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Leader of the Charge: A Biography of General George E. Pickett, C.S.A
Profiles the Confederate general who led the suicidal charge at Gettysburg.
242 pages, Hardcover
First published October 1, 1995
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
July 8, 2017
As someone who is undoubtedly a sympathizer for the "lost cause." I have always been quite enamored with the battle of Gettysburg, and of coarse entranced with Pickett's charge (the Pickett, Pettigrew, and Trimble assault). Outside of the charge where Pickett received his fame I merely knew of his low class standing at West Point, and his immense disdain for his former commander in chief Robert E Lee. After finishing this book By Edward G. Longacre I can now put into picture the man behind the charge. This biography brings Pickett's life forward from so many different perspectives. You will see the man in all his glory with his shoulder length curls shimmering in that early July sunlight, as you will also see him narrowly escaping capture after the blunder of Five Forks. Pickett was not as simplistic or as narrow minded as many historians tend to pass him off as. He was an extremely complex man who would tend to wear his emotions on his sleeves. He was a man with many dreams who ran into both triumphs and tribulations to large in number to count. He was a rebel who resented following code at West Point, as well as a true Virginian gentleman. I advise all who have interest in the Civil War to read this book as it will bring into light one of the wars most recognizable names that so few truly know much about.
October 21, 2019
Growing up in the south I always held the same general opinion of Pickett that most southerners and indeed most Americans hold. The playboy image seen in the movie "Gettysburg" has always been what came to mind at the mention of General Pickett. Thanks to this book I see that the well known image is false.
Pickett does indeed seem to have been a glory hound and playboy but he was also a brave soilder who exposed himself to deadly fire in the Mexican War and was wounded early in the Civil War. Longacre handles the fact that Pickett didn't actually lead his men to the angle at Gettysburg in just the way he should have handled it.
I found most interesting Pickett's work at Petersburg to hold that city until Beauregard and then Lee could arrive on the scene. Pickett is not in general given his due for Petersburg probably because after the war the "cult of the lost cause" was so protective of General Lee that they kept to a minimum Pickett's role. In fact, Lee made a mistake and Pickett and then Beauregard saved the day. Without Pickett's contribution at Petersburg the war might have ended several months sooner. Richmond simply could not have been held without Petersburg.
A great book that puts a new and interesting face on George Pickett. It belongs in any Civil War library.
Pickett does indeed seem to have been a glory hound and playboy but he was also a brave soilder who exposed himself to deadly fire in the Mexican War and was wounded early in the Civil War. Longacre handles the fact that Pickett didn't actually lead his men to the angle at Gettysburg in just the way he should have handled it.
I found most interesting Pickett's work at Petersburg to hold that city until Beauregard and then Lee could arrive on the scene. Pickett is not in general given his due for Petersburg probably because after the war the "cult of the lost cause" was so protective of General Lee that they kept to a minimum Pickett's role. In fact, Lee made a mistake and Pickett and then Beauregard saved the day. Without Pickett's contribution at Petersburg the war might have ended several months sooner. Richmond simply could not have been held without Petersburg.
A great book that puts a new and interesting face on George Pickett. It belongs in any Civil War library.
April 17, 2023
This was a great biography detailing Pickett's life and Civil War career. He is most famous for that final charge on day three of the Battle of Gettysburg. Before that he was best known for his heroism in the Battle of Chapultepec.
I really enjoyed this book and have enjoyed other books written by Edward G. Longacre. It was a well-done engaging biography. Reading this book now, I find it very creepy that Pickett's second wife was twenty-three years his junior when he married her. As Longacre states, this was even peculiar in Pickett's time.
I had few disappointments with this book, the first were with the maps. They were very hard to read and too few were included. I would have liked a few maps of the Petersburg campaign. Secondly, there was no epilogue about what happened to Pickett's wife and two sons, including the abandoned child of his first wife in the Oregon territory prior to the Civil War. There was also no discussion of Pickett's legacy.
I really enjoyed this book and have enjoyed other books written by Edward G. Longacre. It was a well-done engaging biography. Reading this book now, I find it very creepy that Pickett's second wife was twenty-three years his junior when he married her. As Longacre states, this was even peculiar in Pickett's time.
I had few disappointments with this book, the first were with the maps. They were very hard to read and too few were included. I would have liked a few maps of the Petersburg campaign. Secondly, there was no epilogue about what happened to Pickett's wife and two sons, including the abandoned child of his first wife in the Oregon territory prior to the Civil War. There was also no discussion of Pickett's legacy.
September 5, 2020
Quick, concise read of the immortal General. A must have in any American history library.
September 27, 2018
Very good biography, covering Pickett's military career from his start at West Point and in the Mexican War. Mr. Longacre does a fine job covering his role in the Civil War, arguing that Pickett's rise to division command was due to merit, not merely favoritism.
Personally, I did find some (mostly minor) faults with the book. Every one of the maps were re-prints from the 19th century Battles and Leaders series and were not good quality; the map for July 3rd at Gettysburg showed the entire battlefield, rather than focusing on the Cemetery Ridge assault. A few points of Pickett's post-Gettysburg career seemed a bit short on details; for example, his role in the Appomattox Campaign was passed over in only two paragraphs, the near-total destruction of his division at Saylor's Creek described in a single sentence. Some discussion of his command decisions and conduct during this time would have been helpful.
Personally, I did find some (mostly minor) faults with the book. Every one of the maps were re-prints from the 19th century Battles and Leaders series and were not good quality; the map for July 3rd at Gettysburg showed the entire battlefield, rather than focusing on the Cemetery Ridge assault. A few points of Pickett's post-Gettysburg career seemed a bit short on details; for example, his role in the Appomattox Campaign was passed over in only two paragraphs, the near-total destruction of his division at Saylor's Creek described in a single sentence. Some discussion of his command decisions and conduct during this time would have been helpful.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews