John Gibbon was born in the Holmesburg section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the fourth of ten children born to Dr. John Heysham Gibbon and Catharine Lardner Gibbon. When Gibbon was 11 years old the family moved near Charlotte, North Carolina, because Dr. Gibbon took a position as chief assayer at the U.S. Mint. John Gibbon graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1847 and was commissioned a brevet second lieutenant in the 3rd U.S. Artillery. He served in the Mexican-American War without seeing combat, attempted to keep the peace between Seminoles and settlers in south Florida. In 1855, Gibbon married Francis “Fannie” North Moale. They had four children: Frances Moale Gibbon, Catharine “Katy” Lardner Gibbon, John Gibbon, Jr. (who died as a toddler) and John S. Gibbon. Lieutenant John Gibbon taught artillery tactics at West Point where he wrote The Artillerist’s Manual in 1859. The manual was used by both sides in the Civil War.

In our first Gibbon post, Gettysburg Licensed Battlefield Guide Anthony Kellon showed us where Gibbon directed the Second Army Corps through Taneytown Maryland, and where they bivouacked near Gettysburg on the night of July 1, 1863.

In our second post, Licensed Battlefield Guide Tony Kellon described the three positions occupied by the Second Army Corps on July 2, 1863.

In our third post, Gettysburg Licensed Battlefield Guide Tony Kellon provided biographical information on General Gibbon including how he rose in rank at the beginning of the war.

In today’s post, Tony Kellon describes the brigade and divisions commanded by Gibbon before Gettysburg. He also discusses Gibbon’s relatives from North Carolina.

To see other posts by Gettysburg Licensed Battlefield Guides, click here.