Pickett, George Edward

After the Civil War he turned down offers to serve in the Egyptian military and to serve as a US Marshal, and instead became an insurance salesman. His book, Soldier of the South, General Pickett's War Letters to His Wife, was published in 1928.

He graduated from West Point in 1846 at the bottom of his class.

He was appointed as a Second Lieutenant USA and served in the Mexican War. At Chapultepec he carried the Regimental Colors over the walls, placing them atop the citadel. Between the wars he served out west in Texas and the Washington Territories at Bellingham Bay and San Juan Island.

He served as a Captain in the US Army in charge of Company D 9th US Infantry (based at Fort Bellingham), the detachment on San Juan Island during the San Juan Boundary Dispute.

He was appointed as a Major USA.

He served in the western territories until 25/06/1861 when he resigned his commission in the U.S. Army to enter the Confederate service.

He resigned his commission from the US Army in June of 1861. An adventurous trip from San Francisco, across the isthmus of Panama, through the Port of New York to Canada and back down to Richmond took two months. Back home he offered his services to the new Confederate States of America.

He was appointed as a Brigadier General and was assigned command of one of six brigades of Longstreet's 2nd Division. In command of his brigade they fought during the Peninsula campaign at Williamsburg, Seven Pines and Gaines' Mill where he was wounded in the left shoulder. Pickett participated in the Seven Days battles and as a Major General commanded the Confederate center at Fredericksburg and led the third day's charge at Gettysburg.

He led "Picketts Charge" at the Battle of Gettysburg on 03/07/1863, as a Major-General CSA.