Maj. Gen. John Gibbon
Born: April 20, 1827
Holmsburg, Pennsylvania
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Died: February 6, 1896
Baltimore, Maryland
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1847: West Point Graduate
1847: Brevet 2nd Lieutenant
1862: Brigadier General
June 7, 1864: Major General
Maj. Gen. John Gibbon
1847: West Point Graduate - 20th out of 38 cadets
1847: Brevet 2nd Lieutenant in 3rd U.S. Artillery
Taught artillery at West Point where he wrote The Artillerist's Manuel in 1859
1860: At the start of the war, was serving as Captain of Battery B, 4th U.S. Artillery at Camp Floyd in Utah
Upon arrival in Washington, became Chief of Artillery for Maj. Gen. Irvin McDowell
1862: Appointed Brigadier General of Volunteers Commanded the Brigade of Westerners known as King's Wisconsin Brigade
August 28, 1862: Scrimage at Brawner's Farm
August 28-30, 1862: 2nd Battle of Bull Run
Maryland Campaign
September 14, 1862: Battle of South Mountain
September 17, 1862: Battle of Antietam
December 11-15, 1862: Battle of Fredericksburg He was wounded, but although it was minor, it was repeatedly infected, so Gibbon took leave for a few months.
April 30-May 6, 1863: Battle of Chancellorsville - Division was in reserve
July 1-3, 1863: Battle of Gettysburg - bore the brunt of Pickett's Charge and was wounded
While recovering from his wounds, commanded a draft depot in Cleveland, Ohio
May - June 1864: Overland Campaign
May 5-7, 1864: Battle of the Wilderness
May 9-21, 1864: Battle of Spotsylvania Court House
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May 31-June 21, 1864: Battle of Cold Harbor
June 7, 1864: Promoted to Major General of Volunteeers
June 1864 - April 1865: Siege of Petersburg
July 27-29, 1864: 1st Battle of Deep Bottom
April 2, 1865: Battle of Petersburg
April 9, 1865: Battle of Appomattox Court House
After the war, converted to the Regular Army as a Colonel
In command of the 7th Infantry of the Montana Columns consisting of F, G, H, and L of the 2nd Cavalry
Although not involved in the Battle of the Little Bighorn, he probably saved the lives of several hundred men under the command of Major Marcus Reno, who was under siege. Gibbon helped to bury the dead and evacuate the wounded.
While still in Montana, was ordered by Gen. Oliver Howard to cut off the Nez Pierce who had left Idaho into western Montana
​August 9-10, 1877: Battle of the Big Hole against the Nez Pierce
1884: Temporary commander Department of the Platte
1875: Promoted to Brigadier General in Regular Army
Took command of the Department of the Columbia, representing all posts in the Pacific Northwest
1890-1891: Military Division of the Atlantic
1891: Retired
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Boatner, Mark M. III. The Civil War Dictionary. New York: David McKay, 1967. p 340-341
John Gibbon. 21 June 2024. web. 10 July 2024.
Warner, Ezra J. Generals in Blue Lives of the Union Commanders. Baton Rouge: Louisiana State, 1964. p 171-172
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