Waterloo50
Major
- Joined
- Jul 7, 2015
- Location
- England
I guess that anyone who knows the name George E Pickett will be aware of the Kinston 22. I’ve read quite a few accounts of the hangings and it makes for quite uncomfortable reading. I’m hoping that people can help me out here, I view Picketts actions at Kinston as murder yet others argue that Pickett was quite within his rights to see the 22 deserters hanged.
In a letter to Major General Peck, Pickett argued that because these men had originally enlisted with the confederate army and because they were captured taking up arms against their colours, if found guilty he had every right to punish them accordingly. General Peck had told Pickett in a letter that he had also captured a number of confederate officers and men and reading between the lines, it looked as if General Peck was hoping to exchange prisoners.
What baffles me is that rather than secure the release of of those captured men, Pickett seemed intent on hanging his alleged deserters, I say alleged because many of those captured argued that they were forced into Union service. Pickett went so far as to tell Peck that if he believed that the confederate men held by union forces were deserters then he ‘Peck’ could treat them similarly, if they weren’t confederate deserters then he reasoned that if Peck were to hang them in retaliation, he would be guilty of murder.
on the face of it Pickett argued that he had the law on his side and that under confederate military law, deserters would hang.
I’m interested to know what is the general consensus, was Pickett guilty of murder or had he acted appropriately and within the law?
I’d also be interested to know if anyone has any theories as to why Pickett seemed set on hanging those men, was he such a loyal servant to the confederacy that he couldn’t tolerate desertion or was there another reason?
In a letter to Major General Peck, Pickett argued that because these men had originally enlisted with the confederate army and because they were captured taking up arms against their colours, if found guilty he had every right to punish them accordingly. General Peck had told Pickett in a letter that he had also captured a number of confederate officers and men and reading between the lines, it looked as if General Peck was hoping to exchange prisoners.
What baffles me is that rather than secure the release of of those captured men, Pickett seemed intent on hanging his alleged deserters, I say alleged because many of those captured argued that they were forced into Union service. Pickett went so far as to tell Peck that if he believed that the confederate men held by union forces were deserters then he ‘Peck’ could treat them similarly, if they weren’t confederate deserters then he reasoned that if Peck were to hang them in retaliation, he would be guilty of murder.
on the face of it Pickett argued that he had the law on his side and that under confederate military law, deserters would hang.
I’m interested to know what is the general consensus, was Pickett guilty of murder or had he acted appropriately and within the law?
I’d also be interested to know if anyone has any theories as to why Pickett seemed set on hanging those men, was he such a loyal servant to the confederacy that he couldn’t tolerate desertion or was there another reason?