Pickett

[Kyle R]

Read Leader of the Charge: A Biography of General George E. Pickett, C.S.A. by Edward G. Longacre and Lee vs. Pickett: Two Divided by War by Richard F. Selcer. Questions: (1) why did not Lee relieve Pickett from command post Gettysburg? or (2) move Pickett somewhere else like Lee did with commanding officers post Seven Days Battles? and (3) is it recorded anywhere that Longstreet stood up for Pickett and kept him as a division commander?

From reading and research, it seems Pickett lost his drive and focus once LaSalle became his focus. Pickett's actions south of Richmond skirt dereliction of duty very closely. With the Gettysburg performance just not sure why he was retained in command.

 

[ami]

moved from the submission forum, don't want it to get lost

 

[dlofting]

Pickett's actions south of Richmond skirt dereliction of duty very closely. With the Gettysburg performance just not sure why he was retained in command.

I agree that Pickett's shad bake could have resulted in Lee relieving him, if the circumstances had been different.

I don't think Pickett's performance at Gettysburg was bad...in fact I'd argue that Pickett and his brigade commanders did the job as best they could

 

[Ole Miss]

Gettysburg was devastating to the command structure of the Army of Northern Virginia as Lee lost 6 generals. He simply did not have anyone else to turn to. After Gettysburg, Picket and his division were sent (bannished?) to North Carolina and did not return to the AONV till the spring of 1864 and then became grist for the mill of the Overland Campaign.
Regards
David

Semmes, Barksdale, Armistead, Garnett, and Pender (plus Pettigrew

 

[bankerpapaw]

I agree that Pickett's shad bake could have resulted in Lee relieving him, if the circumstances had been different.

I don't think Pickett's performance at Gettysburg was bad...in fact I'd argue that Pickett and his brigade commanders did the job as best they could

I've often wondered why Pickett wasn't relieved of his command after the Shad Bake thing. Probably because the war was almost over. I've often thought it extremely inconsiderate of Pickett to do that when his men were literally starving.

 

[jackt62]

Questions: (1) why did not Lee relieve Pickett from command post Gettysburg? or (2) move Pickett somewhere else like Lee did with commanding officers post Seven Days Battles? and (3) is it recorded anywhere that Longstreet stood up for Pickett and kept him as a division commander?

1. There does not appear to be cause for Lee to have considered Pickett's relief post-Gettysburg. Pickett after all, was only one of three division commanders (with Trimble and Pettigrew) to carry out the assault, and Pickett's brigades were arguably the most successful in breaching the federal line. The reasons for the failed assault are many and range from unproven reliance on the artillery barrage, lack of support on the flanks, and the difficulty (if not impossibility) of a frontal attack against an entrenched position. There has been some carping about Pickett's leading from the rear, but for an action that size and given his effective brigade commanders, his responsibility for command and control was best done behind the assaulting column. In any case, Lee acknowledged his own responsibility for the failed assault, which Pickett and Longstreet already understood would be a futile endeavor.
2. Lee did make changes to the ANV after Gettysburg but these were mostly due to the exigencies of the military situation. Longstreet's corps was sent to bolster Bragg in Tennessee/Georgia in September 1863. Pickett was sent to North Carolina to deal with the ongoing federal presence along the coast. But Pickett's Division rejoined the ANV for the Petersburg Campaign until the end of the war.
3. Longstreet favored Pickett and was something of a mentor to him throughout his career, although there was some annoyance when Pickett got involved with LaSalle Corbell Pickett. For sure, Pickett's career after Gettysburg was burdened by problems including his failure to retake New Berne in North Carolina, the infamous incident in which Pickett had federal prisoners who were alleged Confederate deserters hung, and the fiasco at Five Forks when Pickett's timing at a shad bake did not help his reputation.

 

[jackt62]

I've often wondered why Pickett wasn't relieved of his command after the Shad Bake thing.

Generals Thomas Rosser, and Lee's nephew, Fitzhugh Lee were also at the shad bake so there may have been reluctance on the part of Lee to single out Pickett. Moreover, I'm not even sure if Lee was aware of the shad bake until much later. In any case, Pickett was presumed to have been relieved by Lee after the Battle of Saylor's Creek not long after on April 6, 1865 when much of the ANV "dissolved."

 

[rpkennedy]

Generals Thomas Rosser, and Lee's nephew, Fitzhugh Lee were also at the shad bake so there may have been reluctance on the part of Lee to single out Pickett. Moreover, I'm not even sure if Lee was aware of the shad bake until much later. In any case, Pickett was presumed to have been relieved by Lee after the Battle of Saylor's Creek not long after on April 6, 1865 when much of the ANV "dissolved."

Didn't Lee make the comment along the lines of "Why is that man still with the army?"

Ryan

 

[Greywolf]

Interesting

Mosby's Claim Unsubstantiated

 

[danny]

Gettysburg was devastating to the command structure of the Army of Northern Virginia as Lee lost 6 generals. He simply did not have anyone else to turn to. After Gettysburg, Picket and his division were sent (bannished?) to North Carolina and did not return to the AONV till the spring of 1864 and then became grist for the mill of the Overland Campaign.
Regards
David

Semmes, Barksdale, Armistead, Garnett, and Pender (plus Pettigrew

I believe Pickett's Division was reassigned to the Richmond/North Carolina Department due to their devastated condition after Gettysburg. The hope was that they could recruit some of their losses through conscription, enlistments, and returnees from hospitals.

 

[Ole Miss]

Montgmery Corse's Brigade and Micah Jenkins's, part of Pickett's Division were detached to protect Richmond during the Gettysburg Campaign and were reassigned to him after the battle.
Regards
David

 

[danny]

Montgmery Corse's Brigade and Micah Jenkins's, part of Pickett's Division were detached to protect Richmond during the Gettysburg Campaign and were reassigned to him after the battle.
Regards
David

Corse's Brigade was rather small numerically and was sent out to SW Virginia in September 63 for several months.
Jenkins' Brigade, on the other hand, was very large and ready for action.

Jenkins was aching to be where the action was:

7/30/63 Petersburg, Gen Jenkins cdg Div to R E Lee-In all the trials of your noble army my heart has been with you & my desire has been to be with & share your danger & hardships. I made repeated applications to be sent to you, but although promised that my Bgde should be next sent, yet circumstances have prevented. I sincerely trust that it may be so arranged in the future that I may retake my place under you. My Bgde is pronounced by all officers in unsurpassed condition, & I myself think I have never seen troops in such condition for efficient service. Can you not send some shattered Bgde to rest & recruit & get the President to allow me to join you with my Bgde! I am here temporarily to guard against raiders, but do not think the place in danger.

Aug, 1863 Hqs, Army of Northern Virginia, Lee to Jenkins-I regret exceedingly the absence of yourself & your Bgde from the battle of Gettysburg.
There is no telling what a gallant Bgde, led by an efficient cdr, might have accomplished when victory trembled in the balance. I verily believe the result would have been different if you had been present.

8/10/63 Hqs Petersburg, M. Jenkins to My Dear Friend, Longstreet's aide, Thomas J. Goree
As you have once again gotten within reach, I take advantage of Mr. Reily's going up to your Hqs to send a few lives of remembrance.
I have had a very pleasant time indeed, the hospitalities of Richmond & this city having been unsparing. We have made most charming lady friends & had very old comrades here in safety; I could not have been situated more to my pleasure. But I have been longing to be with you all the time & have made most earnest exertions to that effect. Have you all forgotten us? If not cannot another effort still bring me to you? My Bgde is in the best possible discipline & spirits & strong in numbers.
I volunteered to go to Charleston & drive the Yankees off Morris Island, submitting a plan of attack through Col Chesnut to President Davis. The President approved the plan, said my troops were the troops & I the officer to make it, but that he could not spare me from Richmond.
I am now at Petersburg in command & have a considerable force under me; but I would rather be back with Hood in the old Corps than here.
Present me with warmest regards to the General & my friends on the staff. Try & get leave to visit me for a short time, I want much to see you.

With his Bgde sitting around Richmond, Jenkins at least wanted to participate in some action - contribute somewhere. With Fort Wagner at Morris Island under siege from July through Sept, he then requested to have his Bgde transferred to Charleston & proposed a plan to break the siege & relieve the garrison at Wagner (I don't know exactly what that plan comprised of). Davis initially refused & the fort was abandoned in early Sept.

Just when Jenkins was beginning to believe he would never return to Lee's army & expected an eventual transfer to SC despite the fall of Morris Island, his Bgde was returned to Longstreet's Corps & placed in Hood's Div in Sept 1863, just prior to the Corps' transfer to the Western Theater to reinforce the Army of Tenn. Longstreet had sent Tige Anderson's Ga Bgde to Charleston in exchange for Jenkins', one reason being that Jenkins was a good friend & favorite of Longstreet's. It was also thought the Georgians might desert while in their home state without Anderson's leadership, he having been wounded at Gettysburg. Davis had then preferred Jenkins' transfer to Charleston; however it was too late before that could be countermanded.

 

[rpkennedy]

Just when Jenkins was beginning to believe he would never return to Lee's army & expected an eventual transfer to SC despite the fall of Morris Island, his Bgde was returned to Longstreet's Corps & placed in Hood's Div in Sept 1863, just prior to the Corps' transfer to the Western Theater to reinforce the Army of Tenn. Longstreet had sent Tige Anderson's Ga Bgde to Charleston in exchange for Jenkins', one reason being that Jenkins was a good friend & favorite of Longstreet's. It was also thought the Georgians might desert while in their home state without Anderson's leadership, he having been wounded at Gettysburg. Davis had then preferred Jenkins' transfer to Charleston; however it was too late before that could be countermanded.

It also probably didn't help that Anderson's Brigade had gotten the tar beaten out of them at Gettysburg, not to mention the loss of Anderson himself.

Ryan