GDG- "Pickett's Charge" NOT a misnomer

[Margaret D. Blough]

Tim,

Try reading "Southern Pamphlets on Secession: November 1860-April 1861," Jon L. Wakeman, ed. (UNC Chapel Hill 1996).  Many secessionists did not believe there would be a war, and that, if war came, the wealthier, more militarily oriented, and, according to the secessionists, morally purer slave states would surely prevail (in addition, reading them should answer any question about the role that the protection of slavery played in secession).  I believe that a lot of the foundation of the Lost Cause was an attempt to explain the catastrophic defeat that would have been, to many secessionists, totally unthinkable. (A few pro-slavery advocates warned that secession could lead to disaster but they spoke with the same effect that Cassandra had on the Trojans.)

Regards,

Margaret

-------------- Original message -------------- 
From: "Tim Gennett" <k9wx at iquest.net> 

> Esteemed GDG Member Contributes: 
> 
> 
> Faulkner writes about the south in this story. But, as good literature 
> should, the theme transcends the plot. Unbelievable victory lures not only 
> the southern boy referenced in this paragraph, but all of us in one way or 
> the other, at one time or another. Just watch the American Idol auditions. 
> How can so many people without a lick of talent think they can become the 
> next Idol? Maybe this time. . . . . 
> 
> Regards, Tim 
> 
> 
> > -----Original Message----- 
> > From: gettysburg-bounces at arthes.com 
> > [mailto:gettysburg-bounces at arthes.com] On Behalf Of jack 
> > Sent: Saturday, March 03, 2007 09:36 
> > To: GDG 
> > Subject: Re: GDG- "Pickett's Charge" NOT a misnomer 
> > 
> > Esteemed GDG Member Contributes: 
> > 
> > 
> > Faulkner touches, surreptitiously, on the silent tragedy that 
> > haunts the South.... 
> > ----- Original Message ----- 
> > From: "Robert Lawrence" 
> > To: "GDG" 
> > Sent: Friday, March 02, 2007 2:17 PM 
> > Subject: RE: GDG- "Pickett's Charge" NOT a misnomer 
> > 
> > 
> > Esteemed GDG Member Contributes: 
> > 
> > 
> > Well regardless of what we call it this is still the best 
> > analysis of the importance of the Charge I have run across. 
> > 
> > For every Southern boy fourteen years old, not once but 
> > whenever he wants it, there is the instant when it's still 
> > not yet two oclock on that July afternoon in 1863, the 
> > brigades are in position behind the rail fence, the guns are 
> > laid and ready in the woods and the furled flags are already 
> > loosened to break out and Pickett himself with his long oiled 
> > ringlets and his hat in one hand probably and his sword in 
> > the other looking up the hill waiting for Longstreet to give 
> > the word and it's all in the balance, it happened yet, it 
> > hasn't even begun yet, it not only hasn't begun yet but there 
> > is still time for it not to begin against that position and 
> > those circumstances which made more men than Garnett and 
> > Kemper and Armistead and Wilcox look grave yet it's going to 
> > begin, we all know that, we have come too far with too much 
> > at stake and that moment doesn't even need a 
> > fourteen-year-old boy to think THIS TIME. MAYBE THIS TIME 
> > with all this much to lose and all this much to 
> > gain: Pennsylvania, Maryland, the world, the golden dome of 
> > Washington itself to crown with desperate and unbelievable victory.... 
> > 
> > ---William Faulkner, INTRUDER IN THE DUST (1948) pp. 194-195 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
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