after the surrender. she was summon
ed to the door by q 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's with
the accentof the north, asked:
rs this George Pickett.s placer
Yes. sir" answered. '.but he Is
not here
4 know that. ma'am." he replied,
but | just wanted to see the place.
p am ADrdnam LlncOlu.
THE psesidentr' gasped.
The stranger shook his head and
said: .sNo. ma'am; no, ma'am. Just
Abraham Lincoln; Georges old friend. :"
II am George Pickett's wife. and this
Is his baby" was all could say.
NY baby pushed away from me and
reached his hands to Mr.. Lincoln. who
took him in bis arms. As he did so.
an expression Of rapt. almost divine
tenderness and love lighted up the sad
>sface It was a look that have never
zaRp on any other face. My baby
4ned 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 1
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 II 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 at the time Of the birth Of Gen
eral Pickett's first baby. Mrs. Pickett.
telling the story. says:
Oh the occasion Of my sons birth
3onfires 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 kindling
on this side Of the line2 Why don't
we strike a light for the young Pick
ett7''
IN little while bonflres were fam
ing from the Fereral line. A few days
later there was taken through the lines
baby's silver service engraved. "To
George q. Pickett, Jr.. from his
fathers friends, q. 8. Grant. Rufus In
gals. George Suckiey."
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
Youll have,to wait till see you to tell
you how the warm hearted, modest old
warrior and loyal friend met me; how
be took IN his the hand Of your heart
sore soldier poor, broken. defeated.
nprofession gone and, looking at him
ErSa moment without speaking, said
slowly. Pickett, If there Is anything
on the top Of Gods green earth can
do for you. say So" ss
When started to go Grant pulled
down checkbook and said. "Pickett,
It seems funny. doesn't 1t, that should
have any money to offer. but how
much do you needT
mot any. old fellow; not a cent.
thank you" said 81 have plenty
s'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 it without money!
You do need some"
II have sold some timber to pay for
IT. told him. and to show my appre-
citation and gratitude, unobserved, l
afrectionately squeezed his leg, when
be called out: sRufus, it's the same
old George Pickett Instead Of pulling
my leg, he's squeezing it.''
Sugar For the Heart.
Sugar ii n sniendfd medicine for the