George Edward Pickett

Pickett, George Edward (1825–75), Confederate general in the U.S. Civil War who led the disastrous assault (July 3, 1863) on Cemetery Ridge in the Battle of Gettysburg. Of the 15,000 Confederate troops who charged the Union line, some 6,000 were killed. Pickett later suffered a second major defeat at the Battle of Five Forks (Apr. 1, 1865).

See also: Gettysburg, Battle of; Civil War, U.S.