A modern photograph of Fairview. Photo by the Dale Harter.
the citizens. “A greater portion of our loyal men, the chivalry and high-toned gentle- men of the country have volunteered, and are far from their homes,” wrote Pickett. “There is a strong element among those who are left either to be non-combatants or to fall back under the old flag. I do not consider we have any time to lose.” To avert this, Pickett recommended
removing the militia in Westmoreland and Northumberland Counties and replacing them with another Virginia regi-
ment. Although Holmes approved and forwarded his recommendation to Con- federate Secretary of War Judah Benjamin, Pickett apparently grew impatient. Rather than waiting for an official response, he rode to Richmond to voice his concerns. While Pickett got what he wanted, he lost part of his command in the process. Benjamin did approve Pickett’s request by assigning Col. John M. Brockenbrough’s 40th Virginia Infantry Regiment to the Northern Neck. But instead of having
the Richmond County native serve under Pickett, he gave Brockenbrough respon- sibility for all Northern Neck forces and ordered him to coordinate with Pickett to defend the Rappahannock. Pickett responded in writing on Dec. 28, asking to be relieved from his duties. Nevertheless, Pickett remained in command on the Middle Peninsula until mid-February 1862. While Maj. Ward, in Tappahannock, and others worked on get- ting Pickett reassigned and promoted, he continued to improve defenses along the river. Pickett was promoted to brigadier general on Feb. 12 and took charge of a brigade under another old Mexican War comrade, Maj. Gen. James Longstreet. When he left, Pickett took two Essex men with him as part of his staff: Thomas Croxton, of Tappahannock, and Edward Baird, from Epping Forest. Croxton, who had been a corporal in the 9th Va. Cav. Regt., was detached to Pickett in October 1861, but resigned due to ill health by the end of May 1862. After the war, he lived in the Moore Wright House (now the Es- sex Inn) in Tappahannock and served two terms in Congress. Pickett had a longer relationship with
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