George Edward Pickett
Graduating in 1846, Pickett went into the military at the age of 20, and again, served in the Mexican War. Pickett remained in the U.S. Army until 1861, when he resigned to hook up with the Confederate forces. On July 3rd, 1863, at Gettysburg, Pickett served as a division commander. Pickett led the famous Pickett's Charge up the appropriately named Cemetery Hill. He led an desperate attack to take the ridge. Up to 7,000 soldiers died during Pickett's famous rush to the ridge, and is considered to be the turning point the battle, and the war. The attack was repulsed, and Pickett faded from prominence.
Bibliography: George, K.R., and Busey, J.W., Nothing but Glory (1987); Stewart, George R., Pickett's Charge: A Micro-History of the Final Attack at Gettysburg, July 3, 1863 (1959).