The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1903-07-08

W due lAdmptOu OlDUcb, WHOSE ucdtu
on the 18th inst. at Columbia, has
been announced.
He was born in Columbia, April 3,
1887. His parents were DR.. Robt.
Wilson Gibbes and Caroline Elizabeth
Guignard, who was daughter of John
Gabriel Guignard. He entered West
Point in 1855, and was graduated in
1860. While at home on furlough,
awaiting orders to 60 to the frontier
in Texas, his State seeded and on
the same day his resignation was for
warded to the United States war de-
partment.
His first military services for the
Confederacy were in the operations
against Fort Sumter and he took q
prominent and active part in its re-
duotion. He was subsequently with
the great Gen. Robert Il. Lee dur.
ing his first campaign in West Vir-
ginia, but prolonged i'll health detain-
ed him for some time from active field
duty.
In June, 1864, he was assigned to
the command of the thirteenth bat.
talon Of Virginia artillery, which was
composed of the Otey battery (named
after it's first captain, George CASTOR
Otey, who died of wound received in
battle), organized in 1862 in Rich
mond, Va, and when under Maj.
Gibbes was commanded by Capt.
David Norman Walker; the Ringgold
battery, organized in Pittsylvania
com ty, Va, and commanded by Capt.
D..A.nson; and the Lynchburg bat
terry, organized in Lynchburg, Va,
and commanded by Lieut.. Powell, in
the absence on sick leave of Capt.
Richardson, it's commanding officer.
Maj. Gibbes assumed command (suc-
ceeding Col. j. Floyd King, of Geor-
gia, brave ofioer), soon after the
battalion reached the front at Peters.
burg, Va.
About the middle of June, 1864,
his battalion took position on the
front lines at Petersburg. The Lynch.
burg artillery held the line nearest to
the point known, afterwards, and now,
as the Crater; the Otey battery was
located on the right OF the Lynchburg
artillery; and the Ringgoll battery
went into position on the right Of the
Osey battery. The three above named
batteries ,romained in those exposed
positions 7or about FIVE months, were
under constant fire and sustained
many casualties.
I was detailed 70 serve ss courier
for Maj. Gibbes soon after he took
command. I was then 10 years of
age, but looked younger, although I
had served in the Otey battery since
Sept. 1863.
I now,write Of my beloved and we'll
remembered commander With dis.
tinct recollection Of him and Of the
events which impressed him indelibly
and most favorsbly on my mind. I
was with him constantly from the
time he courteously welcomed me as
his courier until we separated on the
battlefield at the Lynohburg battery
on July 30, 1864, as I will now relate.
Your space forbids details, but permit
me to give sketch.
IN FRONT OF PETERSBURG.
When on the morning Of July 80,
1864, the mine which had been placed
by Union troops under the Confed-
crate works was fred and exploded
Maj. Gibbes and I were asleep in q
cottage house some distance in rear of
the Riuggold battery. We hurried to
the front and soon Maj. Gibbes took
Immediate command Of the Lynch
burg artillery. The heavy oonoen-
Grated fire from the union lines (sup-
plemented by many sharpshooters),
the terrific explosion of the mine i'm
mediately at our left, and the fear OF
another explosion, which seemed i'm
minent, had tarowu officers and men.
of the Lynchburg battery into some
confusion and dinactivity. '1
I must here give the highest praise
to heroic Gun Corporal Hall Of the
Lynchbgrg artillery, who, was from
Washington county, Va, and only %
years old. He was the impersonation
Of heroism on the battlefield. He
oommaoded the left gun of his bat
terry, and located at an angle OF the
earthworks, it swept the front Of our
line and dealt death to the left flank
-of the charging and massed union
troops. That gun was the most i'm
,portant and the most destructive in.
the Confederate lines. Corporal Hall
worked it with conepiouous bravery.