Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-06-21

al affairs through the latter part OF the
first fifty years of American independ-
ence.
West Point was established in 1902 Gen.
Gibson has met and talked with men of
every class which has been graduated
from that institution beginning with the
class of 1906. 1t is not unnatural then
that he should be chosen this year as
president of the academy's graduates as
ISOLATION.
1t has been said of Gen. Gibson that he
is the oldest living graduate of West
Point. This is hardly accurate. Two
graduates senior to him are still living,
but they severed their connection with
the army prior to the civil war These
are Capt. Frank T. Bryan Of ST. Louis
and Capt H. A. Ehninger. an engineer
now living in Cuba. These two were of
the class of 1876.
Gen. Gibson, however, is the Oldest
graduate of West Point now borne on the
Army Register. Born in Maryland in
1927, Gen. Gibson was appointed a cadet
at the Military Academy rom Pennsyl-
vania July /. 1913. He had recently pass
ed his twentieth birthday when he was
graduated in 1S47, and given commits
sion as second lieutenant of artillery. He
put in his application for service in
Mexico and in the meantime began spend
ing his graduation leave at his home at
York, Pa.
There, in the summer, orders came to
him, but they made no provision for his
transportation to Vera Cruz. Undaunted.
young Gibson set out to get there OH his
own hook. In those days of deprecated
paper currency he had to provide himself
with gold, and in doing SO practically
exhausted the gold supply of the York
banks. getting the money chiefly in Eng
lish sovereigns.
Thence by stage and canal boat he
made his way to Pittsburgh, there took a
steamer to Cincinnati, where he caught a
steamer for New Orleans. Another steam
er took him to Pensacola. where he was
received on board the U. s. s. Missis-
sippi, bound for Vera Cruz. where he ar
rived in October.
Gen. Scott and the naval forces oper-
ating with him had captured Vera Cruz
March %. the City of Mexico had
fallen and the war was practically over,
but still there was plenty of interesting
service for an active young lieutenant
just out of the Point. Gen. Patterson was
in command at Vera Cruz.
TO him Lieut.. Gibson reported and was
assigned to the command Of section of
artillery with which he proceeded to
JOIN the ncdSy garrison StatlOned at
Puebla. where, on arrival. he was trans
ferred to Capt. Hendricks battery and
where he remained until the following
April when he was sent to join the
larger force in garrison in the City OF
Mexico. and there to command battery
My services in Mexico were very mod
est. as becoming those of a subaltern, "
said Gen Gibson, land, except for some
small engagements with guerrillas, could
hardly be classed as war services. New
ertheless, the months / spent in the
country were entirely delightful and ]
enjoyed every moment of them. My rec.
objections of the pleasure of that stay
were what moved me to ask the Presi
dent to send me there again in case Of
need this year.
Vera Cruz in those days was chiefly
noted as yellow fever pest hole. and
did not remain there long. At Puebla
was most happily quartered in the ole
Loreto fortress. about half mile nortf
of the fort of Guadalupe, which also
was garrisoned by our troops. In beauti
flu. natural surroundings, in an altitude
that tempered the tropic heat to a com
Portable degree. with the fruits and foods
OF rich and productive land in abun.
dance and with enough work to do t
keep one out of mischief. I enjoyed my
.self hugely.
I'm the City of Mexico conditions were
much the same. l was quartered there