John
Gibbon was born
in North Carolina in 1827. After serving in the Seminole War he became
an artillery instructor at West Point.
On the outbreak of the American Civil War
Gibbon joined the Union Army, while three
of his brothers fought for the Confederate
Army.
Commissioned as a brigadier general, he joined the Army of Virginia.
He took part in the battles at Bull Run
(August, 1862), Antietam (September,
1862) and Fredericksburg (December,
1862) where he was seriously wounded.
Gibbon returned to active service in March, 1863, until being badly
wounded at Gettysburg (July, 1863).
Gibbon returned to take part in the action at Wilderness
(June, 1864). Promoted to major general, Gibbon took part in the siege
of Petersburg.
After the war Gibbon remained in the army and led the relief column
at Little Big Horn and was responsible for burying George
Custer and his men. After retiring in 1891, Gibbon wrote Personal
Recollections of the Civil War.
John Gibbon died in 1896.
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