Gibbon

1890 · WRCAM56663 — N.p. 1890. 19pp. plus an additional nine lines of manuscript note on two other slips of paper. Main text written on 9 3/4 x 7 1/2-inch sheets. Approximately 2500 total words. Several sheets with penciled cross-outs but very easily readable overall. Minor edge wear. Near fine. In a half green morocco and white cloth folding case spine gilt leather labels. An exceedingly interesting and important firsthand account of the planning leading up to the massacre at the Little Big Horn in June 1876 written by Gen. John Gibbon who was involved in the planning and operations and was one of Custer's superior officers. Gibbon and his troops were among the first to arrive at the scene of the battle and helped to bury Custer's dead and evacuate the survivors. <br> <br> A major question surrounding the Custer tragedy was whether or not Custer exceeded or ignored his orders in attacking the Sioux before the arrival of Gibbon and his reinforcements. This manuscript recounts the deliberations conducted by Gen. Alfred Terry and his officers including Custer and Gibbon and gives a great deal of information on the decision-making process the plans at which they arrived and the orders under which Custer was to operate. Gibbon wrote about his experiences in the Sioux Campaign in an 1877 article called "Last Summer's Expedition Against the Sioux and Its Great Catastrophe" which also appeared as a chapter in his posthumously published memoir ADVENTURES ON THE WESTERN FRONTIER. The information in the present manuscript is not included in either of those works however and to our knowledge the present manuscript is completely unpublished. <br> <br> Gibbon begins by explaining that on June 21 1876 he and his 7th Infantry troops were camped on the north bank of the Yellowstone River with Custer and his 7th Cavalry camped on the south bank. He relates that the two separate columns had already conferred three times and were about to meet for a fourth conference all under the supervision of commanding Gen. Alfred Terry. Gibbon writes that at the first conference with Terry he offered Terry the services of his trusted scout Mitch Bouyer who eventually died with Custer's men: "I little thought that I was sending poor faithful Mitch to his death." Gibbon also briefly discusses his second conference with Terry before describing a third conference which took place in Gibbon's tent. At that meeting Terry chastised Major Marcus Reno for "following the Indian trail up the Rosebud instead of at once returning & reporting what he had discovered; thus not only losing precious time but running the risk of being discovered by the Indians." <br> <br> Gibbon continues: <br> <br> "Shortly afterwards Custer's command made its appearance on the southern bank & I accompanied Genl. Terry on the ship Far West across the River & Custer found us on board.We sat down at a table & with a map before us discussed the situation. My Crow scouts had reported seeing smoke in the valley of the Little Big Horn and hence it was inferred there must be a camp of Indians somewhere along that stream. The question discussed was how to approach them & strike them to the best advantage.I think Genl. Terry had already made up his mind when the discussion took place to send Custer with a command to follow up the trail discovered by Reno.In the course of the discussion I proposed the question what would the Indians probably do when they were disturbed." <br> <br> Gibbon goes on to discuss the various questions that were posed and impressions that were given at the meeting. Among these was the presumption that the Sioux would attempt to "escape" rather than stand and fight. Gibbon notes that they were ignorant of the "desperate fight" that Crook had waged at the headwaters of the Rosebud just a few days earlier. <br> <br> Very importantly Gibbon writes: <br> <br> "I suggested it would be advisable for Custer to keep on up the Rosebud; instead of following the trail over into the Little Big Horn valley & after crossing over nearer to the mountains approach the supposed Indian camp from the south. This would not only interpose his force between the Indians & their refuge the Big Horn Mountains but would give my command the requisite time to get up as I had the longest distance to pass over. This was agreed to apparently on the part of all.Custer was directed to examine the head of that valley and endeavor to send a messenger down it to communicate to Genl. Terry news of his progress & any information of importance he may have gained. This was regarded as a matter of some considerable moment as it would bring us news of the other columns & might possibly cause a modification of our movement." <br> <br> Gibbon concludes by discussing Custer's failure to follow his orders and why he may have done so: <br> <br> "It is now a matter of history that Genl. Terry received no message from Custer.nor received any message from him of any kind nor ever saw him again. It is also well known that Custer did not follow the line of march marked out for him at the conference. It is difficult to account for Custer's failure to endeavor to communicate with Genl. Terry as desired.except upon the supposition that when in the vicinity of the head of that valley on the day he struck the Indians camp his mind may have been so engrossed by his preparations for the conflict before him as to cause him to overlook it for the time.His reasons for not conforming to the 'desires' of his Dept. Comdr. as expressed in the letter of instructions can never now be known.This is a case which forms no exception to the general rule which prevails in all well disciplined military bodies that the wishes of the commander are always when possible to be construed as orders." <br> <br> John Gibbon 1827-96 was born in the Holmesburg neighborhood of Philadelphia and attended West Point graduating in 1847. During the Mexican-American War he was stationed in Florida helping to keep the peace between American settlers and Seminole Indians and assisting the evacuation of Seminoles to Oklahoma Territory. This experience kindled in him a sympathy for American Indians that would last the rest of his life. Gibbon taught artillery at West Point and produced an influential treatise on the subject. Despite family ties to the Confederacy he fought for the Union during the Civil War and was involved in many important battles including Antietam. At Gettysburg he led forces against Pickett's Charge and was wounded on Cemetery Hill. Later Gibbon helped block the Confederate escape route at the Battle of Appomattox Courthouse and he was one of the three commissioners who received the Confederate surrender at Appomattox. After the Civil War he commanded an infantry unit in Montana Territory and took part in the 1876 campaign against the Sioux. Gibbon's men were among the first to arrive at the scene of the battle of the Little Big Horn and helped to bury Custer's dead and evacuate the survivors. The following year he led a bloody attack on the Nez Perce led by Chief Joseph at the Battle of the Big Hole. Afterward Gibbon and Chief Joseph would become friends. In 1885 Gibbon now a brigadier general took command of the Department of Columbia and placed Seattle under martial law during the anti-Chinese riots of 1886. Aside from his ARTILLERISTS MANUAL of 1859 Gibbon wrote two other books PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS OF THE CIVIL WAR and ADVENTURES ON THE WESTERN FRONTIER both published posthumously. <br> <br> An exciting informative and unpublished firsthand account of the planning that preceded the massacre of Custer and his men at the Little Big Horn by one who was intimately involved in the process. hardcover books