Robert Gibbons

Robert Gibbons

A native New Yorker, Robert Gibbons enlisted in company B at Detroit on July 24, 1862. He was immediately given the rank of Corporal. In civilian life, he had been a Detroit printer. His company mustered into service on August 13, 1862. At the time of his enlistment, Robert was 23.

In recognition of his good service he was promoted to Sergeant on May 1, 1864, just before the start of Grant's overland campaign. Although he survived the Wilderness without incident, Robert was wounded in the arm at the Battle of Laurel Hill (part of the larger engagement at Spottsylvannia Courthouse) on May 12, 1864. The severity of the wound is not known, but by October he had returned to the Regiment.

Robert Gibbons was captured by a party of Confederates on October 26, 1864. O. B. Curtis (p. 279) recounts the episode:

Robert Gibbons of B went a few rods in front of the line to ascertain the position of the enemy when he was captured by half-a-dozen or more "Johnnies." While trying to get back with their capture, "Bob" as he was known in the regiment, tried his argumentative powers on the "we 'uns." He told them them that they had better consider themselves his prisoners and go into his lines; that his side was going to beat in the end and that they had better go where their safety and good feeding were assured. The leader of the squad told him: "Yank, if you don't stop that kind of talk, I'll blow the top of your head off." Gibbon then walked with him and told him they would wander around in the woods between the lines until all of them would get their heads blown off, and it was better to go in with him where they would have no more fighting. "This," said he , "was far better than having a head blown off." The leader and the whole squad were persuaded that their cause was going up sure and their prisoner's advice was wise for them, and they consented to go with him. Sergeant Gibbons then had a difficult task to find even his own lines and get in unharmed. Presently he heard the loud "Baw-baw-baw" of some of the enlisted Indians in one of the Wisconsin regiments of the Iron Brigade, and turned in the direction of their familiar whoop. He succeeded in getting in safely with all of his captors who laid down their arms at the sight of the Seventh Wisconsin, which regiment was sent out to reconnoiter.

Not all of "Bob's" service was on the front line, however. Curtis (p. 395 ) also served in the Brigade Commissary Department for a time.

Robert Gibbons was promoted to First Sergeant on May 18, 1865, near then end of his service. He mustered out with the Regiment on June 30, 1865. Robert Gibbons was in temporary command of company B during the muster out, the officers of the company all being absent.

After the war, Robert Gibbons was actively involved in the Regimental Association. He was still alive in 1904 and was listed on the Iron Brigade Roster published in that year. At that time, he was living at 49 Lincoln Avenue, Detroit. He is not listed on the 1923 roster, so presumably he passed away in the meantime. He is buried in Elmwood Cemetery, Detroit.

Descendant: Jill Dempster, Jilleeno@sprynet.com

Post-war photograph (c. 1890) taken from O. B. Curtis