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 "I Shall Lead My Division Forward" Gen. George E. Pickett Image Size 11" x 15" Release Date: March 2001 Edition size 500: 50 A/P: 25 P/P Price: Regular edition of 500: $140.00 Unframed plus $10.00 Flat Shipping:  Price: Regular edition of 500: $300.00 Handsomely and Professionally Framed plus $40.00 Shipping:  “I SHALL LEAD MY DIVISION FORWARD” General George E. Pickett, CSA USMA, Class of 1846 Forever remembered for the most famous of all charges that bears his name, General George E. Pickett remains one of the most colorful and controversial personalities of the Civil War. Born on January 25, 1825 in Richmond Virginia, George was the first of three children of Robert and Mary Johnston Pickett. George secured an appointment to West Point in 1842. A myth persists, created after Pickett’s death, by his wife LaSalle, that George was appointed to the Academy by an obscure Illinois lawyer named Abraham Lincoln. In fact young George received his appointment through Illinois Congressman John T. Stuart who was a friend of George’s Uncle Andrew Johnston, himself a lawyer in Quincy, Illinois. It is probable that Lincoln was familiar with both men in the local legal fraternity, but that is the only connection between Pickett and Lincoln. George Pickett had a very difficult time at the Academy. He struggled to complete his course work and bristled under the numerous rules and regulations demanded by the Academy. George was unable to keep up with many of his classmates including the soon to be renowned George McClellan, Thomas J. Jackson and Jesse L. Reno. However George diligently persevered and graduated last in a class of 59. No less than 20 members of this legendary class became General Officers on both sides during the Civil War. Second Lieutenant Pickett fought well during 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. Still in the Washington Territory in 1861, word traveled across the country in April of 1861 of Virginia’s secession from the Union. Pickett’s home ties to Virginia were strong and his course was clear. 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 promoted to 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. In September 1862, General Pickett was promoted to Major General and given command of a division of Virginians attached to Longstreet’s Corps. Pickett led his division into Pennsylvania in late June, 1863, trailing the main body of the Army. They were assigned guard duty in Chambersburg but were ordered up to Gettysburg on the night of July 1-2. They arrived on Seminary Ridge late in the afternoon on July 2. Sometime during the evening of July 2, Lee conceived his plan for a grand assault against the Center of the Union Line on Cemetery Ridge. Leading the assault would be Pickett’s fresh division of Virginians. Following a massive artillery bombardment of the Union lines, the command was given to advance the infantry as directed by Longstreet. “General, Shall I advance?” asked Pickett of Longstreet. Longstreet turned away, unable to give the direct order that he (Longstreet) disagreed with. “Then I shall lead my division forward!”, exclaimed Pickett. Pickett rode up and down the front of his lines and shouted emotionally “Up men, and to your posts! Don’t forget today that you are from old Virginia!” Thus started one of the most famous and ill fated charges in the history of America. Approximately 12,000 men began what has become known as “Pickett’s Charge”. Their ranks were ultimately decimated and repulsed at the “Angle” as Union reinforcements were called in to plug the few small breaches in the Union line. All of Pickett’s Brigade commandeers and virtually all of his field officers were lost in the assault. Approximately half of all the men who started the assault were killed, wounded or captured. Back on Seminary Ridge as Pickett attempted comfort his battered men he choked up and sobbed, “My brave men, my brave men.” He encountered General Lee who was trying to rally and encourage the broken troops. Lee told Pickett to“Place your division to the rear of this hill” to which Pickett bitterly replied, “General Lee, I have no division now!” George Pickett would never forgive Robert E. Lee for the loss of his proud division. Paul R. Martin III | President Lincoln | Gen. George Meade | Gen. George Pickett | Gen. Samuel Garland | Gen. Jesse Reno | Gen. R. E. Lee | Frederick Douglass | Joshua Chamberlain | Stonewall Jackson | | Gettysburg Series | Great American Portrait Series | WWII Series | Revolutionary War Series | Civil War Series | West Point Series | Banners Of Glory Series | | Return Home | Limited Edition Prints | About us: Bio/Exhibits | 9-11 Fund Raiser | What's New | Contact Us | Events Schedule | Friends- Preservation Links | Mini Prints, Notecards, Posters | book covers | |
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