PICKETT, GEORGE E. 1825-1875.
Autograph Letter Signed ('GE Pickett') to General Brixton Bragg, transmitting intelligence from Lt. Matthew Causey on the eve of Drewry's Bluff, 2 pp, SIZE, Petersburg, VA, 29 April 1864, Head Quarters Dept North Carolina letterhead, 'Dept North Carolina' cancelled in ink.
Provenance: William F. Gable (sold his sale, American Art Association, New York, January 8, 1925, lot 650, to an unknown buyer); sold Christies, New York, June 9, 2004, lot 313.

PICKETT FORWARDS INTELLIGENCE TO GENERAL BRAGG AS THE UNION FORCES MOVE THROUGH VIRGINIA. In part: 'It is impossible, I should think, that the numbers are so great, unless Burnside's whole force is at Yorktown, or, if true, the Army in front of Gen. Lee must be depleted.'

With Grant's Army of the Potomac gathering numbers to the north, Pickett reports a mass of Union troops at Yorktown, confirming reports of an attack from the southeast. As it happens, distrust of the numbers sent by Causey would lead to delays in reinforcements for the eventual attack.

On April 16, Bragg admonished Pickett, 'I must warn you of the evil resulting from exaggerated or unreliable reports. Some of your agents are certainly amenable to this charge' (War of the Rebellion: Serial 108, Chapter XLIII, p 863-4).

On May 3rd Grant began his infamous Wilderness campaign against Lee's armies in the North, while Benjamin Butler began advancing from the Southeast attacking at Drewry's Bluff into the Bermuda Hundred. Beauregard had by this point replaced Pickett as Commander, but because of a sickness did not arrive at Drewry's Bluff until May 10th. He was quickly able to turn the tide soon after that. However, Grant's primary strategy, following Lincoln, was to attack forcefully and in coordination throughout the South, and the superior numbers reflected in Pickett's intelligence here eventually wore down the rebel armies.
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