Opposition: General John Gibbon, 1827-1896
Sometime in the late 1880's, two old men who had once been bitter enemies sat down side by side to have their picture taken. One was General John Gibbon, Commander of the Department of the Columbia, which included military operations for the state of Washington and Oregon. The other was Chief Joseph, Chief of the Wallowa Band of the Nez Perce. The first time these two met, circumstances had been much different. It was Gibbon who led the ambush of the Nez Perce at the Battle of Big Hole in 1877. Based on their mutual history, it would've been natural if these two didn't want to be in the same area together, let alone sitting for a photograph, but they had put the past away long enough to capture a piece of personal history together.
John Gibbon was born in Holmesburg, now part of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The family later moved to Charlotte, North Carolina where his father was chief assayer at the U.S. Mint. The Gibbon family was wealthy enough to own some slaves. John attended West Point, and graduated in 1847. He was active during the Mexican War, though he never saw any action, likewise for the 3rd Seminole War in 1856. In between times, he taught military tactics at West Point and even wrote a book on the subject that became a textbook in its own right.
The Civil War came along in 1861, and though his family owned slaves, and two of his brothers, brothers-in-law and a cousin, Johnston Pettigrew joined the Confederacy, John remained loyal to the Union. He was in the 2nd Battle of Bull Run/Manassas, the Maryland Campaign, the Battle of Fredericksburg, the Chancellorsville Campaign, 2nd Battle of Fredericksburg, Gettysburg, the Overland Campaign, the Siege of Petersburg, and the Appomattox Campaign that ended the War. It was Gibbon's command that bore the brunt of Pickett's Charge at Gettysburg where, incidentally, his cousin Pettigrew was in command of one of Pickett's units. Gibbon was wounded and was able to be on hand to attend Lincoln's Gettysburg Address months later. During the war, Gibbon had held the brevet rank of Brigadier General. Since he stayed in the Army after the war had ended, he reverted to his regular rank of Colonel.
Gibbon was in the field in 1876 during the Rosebud/Little Bighorn assault on the Sioux, but he wasn't close enough to help either Crook or Custer. Later on June 26, 1876, his approach to the area of Little Bighorn saved the men of Maj. Reno, who were still pinned down by Sioux warriors. It would be Gibbon who gathered the wounded and buried the dead, seeing firsthand the horrible aftermath. The same year, Gibbon received orders from Gen. Oliver O. Howard to cut off the Nez Perce retreat to Canada. He and Chief Joseph would meet at the Big Hole River in the Bitterroot Mountains of Montana. Joseph managed to inflict heavy casualties on Gibbon's men while his own people retreated in good order. It would be Howard who would have to rescue what was left of Gibbon's command.
Gibbon served later as commander of the Department of the Platte. He received back his rank of Brigadier General in 1885 and became commander of the Department of the Columbia. During Chinese riots in 1886, he didn't hesitate to put Seattle Washington under martial law to stop the disturbance. In 1890, he became commander of the Military Division of the Atlantic, but had to retire in 1891 due to age limits. He later died in Baltimore, MD and is buried in Arlington. Several places bear his name, including towns in Minnesota, Washington, Oregon and Nebraska. Gibbon River and Falls in Yellowstone National Park are also tributes to him because of an expedition to the Yellowstone in 1872.
John Gibbon was born in Holmesburg, now part of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The family later moved to Charlotte, North Carolina where his father was chief assayer at the U.S. Mint. The Gibbon family was wealthy enough to own some slaves. John attended West Point, and graduated in 1847. He was active during the Mexican War, though he never saw any action, likewise for the 3rd Seminole War in 1856. In between times, he taught military tactics at West Point and even wrote a book on the subject that became a textbook in its own right.
The Civil War came along in 1861, and though his family owned slaves, and two of his brothers, brothers-in-law and a cousin, Johnston Pettigrew joined the Confederacy, John remained loyal to the Union. He was in the 2nd Battle of Bull Run/Manassas, the Maryland Campaign, the Battle of Fredericksburg, the Chancellorsville Campaign, 2nd Battle of Fredericksburg, Gettysburg, the Overland Campaign, the Siege of Petersburg, and the Appomattox Campaign that ended the War. It was Gibbon's command that bore the brunt of Pickett's Charge at Gettysburg where, incidentally, his cousin Pettigrew was in command of one of Pickett's units. Gibbon was wounded and was able to be on hand to attend Lincoln's Gettysburg Address months later. During the war, Gibbon had held the brevet rank of Brigadier General. Since he stayed in the Army after the war had ended, he reverted to his regular rank of Colonel.
Gibbon was in the field in 1876 during the Rosebud/Little Bighorn assault on the Sioux, but he wasn't close enough to help either Crook or Custer. Later on June 26, 1876, his approach to the area of Little Bighorn saved the men of Maj. Reno, who were still pinned down by Sioux warriors. It would be Gibbon who gathered the wounded and buried the dead, seeing firsthand the horrible aftermath. The same year, Gibbon received orders from Gen. Oliver O. Howard to cut off the Nez Perce retreat to Canada. He and Chief Joseph would meet at the Big Hole River in the Bitterroot Mountains of Montana. Joseph managed to inflict heavy casualties on Gibbon's men while his own people retreated in good order. It would be Howard who would have to rescue what was left of Gibbon's command.
Gibbon served later as commander of the Department of the Platte. He received back his rank of Brigadier General in 1885 and became commander of the Department of the Columbia. During Chinese riots in 1886, he didn't hesitate to put Seattle Washington under martial law to stop the disturbance. In 1890, he became commander of the Military Division of the Atlantic, but had to retire in 1891 due to age limits. He later died in Baltimore, MD and is buried in Arlington. Several places bear his name, including towns in Minnesota, Washington, Oregon and Nebraska. Gibbon River and Falls in Yellowstone National Park are also tributes to him because of an expedition to the Yellowstone in 1872.
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