When Gibbon was nearly 11 years old, the family moved near Charlotte, North Carolina, after his father took a position as chief assayer at the U.S.

He served in the Mexican–American War without seeing combat,[4] attempted to keep the peace between Seminoles and settlers in south Florida, and taught artillery tactics at West Point, where he wrote The Artillerist's Manual in 1859.

Gibbon quickly set about drilling his troops and improving their appearance, ordering them to wear white leggings and distinctive, black, 1858 regular army, Hardee hats.

[6] He was in command of the brigade during their strong uphill charge at the Battle of South Mountain, where Maj. Gen. George B. McClellan exclaimed that the men "fought like iron".

[8] At the end of the council of war on the night of July 2, army commander Maj. Gen. George Meade took Gibbon aside and predicted, "If Lee attacks tomorrow, it will be on your front.

[10] While recovering from his wounds, he commanded a draft depot in Cleveland, Ohio, and attended the dedication of Soldiers' National Cemetery in November 1863 with his close friend and aide Lt. Frank A.

[11] Gibbon was back in command of the 2nd Division during Gen. Grant's Overland Campaign in May and June 1864, seeing action at the battles of the Wilderness, Spotsylvania Court House, and Cold Harbor.

During the subsequent Siege of Petersburg campaign (June 1864 to April 1865), Gibbon became disheartened when his troops refused to fight at Ream's Station in August 1864.

His troops helped achieve the decisive breakthrough at Third Battle of Petersburg in April 1865, capturing Fort Gregg, part of the Confederate defenses.

Gibbon's approach on June 26 probably saved the lives of the several hundred men under the command of Major Marcus Reno, who were still under siege.

In response to Gibbon's urgent call for help, General Howard and an advance party arrived the next day at the battlefield.

He was promoted to brigadier general in the regular army in 1885 and took command of the Department of the Columbia, representing all posts in the Pacific Northwest.

Gibbon served as president of the Iron Brigade Association and Commander in Chief of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States from October 1895 until his death the following year.

In addition to his famous and influential Artillerist's Manual of 1859, he is the author of Personal Recollections of the Civil War, published posthumously in 1928, and Adventures on the Western Frontier, also posthumous, 1994, along with many articles in magazines and journals, typically recounting his time in the West and providing his opinions on the government's policy toward Native Americans.