William Chauncey Kibbe
Encyclopedia
William Chauncey Kibbe California pioneer, third Adjutant General of California that oversaw the California militia from its beginnings through most of the American Civil War
.
William C. Kibbe was born in Illinois in 1822. He moved to New York
as a young man, teaching school in Brooklyn
. He rose to become Principal of Public School #19. When news of the California Gold Rush
came he went to California to seek his fortune as a miner. With no success in the mines he turned to politics.
William C. Kibbe was appointed by Governor John
McDougal as California's third Quartermaster General
in June, 1852, and after William H. Richardson resigned, due to the provisions of the Militia Law of 1852 became the Adjutant General
of California in charge of the California Militia also. He was elected to the office of Adjutant General in 1854.
In 1855, Kibbe wrote a drill manual for the California Militia, The volunteer: containing exercises and movements of infantry, light infantry, riflemen and cavaly, as a drill manual for the California Militia.
In 1858, William Kibbe was responsible for organizing the Klamath & Humboldt Expedition led by Captain Isaac G. Messec to fight the Wintoon War of 1858-59
against the Whilkut
people. In 1859, he oversaw the State of
California's Pitt River Expedition against the Achomawi
and Atsugewi
tribes in the
vicinity the Pit River
in Northeastern California. He sent Militia units from California to help the settlers in Nevada
during the Paiute War
.
In May 1861, when the Los Angeles Mounted Rifles
absconded with the weapons of various defuct Militia companies in Southern California
, blame came to Kibbe. His records under his long tenure of office got into such confusion that the legislature took a hand and tried to unseat him. Governor Leland Stanford
kept him in office.
With the advent of mechanized warfare of the shape of the new iron-clads called for new methods of defense. Adjutant General Kibbe in his report of December 3, 1863 to Governor Leland Stanford
proposed a novel plan for the protection of San Francisco harbor:
Kibbe was replaced by George S. Evans
when he was appointed Adjutant General by Governor
Frederick Low
, May 1, 1864. After the Civil War, Kibbe returned to Brooklyn and held an office in the Hall of records there. He died at his home, 464 Macon Street, in Brooklyn, New York at the age of 82 years.
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
.
William C. Kibbe was born in Illinois in 1822. He moved to New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
as a young man, teaching school in Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
. He rose to become Principal of Public School #19. When news of the California Gold Rush
California Gold Rush
The California Gold Rush began on January 24, 1848, when gold was found by James W. Marshall at Sutter's Mill in Coloma, California. The first to hear confirmed information of the gold rush were the people in Oregon, the Sandwich Islands , and Latin America, who were the first to start flocking to...
came he went to California to seek his fortune as a miner. With no success in the mines he turned to politics.
William C. Kibbe was appointed by Governor John
McDougal as California's third Quartermaster General
Quartermaster general
A Quartermaster general is the staff officer in charge of supplies for a whole army.- The United Kingdom :In the United Kingdom, the Quartermaster-General to the Forces is one of the most senior generals in the British Army...
in June, 1852, and after William H. Richardson resigned, due to the provisions of the Militia Law of 1852 became the Adjutant General
Adjutant general
An Adjutant General is a military chief administrative officer.-Imperial Russia:In Imperial Russia, the General-Adjutant was a Court officer, who was usually an army general. He served as a personal aide to the Tsar and hence was a member of the H. I. M. Retinue...
of California in charge of the California Militia also. He was elected to the office of Adjutant General in 1854.
In 1855, Kibbe wrote a drill manual for the California Militia, The volunteer: containing exercises and movements of infantry, light infantry, riflemen and cavaly, as a drill manual for the California Militia.
In 1858, William Kibbe was responsible for organizing the Klamath & Humboldt Expedition led by Captain Isaac G. Messec to fight the Wintoon War of 1858-59
Bald Hills War
Bald Hills War was a war fought by the forces of the California Militia, California Volunteers and soldiers of the U. S. Army against the Chilula, Lassik, Hupa, Mattole, Nongatl, Sinkyone, Tsnungwe, Wailaki, Whilkut and Wiyot Native American peoples.The war was fought within the boundaries of the...
against the Whilkut
Whilkut
The Whilkut were an Athapaskan tribe, speaking a dialect similar to the Hupa and Chilula, who inhabited the area on or near the upper Redwood Creek and along the Mad River except near its mouth, up to Iaqua Butte, and some settlement in Grouse Creek in the Trinity River drainage in Northwestern...
people. In 1859, he oversaw the State of
California's Pitt River Expedition against the Achomawi
Achomawi
The Achomawi are one of eleven bands of the Pit River tribe of Native Americans who lived in northeastern California, USA....
and Atsugewi
Atsugewi
The Atsugewi are Native Americans residing in what is now northern California, United States. Their traditional lands are near Mount Shasta, specifically the Pit River drainage on Burney, Hat, and Dixie Valley or Horse Creeks. They are closely related to the Achomawi and consisted of two groups...
tribes in the
vicinity the Pit River
Pit River
The Pit River is a major river draining from northeastern California into the state's Central Valley. The Pit, the Klamath and the Columbia are the only three rivers in the U.S...
in Northeastern California. He sent Militia units from California to help the settlers in Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
during the Paiute War
Paiute War
The Paiute War, also known as the Pyramid Lake War, Washoe Indian War and the Pah Ute War, was an armed conflict between Northern Paiutes allied with the Shoshone and the Bannock against the United States. It took place in 1860 in the vicinity of Pyramid Lake in the Utah Territory, now within...
.
In May 1861, when the Los Angeles Mounted Rifles
Los Angeles Mounted Rifles
The Los Angeles Mounted Rifles was a company of the California State Militia formed in 1861. It was the only California state unit to serve the Confederacy.- Formation :...
absconded with the weapons of various defuct Militia companies in Southern California
Southern California
Southern California is a megaregion, or megapolitan area, in the southern area of the U.S. state of California. Large urban areas include Greater Los Angeles and Greater San Diego. The urban area stretches along the coast from Ventura through the Southland and Inland Empire to San Diego...
, blame came to Kibbe. His records under his long tenure of office got into such confusion that the legislature took a hand and tried to unseat him. Governor Leland Stanford
Leland Stanford
Amasa Leland Stanford was an American tycoon, industrialist, robber baron, politician and founder of Stanford University.-Early years:...
kept him in office.
With the advent of mechanized warfare of the shape of the new iron-clads called for new methods of defense. Adjutant General Kibbe in his report of December 3, 1863 to Governor Leland Stanford
Leland Stanford
Amasa Leland Stanford was an American tycoon, industrialist, robber baron, politician and founder of Stanford University.-Early years:...
proposed a novel plan for the protection of San Francisco harbor:
- "To adequately fortify the harbor it was proposed to construct revolving iron towers at each side of the Golden Gate. These towers to be one hundred feet in diameter and pierced for two tiers of guns with ample space for thirty guns in each tier. Casemated guns were planned for the foundation of the towers. When the towers were completed, massive chains would be laid across the entrance to the harbor. These chains would be drawn up by windlasses operated by steam engines. The chains would be designed to check the speed of any enemy vessel and bring it under fire of the guns in the towers. Kibbe contended that if the towers could be built and other approaches to the city fortified, the navies of the world could be kept out of the harbor."
Kibbe was replaced by George S. Evans
George S. Evans
George Spafford Evans , Texas Ranger, miner, businessman, County Clerk for Tuolumne County, Customs official and Senate Clerk for the State of California...
when he was appointed Adjutant General by Governor
Frederick Low
Frederick Low
Frederick Ferdinand Low was an American politician, US congressman and the ninth Governor of California.-Life:Born in Frankfort in 1828, Low attended the Hampden Academy in Hampden, Maine. Low moved to California, entering the shipping business in San Francisco in 1849...
, May 1, 1864. After the Civil War, Kibbe returned to Brooklyn and held an office in the Hall of records there. He died at his home, 464 Macon Street, in Brooklyn, New York at the age of 82 years.