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General George Pickett: In Life and Legend in Civil War America

Ira Cox

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General George Pickett, A Leading Confederate General In The American Civil War, Is Often Remembered For His Role In The Disastrous General George E Pickett In Life And Legend (Civil War America)

Early Life and Career

George Edward Pickett was born in Richmond, Virginia, on January 25, 1825. He was the son of Robert and Sarah Pickett. His father was a wealthy merchant and his mother was a devout Episcopalian. Pickett received a privileged education, attending the College of William and Mary and the United States Military Academy at West Point. He graduated from West Point in 1846, ranked 59th in a class of 59.

General George E. Pickett in Life and Legend (Civil War America)

by Lesley J. Gordon

4 out of 5

Language	:	English
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Pickett's early military career was undistinguished. He served in the Mexican-American War, but saw little combat. After the war, he was stationed in various frontier outposts. In 1855, he married LaSalle Corbell, the daughter of a wealthy Alabama planter. The couple had two children, a son and a daughter.

Civil War Service

When the Civil War broke out in 1861, Pickett resigned his commission in the U.S. Army and joined the Confederate army. He was appointed a brigadier general and given command of a brigade in the Army of Northern Virginia. Pickett fought in several major battles, including Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, and Gettysburg.

At the Battle of Gettysburg, Pickett commanded the third wave of Confederate infantry in the infamous "Pickett's Charge." The charge was a disaster, with the Confederates suffering heavy casualties. Pickett himself was wounded and forced to retreat.

Later Life and Legacy

After the war, Pickett returned to Virginia and worked as a farmer. He also wrote a memoir of his experiences in the war, entitled "The Story of a Soldier." Pickett died in Norfolk, Virginia, on October 30, 1875. He was buried in Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond.

George Pickett is a controversial figure in American history. He is often remembered as a reckless and foolhardy general, but he was also a brave and dedicated soldier. His life and career are a reminder of the complexities of the Civil War era.

In Popular Culture

George Pickett has been portrayed in numerous books, movies, and television shows. The most famous portrayal of Pickett is in the 1993 film "Gettysburg," in which he is played by actor Stephen Lang.

George Pickett was a complex and contradictory figure. He was a brave and dedicated soldier, but he was also reckless and foolhardy. His life and career are a reminder of the complexities of the Civil War era.

General George E. Pickett in Life and Legend (Civil War America)

by Lesley J. Gordon

4 out of 5