Randall L. Gibson
Encyclopedia
Randall Lee Gibson was a U.S. Senator and a member of the House of Representatives
from Louisiana
. He was also a brigadier general in the Confederate States Army
, a regent of the Smithsonian Institution
, and a president of the board of administrators of Tulane University
.
, the son of a plantation owner. He was educated in leading Louisiana schools. In 1853 he graduated from Yale University
, where he was a member of the Scroll and Key
society, after which he received a bachelor of laws (LL.B) from the University of Louisiana, later Tulane University
.
from the Union
, Gibson became an aide to Gov. Thomas O. Moore. In March 1861, he left the capital to join the 1st Louisiana Artillery. Later in the year, he was commissioned as colonel
of the 13th Louisiana Infantry. Gibson fought at the Battle of Shiloh
and subsequent actions. With the Army of Tennessee
, he took part in the 1862 Kentucky Campaign and the Battle of Chickamauga
. After being promoted to brigadier general on January 11, 1864, he fought in the Atlanta Campaign
and the Franklin-Nashville Campaign
; he then was assigned to the defense of Mobile, Alabama
. He inspired his troops to hold Spanish Fort
, which was under siege
, until the last moment, after which they escaped at night on April 8, 1865.
, and is buried at Lexington Cemetery in Lexington, Kentucky
.
on the campus of Tulane University
is named for Senator Gibson, who was instrumental after the war in helping fund and continue the public University of Louisiana
as the private Tulane University of Louisiana.
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
. He was also a brigadier general in the Confederate States Army
Confederate States Army
The Confederate States Army was the army of the Confederate States of America while the Confederacy existed during the American Civil War. On February 8, 1861, delegates from the seven Deep South states which had already declared their secession from the United States of America adopted the...
, a regent of the Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian Institution
The Smithsonian Institution is an educational and research institute and associated museum complex, administered and funded by the government of the United States and by funds from its endowment, contributions, and profits from its retail operations, concessions, licensing activities, and magazines...
, and a president of the board of administrators of Tulane University
Tulane University
Tulane University is a private, nonsectarian research university located in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States...
.
Early life
Gibson was born at "Spring Hill", Versailles, KentuckyVersailles, Kentucky
As of the census of 2000, there were 7,511 people, 3,160 households, and 2,110 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 3,330 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 88.18% White, 8.67% African American, 0.15% Native American, 0.35%...
, the son of a plantation owner. He was educated in leading Louisiana schools. In 1853 he graduated from Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
, where he was a member of the Scroll and Key
Scroll and Key
The Scroll and Key Society is a secret society, founded in 1842 at Yale University, in New Haven, Connecticut. It is the wealthiest and second oldest Yale secret society...
society, after which he received a bachelor of laws (LL.B) from the University of Louisiana, later Tulane University
Tulane University
Tulane University is a private, nonsectarian research university located in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States...
.
Civil War
Soon after the state's secessionSecession
Secession is the act of withdrawing from an organization, union, or especially a political entity. Threats of secession also can be a strategy for achieving more limited goals.-Secession theory:...
from the Union
Union (American Civil War)
During the American Civil War, the Union was a name used to refer to the federal government of the United States, which was supported by the twenty free states and five border slave states. It was opposed by 11 southern slave states that had declared a secession to join together to form the...
, Gibson became an aide to Gov. Thomas O. Moore. In March 1861, he left the capital to join the 1st Louisiana Artillery. Later in the year, he was commissioned as colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
of the 13th Louisiana Infantry. Gibson fought at the Battle of Shiloh
Battle of Shiloh
The Battle of Shiloh, also known as the Battle of Pittsburg Landing, was a major battle in the Western Theater of the American Civil War, fought April 6–7, 1862, in southwestern Tennessee. A Union army under Maj. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant had moved via the Tennessee River deep into Tennessee and...
and subsequent actions. With the Army of Tennessee
Army of Tennessee
The Army of Tennessee was the principal Confederate army operating between the Appalachian Mountains and the Mississippi River during the American Civil War. It was formed in late 1862 and fought until the end of the war in 1865, participating in most of the significant battles in the Western Theater...
, he took part in the 1862 Kentucky Campaign and the Battle of Chickamauga
Battle of Chickamauga
The Battle of Chickamauga, fought September 19–20, 1863, marked the end of a Union offensive in southeastern Tennessee and northwestern Georgia called the Chickamauga Campaign...
. After being promoted to brigadier general on January 11, 1864, he fought in the Atlanta Campaign
Atlanta Campaign
The Atlanta Campaign was a series of battles fought in the Western Theater of the American Civil War throughout northwest Georgia and the area around Atlanta during the summer of 1864. Union Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman invaded Georgia from the vicinity of Chattanooga, Tennessee, beginning in May...
and the Franklin-Nashville Campaign
Franklin-Nashville Campaign
The Franklin-Nashville Campaign, also known as Hood's Tennessee Campaign, was a series of battles in the Western Theater, conducted from September 18 to December 27, 1864, in Alabama, Tennessee, and northwestern Georgia during the American Civil War. The Confederate Army of Tennessee under Lt....
; he then was assigned to the defense of Mobile, Alabama
Mobile, Alabama
Mobile is the third most populous city in the Southern US state of Alabama and is the county seat of Mobile County. It is located on the Mobile River and the central Gulf Coast of the United States. The population within the city limits was 195,111 during the 2010 census. It is the largest...
. He inspired his troops to hold Spanish Fort
Battle of Spanish Fort
The Battle of Spanish Fort took place from March 27 to April 8, 1865 in Baldwin County, Alabama, as part of the Mobile Campaign of the Western Theater of the American Civil War....
, which was under siege
Siege
A siege is a military blockade of a city or fortress with the intent of conquering by attrition or assault. The term derives from sedere, Latin for "to sit". Generally speaking, siege warfare is a form of constant, low intensity conflict characterized by one party holding a strong, static...
, until the last moment, after which they escaped at night on April 8, 1865.
Postbellum career
Gibson served Louisiana as a Democrat in the House of Representatives from 1875 to 1883; at the freshman's prompting on December 10, 1875, the Committee on the Mississippi Levees was created to inquire into building and repairing levees. The committee's name was changed to the Levees and Improvements of the Mississippi River on November 7, 1877. He also served as a senator from 1883 to 1892. He died while still a senator in Hot Springs, ArkansasHot Springs, Arkansas
Hot Springs is the 10th most populous city in the U.S. state of Arkansas, the county seat of Garland County, and the principal city of the Hot Springs Metropolitan Statistical Area encompassing all of Garland County...
, and is buried at Lexington Cemetery in Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington is the second-largest city in Kentucky and the 63rd largest in the US. Known as the "Thoroughbred City" and the "Horse Capital of the World", it is located in the heart of Kentucky's Bluegrass region...
.
In memoriam
Gibson HallGibson Hall
Gibson Hall is a building at Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States. It sits across from Audubon Park.-History:Constructed in 1894, Gibson Hall is the oldest structure on the present Tulane University campus. It faces on to St. Charles Avenue and is the entry landmark to the...
on the campus of Tulane University
Tulane University
Tulane University is a private, nonsectarian research university located in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States...
is named for Senator Gibson, who was instrumental after the war in helping fund and continue the public University of Louisiana
University of Louisiana
University of Louisiana may refer to:* University of Louisiana System, public multi-campus university system** Northwestern State University of Louisiana...
as the private Tulane University of Louisiana.
See also
- List of American Civil War generals