pattyjo
Sergeant
- Joined
- Nov 18, 2011
- Location
- Abbottstown, PA
Pickettt in later years said, referring to Lee " That old man had my whole division killed".
AgreedActually, I don't think Lee found it as hard to forgive Pickett for Gettysburg as he did for Five Forks. Lee knew very well who lost Getttysburg - he did.
I agree.Still it smacks of being unconcerned, especially given the dire straits of the ANV at the time.
I believe so.Well, not to cast aspersions or anything...but doesn't a shad bake traditionally include some certain...liquids?
I'm not following as to why Lee would need to forgive Pickett for anything having to do with Pickett's charge. I'm not sure I'm following this thread very well either.
I've always chuckled about Shelby Foote's story about Lee and Pickett. Lee relieved him of command but the order never reached him. One day Pickett came riding by Lee's tent all aglitter with his perfumed ringlets flying. Lee glowered at him and murmured, "Is that man still with the army?" George Pickett was one of Lee's many cousins, by the way.
Then there was the little scene only Mosby relates. Pickett and Mosby had visited Lee and, according to Mosby, it was an uncomfortable visit. As they walked away, Pickett burst out, "That old man massacred my division at Gettysburg!" Mosby, who wasn't much for a whiner, replied, "Well, at least it made you famous!" A friend of the family, a Miss Stiles, reports a different meeting - she was present when Pickett and Mosby visited and detected no hard feelings on either side. There may have been a bit of stiffness on Lee's part but Pickett should not have taken it personally although he couldn't have known the real reason for Lee's somewhat cold demeanour - he had been told that day by a doctor that he was dying.
No, Pickett did not forgive Lee for the charge but the one who REALLY didn't forgive him was Sallie (LaSalle) Corbell Pickett! She spent the rest of her life defending her husband like a mama bear, and was a popular speaker. She died in 1931. She claimed to have Pickett's mysteriously missing report of the battle that Lee is said to have rejected, but never produced it.
However, Pickett also did Lee wrong at the battle of Five Forks. I am sure Lee ultimately forgave Pickett. His behavior at Five Forks was atrocious. I would not be so quick to forgive him for his conduct at Five Forks. The height of irresponsibility.