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Lot 385
Pickett, George & Lee, Fitzhugh. Superb correspondence regarding orders given by Gen. George E. Pickett at "Five Forks" (Mar. 30-Apr. 1, 1865) and Pickett's report that Fitzhugh Lee had not obeyed them. Comprised of three Autograph Letters Signed: one from General Fitzhugh Lee to General George E. Pickett, Pickett's reply to Fitzhugh Lee, and Pickett's resulting letter to General Robert E. Lee.
GEN. FITZHUGH LEE TO GEN. GEORGE E. PICKETT, ALS. 6pp, 9¾"x7¾", Richmond, Va., 1970 May 19. Fine. In part: "…a friend…sent me a copy of your report concerning the operations of 'Five Forks'…I take exception to your intimation that your order to reinforce your left was not obeyed by me and to your statement that you 'did not see gen. Fitz Lee after the fight began.'…you wrote what you did from a misapprehension of all the factors in the case. By Gen. Lee's order I was then in command of the Car: Corps of his Army. In your position at Five Forks one of my Divisions (W.H.F. Lee's) was on your right - another (my old one) on your left - no regiments in line - the remainder retire - to give me and horses rest…The remaining Div. (Rosser's) was in reserve behind your line of battle…I stopped at your tent, and had some little talk with you about the position…a force of the enemy was moving to our left. I immediately went to Gen. Munford commanding the Div. to…ascertain the truth of the report and…move the remainder of his command up to the line. His report will bear that they were in position in time to receive the attack…All of which was done in compliance with an order from you to reinforce the left…Hastily dressing I rode rapidly towards the front. Some distance in my advance I saw you also galloping to your line of battle…When I arrived the enemy having broken in our left, had occupied it. I immediately moved Rosser up and we attacked them, but so larger was their infantry force at that point it was impossible…we were kept busy repulsing their attack and their threatened advance to the RR. The absence of Rosser, myself, and his 2 Brigades from the main fight on the other side of the creek is thus accounted for…The mistake made at 'Five Forks' was in not taking up a line of battle behind the creek……is not to be attributed to you but to the order you received designating your position…their Cavalry Corps (that Gen. Meade told me at the surrender numbered 10,000 men) our Cavalry consisted of 6 small Brigades (3 Div:s) say 3200 men. I don't know your force. I have to request Gen., that in view of additional facts I present…you will have your report of these locations now in the hands of Gen. Lee, changed…."
GEN. GEORGE E. PICKETT TO GEN. FITZHUGH LEE, ALS "G.E. Pickett," 3pp, 9"x7¾", Richmond, Va., 1870 May 23. Fine. In part: "…I have at this present writing no copy of my report…My recollection…Whilst taking up the position at the Five Forks I directed you to cover the right & left flank of the Infantry line with your Cavalry…in reply to a remark of yours that your horses needed rest and feed I said you have to dismount and act as Infantry. Sometime afterwards Gen. Ransom sent a courrier to me saying his left was uncovered and the Cavalry not in the position assigned. I immediately dispatched a courrier to you asking you to have this matter attended to…the enemy had appeared and…the Cavalry were still not in position. I then sent a Staff Offr. to you, Capt. Bright, asking the cause of this delay to the effect that the left must be immediately reinforced…I had gone back to change my horse and write a dispatch to Gen. R.E. Lee and was under the impression that the order had been executed…I lost no time riding to my line of battle…left was unprotected…Stewart…new fighting with all obstinacy but it was too late, the enemy being so very much our superiors numerically, entirely enveloped us…you were evidently of the same opinion…that the cavalry had been put in the designated position…I shall…forward to Gen. R.E. Lee an extract of your letter…."
GEN. PICKETT TO GEN. ROBERT E. LEE, ALS "G.E. Pickett," 2pp, Richmond, Va. 1870 June 19. Fine. In part: "I have the honor to enclose a letter…from Gen. Fitzhugh Lee…asking you to eliminate from my report the paragraph…'did not see Gen. Fitz Lee after the fight began' and also anything from which the inference could be drawn of a disobedience of orders on his part. My report…was in reality written in Canada. I at that time not caring my whereabouts to be known…I…was afraid to delay preferring to do so whilst events were fresh in my memory, and knowing not then at what time, if ever, I should return to my country…From his letter it is evident that Gen. Lee had communicated the order to his subordinate and therefore is relieved from any intention of disobedience of orders…the order never was executed…my wishes to have the Cavalry on the left dismounted, and to act as Infantry (one reason for this was the nature of the ground, being thick with undergrowth & marshy)…Gen. Lee appeared much surprised to learn that the order had not been executed…."
Estimated Value $15,000 - 20,000.
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