U.S. Grant saved George Pickett's neck

[Bill Richter]

One needs to go back to the Mexican War and the attack on Chapultepec led by James Longstreet who was wounded and George Pickett who raised the first American flag there when the hill was taken

Down in the valley below were the American Irish deserters who had joined the Mexican Army and fought fiercely at Churubusco at the convent there before their capture by Scott's army. They were tried for treason and several sentenced to death for treason. The deserters were stood in the back of 2 wheeled carts facing the American attack and as Pickett's flag fluttered out, Gen W A Harney ordered the oxen whipped up and all the deserters were hanged in unison, facing the American victory.

Both Pickett and Longstreet (who had been carrying the flag before being wounded) knew what that flag at the top of the hill meant, as did the whole army, including a certain on-looker named Capt Sam Grant. Pickett did the same thing that any soldier in a similar position would do--he executed deserters.

Only Lincoln pardoned such men and Grant did his best to keep Lincoln from learning of such executions as Grant feared it would harm discipline to stop them. It took iron discipline to march shoulder to shoulder with no cover at an enemy in those days and any slacker was punished with death accordingly. Die facing the enemy or at the end of a rope. War is hell! Rank has many privileges and even more horrible responsibilities.