George Pickett Biography Essay

Many generals in history, are known for their greatest successes or worst failures. A prime example of that is George Pickett. Thanks to his catastrophic charge on July 3, 1863 in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, we remember him for that. Neither his accomplished record of service nor his positive events are remembered. While his charge was part of the big turning point in the war in the wrong direction, it's important to realize how important he is. George Pickett was born on January 16, 1825 in Richmond Virginia to Robert and Mary Pickett. Interestingly enough, the Picketts were considered one of the first families of Virginia. He also had some related family members in the war, most notably Henry Heth, Pickett’s cousin who would also become a

Pickett’s forces arrived late to the battle, missing out on the first two days of heavy fighting. When General Robert E. Lee elected to mount an attack on the center of the Union lines on July 3, Pickett’s fresh division was selected to lead the offensive. Following a barrage of preliminary cannon fire, it was time for the moment that stands out when thinking of Pickett, his infamous Pickett’s Charge. Pickett’s division advanced toward the Union high ground on Cemetery Ridge. The resulting charge proved a disaster, and Pickett’s men were forced to withdraw after being cut down by heavy cannon and musket fire. All of the men that reached the Union stone wall were either killed or captured. Pickett’s division suffered staggering casualties during the attack, with nearly 50 percent of his men killed, captured or wounded, including all of his brigade commanders. When Lee later asked about the state of his division, a despondent Pickett is said to have answered, “General Lee, I have no division.” The failure of Pickett’s Charge would follow Pickett for the rest of his career, and he would remain bitter about the loss until his death, especially at Lee for giving him the go-ahead for the