IN DEFENSE OF PICKETT

I always enjoy reading Ron Soodalter’s articles, partly because they are always well-written and well-researched, and also because his historical interests run very close to my own—in this case my favorite long-haired Confederate general (“Cloaked Vengeance,” September 2020). I have researched and written about George Pickett for nearly 40 years. I have gone from being at the forefront of Pickett critics to having a more nuanced view of poor George. He was not the best of men; he was not the worst of men.

In this instance I have to take issue with Mr. Soodalter on several points. Obviously, the Kinston hangings are one of the more infamous acts of an infamous general officer, and Pickett deserves plenty of criticism for every infamous act he committed. Those hangings were cruel, unnecessary, and violated all principles of military justice. However, Mr. Soodalter goes beyond that to paint poor George in the harshest