General John Gibbon

Here is some biographical information on one of my heroes of the Civil War, Gen. John Gibbon.

• Born John Oliver Gibbon on April 20, 1827 in Philadelphia, PA
• Fourth of Seven Children
• Father: Dr. John Heysham Gibbon Mother: Catherine Lardner Gibbon
• Grew up in North Carolina
• Attended West Point Military Academy and was graduated in 1847
• Fought in the Mexican War
• Married Frances North Moale of Baltimore on October 16, 1855
• wrote a definitive artillery textbook
• Prior to the Civil War, he was captain of an Artillery Battery
• Part of the peacekeeping force in Mormon Country
• When the Civil War broke out, he was forced to decided between the United States or his family beliefs in North Carolina.
• Forced to sever relations with his family in Charlotte, NC
• 3 of his brothers fought for the Confederacy
• Chief of Artillery for McDowell's Division
• Promoted to Brigadier General
• Assigned to command an infantry Brigade: 2nd, 6th, 7th Wis, and 19th Ind....became known as the "Iron Brigade"
• Fought at Brawner Farm, Bull Run, South Mountain, Antietam
• Promoted to Division commander in Nov 1862
• Wounded in wrist at Fredericksburg
• Wounded in left shoulder at Gettysburg
• Description on Gibbon by Frank Haskell:
• "He is compactly made, neither spare nor corpulent, with ruddy complexion, chestnut brown hair, with a clean-shaved face, except his moustache, which is decidedly reddish in color, medium-sized, well-shaped head, sharp, moderately-jutting brows, deep-blue, calm eyes, sharp, slightly aquiline nose, compressed mouth, full jaws and chin, with an air of calm firmness in his manner."
• After convalescing, he went on to fight at Richmond, Wilderness, Spotsylvania, North Anna, Totopotomoy, Cold Harbor, and Petersburg
• June, 1864 - promoted to major general
• rescued the survivors and buried the dead of Custer's Little Bighorn
• fought against the Nez Perce Indians in 1877
• Died February 6, 1896 at the age of 69 from pneumonia
• Buried at Arlington National Cemetery