John Gibbon at Gettysburg Part 3 With Licensed Battlefield Guide Anthony Kellon
September 11, 2009
Gettysburg Licensed Battlefield Guide Anthony Kellon is an attorney in the Cuyahoga County, Ohio Public Defender’s Office. Tony has been a Licensed Battlefield Guide since 2006. He continues his series on United States Major General John Gibbon. Tony is standing near the John Gibbon Monument on Hancock Avenue. This view was taken facing east at approximately 6:15 PM on Thursday, August 6, 2009.
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 today’s post, Gettysburg Licensed Battlefield Guide Tony Kellon provides biographical information on General Gibbon including how he rose in rank at the beginning of the war.
This map shows the location of the videos taken during our series on John Gibbon. Videos #1-6 were shown in our previous Gibbon posts. Video #7 was taken at the Gibbon Statue on Hancock Avenue. Video #8 was taken on East Cemetery Hill at the position of Stewart’s Battery B, 4th United States. This map was created facing north at approximately 7:30 PM on Monday, August 10, 2009.
This map shows the location of the videos taken during our series on John Gibbon. Videos #7-8 are shown on the previous map. Video #9 was taken near the James Wadsworth Statue on Reynolds Avenue along McPherson’s Ridge. This map was created facing north at approximately 7:30 PM on Monday, August 10, 2009.
On August 9, 1877, Gibbon’s forces attacked Chief Joseph’s unsuspecting camp at Big Hole, Montana. Although the Nez Percé fought Gibbon’s men off and were able to make a successful retreat, Gibbon¹s troops had inflicted massive casualties. In 1885, Gibbon was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General and assumed command of the Army in the Pacific Northwest. In 1886 he put Seattle under martial law to restore order after violent anti-Chinese riots. Gibbon retired from the Army in 1891 and died in 1896. This view was taken circa 1862.
In Video #7 (Videos #1-#6 were shown in our previous Gibbon posts) Gettysburg Licensed Battlefield Guide Anthony Kellon is standing by the monument to John Gibbon on Cemetery Ridge, east of Hancock Avenue. He gives some biographical information of Gibbon’s life before the American Civil War, and provides some information about the monument. This view was taken facing west to southeast at approximately 6:15 PM on Thursday, August 6, 2009.
Licensed Battlefield Guide Anthony Kellon is standing on East Cemetery Hill near the marker for Battery B, 4th United States Artillery. The Evergreen Cemetery Gatehouse is the brick structure in the background. This view was taken facing south at approximately 6:30 PM on Thursday, August 6, 2009.
In Video #8 Licensed Battlefield Guide Tony Kellon is standing on East Cemetery Hill near the position of Stewart’s Battery B, 4th U.S. Artillery. He discusses that fact that Gibbon commanded this unit when the Civil War began. This view was taken facing east to southeast to south to southeast to south at approximately 6:30 PM on Thursday, August 6, 2009.
Tony Kellon is standing on McPherson’s Ridge by the monument to Brigadier General James Wadsworth. Seminary Ridge is in the background. This view was taken facing southeast at approximately 6:45 PM on Thursday, August 6, 2009.
In Video #9 Tony Kellon is standing on McPherson’s Ridge, west of Reynolds Avenue. He discusses how Brigadier-General James Wadsworth’s political connections were instrumental in having Gibbon receive his Brigadier-General’s commission in 1862. This view was taken facing east at approximately 6:45 PM on Thursday, August 6, 2009.
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