re: Just found out I had two ancestors in Pickett's Charge

Pemberton WAS bad...having every intention of defending Vicksburg for an extended period of time and failing to have adequate rations or even enough percussion caps.

Grant did not overrun his positions he starved the Confederates out, and there had been ample time for Pemberton's command to fill the warehouses of Vicksburg and he failed to do so.

Not to mention Pemberton was saddled with Gen. William Loring, who refused to recognize Pemberton as his superior officer. When Pemberton attempted to follow Joe Johnston's orders and attack the Union troops at Jackson from behind. his efforts were repulsed and he was forced to retreat. Crossing behind the Big Black River he left troops on the east side in an effort to keep the way out open for Loring's division.

Loring, failing to tell anyone what he has doing, did not retreat toward the Big Black crossings. he took his troops on a roundabout route and eventually joined up with Johnston. Pemberton's forces trying to keep open the way to Vicksburg for were badly mauled in the process. Loring had already been run off by Stonewall Jackson in Virginia, so obviously he did not play well with others.