University of Virginia Library

Following the battle at Gettysburg, General Lee assigned Pickett's division to escort approximately 3400 Union prisoners of war to Virginia. On July 7, the division arrived at Williamsport, Maryland, where it stayed until crossing the Potomac on July 13 (Gregory 44).

Brigadier General George Edward Pickett (1825-1875), a graduate of West Point and a veteran of the Mexican War, commanded Pickett's Division of Longstreet's Corps at Gettysburg. Following Gettysburg, he assumed command of the Department of Virginia and North Carolina.

On July 3, 1863, the 38th Virginia took part in Pickett's Charge at Gettysburg. As James Booker indicates, the assault devastated the regiment: of the 481 members of the 38th who participated in the battle, "40 were killed on the battlefield (8%); 51 were wounded (10%); and 103 were captured (21%)" (Gregory 43). In naming the Confederate officers killed or wounded during the attack, Booker might have been referring to Brigadier Generals Armistead, Kemper, and Garnett, Colonel Edward Claxton Edmonds of the 38th Virginia, and Lieutenant Colonel Whittle (Gregory 39-44).