George Pickett documents for the years 1861 thru 1865

Richmond, VA - 27 September 1861

The Yankees are burning everything they can reach, and God only knows what excesses they may commit on the defenseless, should they have the power.

New Somerton Road - 21 April 1862

The Yankees are burning everything they can reach, and God only knows what excesses they may commit on the defenseless, should they have the power.

, VA - 0 May 1862

all that we ask is a separation from people of contending interests, who love us as a nation as little as we love them, the dissolution of a union which has lost its holiness, to be let alone

Mechanicsville, PA - 1 June 1862

Under orders from Old Peter, we marched at daylight and reported to D. H. Hill, near Seven Pines. Hill directed me to ride over and communicate with Hood.

In Camp, PA - 27 June 1862

This morning my brigade moved from its cantonments on the Williamsburg road and by daybreak was marching along the Mechanicsville turnpike, leading north of Richmond.

, VA - 15 July 1862

The news came, too, this morning of the death of Kearny, one of the most brilliant generals of the Federal Army, a man whose fame as a soldier is world-wide.

, VA - 18 July 1862

HOW I shall miss your visit to-day, my darling! I wish you had not gone. Don't stay.

Headquarters, VA - 25 September 1862

The seventeenth following is recorded in letters of blood for both armies, and in its wake came Lincoln's great political victory, proving the might of the pen, in his Emancipation Proclamation winning with it the greatest victory yet for the North.

Headquarters, VA - 11 October 1862

TO-DAY I was officially promoted to the rank of Major-General and permanently placed in command of a division.

Fredericksburg, VA - 14 December 1862

HERE we are, my darling, at Fredericksburg, on the south side of the Rappahannock, half-way between Richmond and Washington, fortified for us by the hand of the Great Father.

Richmond, VA - 0 February 1863

TO-DAY I rode on ahead of my division, stopped for a moment at our old home, ran into the garden and gathered for my darling some lilies of the valley, planted by my sweet mother

In Camp, VA - 15 April 1863

If I am spared, my dear, all my life shall be devoted to making you happy, to keeping all that would hurt you far from you, to making all that is good come near to you.

Suffolk, VA - 5 May 1863

I am ordered instead to proceed at once with three of my brigades to Petersburg, via the "Jerusalem-Plank-Road," to intercept a cavalry raid.

In Camp, STATE - 18 June 1863

As I returned the salute of my men, many of them beardless boys, the terrible responsibility as their Commander almost overwhelmed me, and my heart was rent in prayer for guidance and help.

Greencastle, PA - 24 June 1863

I don't want to hurrah. I want to go off all by myself and be sorry for them want to lie down in the grass, away off in the woods some where

Chambersburg, PA - 27 June 1863

The officers and men are all in excellent condition, bright and cheerful, singing songs and telling stories, full of hope and courage, inspired with absolute faith and confidence in our success.

In Camp, PA - 29 June 1863

Our whole army is now in Pennsylvania, north of the river.

Gettysburg, PA - 3 July 1863

Our line of battle faces Cemetery Ridge. Our detachments have been thrown forward to support our artillery which stretches over a mile along the crests of Oak Ridge and Seminary Ridge.

In Camp, PA - 4 July 1863

Well, it is all over now. The battle is lost, and many of us are prisoners, many are dead, many wounded, bleeding and dying. Your Soldier lives and mourns

Headquarters, PA - 6 July 1863

I can't write you a love-letter to-day, my Sally, for with my great love for you and my gratitude to God for sparing my life to devote to you, comes the overpowering thought of those whose lives were sacrificed of the broken-hearted widows and mother

Headquarters - 12 July 1863

Early in the morning I had been assured by Alexander that General Lee had ordered that every brigade in his command was to charge Cemetery Hill; so I had no fear of not being supported.

On The March - 12 July 1863

Oh, the pity of it, guarding these prisoners through their own country, depleted and suffering mentally and physically as we are, and being forced to march forward with a speed beyond their own and our endurance.

Headquarters - 13 September 1863

OLD Peter is to go to Tennessee to reenforce Bragg. He has placed his plans before the Secretary of War.

, SC -

Well, dearest, my name is George and my patience and temper accord with the name. Our well-formed plans for the capture of Newbern miscarried.

On The Lines - 7 May 1864

YOUR Soldier breathes easier this morning, my darling. A great load is lifted. Haygood's brave South Carolina Brigade came in yesterday, thank God

In Camp - 0 June 1864

War and its horrors, and yet I sing and whistle. Oh, my sweetheart, if only this wicked war were over so that we could in peace and quiet tranquilly finish the book of Love which we have but just begun.

Headquarters, VA - 0 June 1864

But I had only time to make the bare announcement at the close of that letter that Butler had burned our home the day before.

Cold Harbor, VA - 3 June 1864

HERE we are still, my darling. My division is stationed with the rest of the First Corps between new and old Cold Harbor.

Headquarters, VA - 18 June 1864

The line of breastworks which they took and to which Marse Robert refers in the notice inclosed is most important, as the main line of defense between Richmond and Petersburg

, VA - 17 July 1864

Almost with every breath since the message came, relieving my anxiety and telling me that my darling lived and that a little baby had been born to us, I have been a baby myself.

, VA - 17 July 1864

GOD has heard our prayers, my beloved wife. Oh, the ecstatic pleasure I felt when Charles brought the Doctor's letter.

In Camp, VA - 19 July 1864

MY men had all heard of the arrival of the "Little General," as they call him, and when I was riding out of camp last night to surrender to him, I noticed the bonfires which were being kindled all along my lines

In Camp, VA - 0 August 1864

Marse Robert came out. He was restive and very, very silent. We had just paid our respects to Butler's diggers when he arrived.

Headquarters, VA - 0 August 1864

I am so glad, my own, that you are better thank the good God for it. Blair says you must not keep the baby in your arms so much, that you are acting mother and nurse both.

Richmond, VA - 25 January 1865

As usual, Mrs. Davis was vivacious and entertaining. She amusingly described her rescue of a little orphan negro from a "great black brute" who had constituted him self the boy's guardian.

Headquarters, VA - 28 January 1865

Now, heaven help us, it will be war to the knife, with a knife no longer keen, the thrust of an arm no longer strong, the certainty that when peace comes it will follow the tread of the conqueror.

Appomattox, VA - 0 April 1865

TO-MORROW, my darling, may see our flag furled forever.

Exeter Mills, VA - 2 April 1865

Ah, my Sally, the triumphs of might are transient; but the sufferings and crucifixions for the right can never be forgotten. The sorrow and song of my glory-crowned division nears its doxology.