John Gibbon

(1827 - 1896)
Home State: North Carolina
Command Billet: Brigade Commander
Branch of Service: Artillery
Unit: 4th Brigade, 1st Division, I Corps

see his Battle Report

Before the Antietam Campaign:
He graduated from the USMA in 1847, served in the Mexican and Seminole Wars, was an artillery instructor at West Point, and was the author of the Army's Artillerist's manual. In 1861 he was Captain of Battery B of the 4th US Artillery, and served as Chief of Artillery to McDowell. In May 1862 he was appointed BGen. of Volunteers and commanded the 4th ("Black Hat") Brigade/1st Division/I Corps at Second Bull Run.

In the Antietam Campaign:
He led the 4th ("Black Hat") Brigade in the First Division of the First (I) Army Corps ... [actions during the battle to be added later]. After this campaign his Brigade was known as the Iron Brigade.

The remainder of the War:
He commanded the 2nd Division/I Corps at Fredericksburg (wounded), commanded the 2nd Division/II Corps at Gettysburg (wounded), and commanded draft depots while convalescing. He continued to lead the 2nd Division at the Wilderness, Spotsylvania, Cold Harbor, and Petersburg. In June 1864 he was promoted MGen. of Volunteers, and commanded theh XXIV Corps in the Army of the James to Appomattox.

After the War:
He continued in career Army service (initially as Colonel, 36th US Infantry) in the West, and was an author and commander-in-chief of MOLLUS . He retired from the Army as a Brigadier General in 1891.

References, Sources, and other notes:
Notes: He was known as a hard fighter and for giving the Iron Brigade their black hats.

Place of Birth: Holmsburg (Phila), Pennsylvania
College: US Military Academy, West Point, NY    Graduating Year: 1847
Death Date: 2/6/1896    Burial Place: Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, VA

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