Dated “Aug. 28 [1863]”. Written To his fiancée, LaSalle Corbell Pickett, seven weeks after the Battle of Gettysburg, and eighteen days before their 9/15/1863 marriage. 4pp. in ink, on lined paper measuring 8 x 5”. Though its ink is faded, the letter [accompanied by transcript] remains legible. Exhibits light fold-marks. Else VG.

Complete text as follows: [Page 1] “Last evening (‘tis now six o’clock exactly—do you like early rising—never mind, “The Island shall be “Liberty Hall” at any rate for Sallie and George) I received yours of the 14^th, whiles it afforded me much pleasure, it brought its corresponding quantum of gall—Gall is a bitter word but truth tis said is sometimes so—In truth I was almost I may say shocked at that part of your letter relative to your Father—never having seen me I cannot but think his judgement premature unless it had been favorable. Was not the knowledge of his daughter, his wife (or did he think “The Bold soldier boy” had “got the _____”) sufficient—My darling Sallie, what curious idea has possessed him—certainly he advances no objection to me on the score of family connexions, or of my position…”

[Page 2]…in a______ point of view, because whilst I am no millionaire, still I think I could manage to support (with what shall I say) my own darling and what riches were wanting in devotion would make up. It must then be a personal objection me or a general undefined objection to your leaving him at any time—if the first he must have come to a conclusion certainly without having consulted those who should and do know me best. If the latter he certainly expect always to keep such a treasure hidden---however, I would write to him this morning but tis too early to see Mrs. P., you Aunt—for I intend to let her see the letter, and get her to enclose it so that it shall be safely delivered, and get a certified acknowledgment of same—you know well I have never had the opportunity of….

[Page 3]…meeting with your papa—and I have hitherto deemed it inexpedient to write what I preferred saying to personally, particularly when we regard the mail as so insecure—feeling that I have always acted toward you with my heart unclosed. Without a wish or thought to deceived and in fact without a reason so to do.I now am forced by his apparent unaccountable (opposition) to take steps which I would much have preferred deferring till we could meet—I have not time, as we both know, to leave the field and my duty. That alas (Sallie) is left to those who not caring to venture on the hardships of the field, nor the danger of the battle field still use their tongues of venom to slander and belie those whose distinction they envy, but whom they dare not compete with openly. We know each other—and we will….

[Page 4]….will “be happy yet”—I feel confident of our permanent success in this struggle. My Division is getting up again—the feeling in the Army is very good shoes and clothing are coming in rapidly—we shall certainly give them a sound drubbing next time. Everybody has made of their mind to that-------In the letter before your last I got the dear little bouquet—bless you my darling for being so thoughtful and kind—Oh, could I only see you for a little while even, to tell you what you know so well but I do so pine to say so again to hear your sweet voice—and to know we are together. Give my kindest love to your Mama and “Auntie”—the Col. And Madame with some other ladies and gentlemen are off for a ride this morning—in about a couple of hours—Capt. B.-d goes in the party with a beautiful young lady—who by the way accused me roundly last night having made very frequent visits to Richmond just before the army left for the U.S.—In fact was almost telling the name of the lady but I begged not to be personal escaped. How I wish my Sallie was at the party. Good bye—with my whole heart I am your now and “forever”/ George/ August 28”.

Although Pickett’s spirit had been crushed by the failure of “Pickett’s Charge", as this letter demonstrates, by late August ‘63 his spirit was on the mend and he could write that his division was “getting up again” and that “the feeling in the army” was very good. Indeed, in this letter he is much more concerned with his forthcoming wedding and overcoming the evident dislike of his future father-in-law.

At the close of the letter he mentions being roundly accused of making frequent visits to a lady in Richmond “just before the army left for the U.S.” This refers to his infamous late night visits to LaSalle just prior to Gettysburg—unauthorized visits during which he commandeered army transportation for private pleasure. Although was a favorite of Longstreet and had been popular among his brother officers the army prior to Gettysburg, his reputation was on the wane. In the end, Lee dismissed him from the army in the wake of Five Forks, just prior to Appomattox.

After receiving a U.S. pardon 1868, Pickett became an insurance executive in Norfolk, where he died in 1875 at age 50. His wife LaSalle scraped by on her own, and then authored “Pickett and His Men”, a book romanticizing her husband’s army career. Portraying her husband as “gallant and graceful as a knight of chivalry”, Mrs. Pickett published six more books and made a career for herself as one of the grand dames of the old Confederacy.

Superb collectible for Pickett aficionados.

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