General George E. Pickett in Life and Legend

More about the book

George E. Pickett, known for the most infamous failed frontal assault in American military history, is one of the most recognized Confederate generals of the Civil War, yet he remains a complex figure often obscured by Lost Cause mythology. In this meticulously researched biography, Lesley Gordon delves deeper into Pickett's life than previous studies, highlighting the significant influence of his wife, LaSalle, in shaping his historical image. Gordon explores Pickett's early career as a professional army officer trained at West Point, his combat experience in Mexico, and his service on the western frontier before returning to the South in 1861 to join the Confederacy. She details his Civil War experiences, particularly the notorious charge at Gettysburg, and the subsequent decline of his military career. The biography also examines Pickett's marriage to LaSalle Corbell in 1863, both hailing from Virginia's planter elite. Despite their brief twelve-year marriage, LaSalle dedicated her five decades of widowhood to promoting her husband's legacy, positioning herself as his official biographer and a self-styled authority on the war and the Old South. Gordon argues that LaSalle crafted a favorable portrayal of Pickett that diverged significantly from the reality of the man she married.