William Badger Tibbits

William Badger Tibbits (March 31, 1837 – February 10, 1880) was an officer in the Union Army during the American Civil War. He raised a company of infantry in the 2nd New York Infantry, and led it as captain, and later major, till 1863, when he was authorized to raise and lead a regiment of cavalry, the 21st New York Cavalry, and was promoted to colonel. On January 13, 1866, President Andrew Johnson nominated Tibbits for appointment to the grade of brigadier general of volunteers, to rank from October 18, 1865, and the United States Senate confirmed the appointment on February 23, 1866. On May 4, 1866, President Johnson nominated Tibbits for appointment to the grade of brevet major general of volunteers to rank from March 13, 1865, and the United States Senate confirmed the appointment on May 16, 1866.

Life

William Badger Tibbits, the youngest son of George Mortimer Tibbits, was born at Hoosick, in Rensselaer County, New York, on March 31, 1837. His early youth was passed partly in Troy and partly in the country, and after having received elementary instruction at various schools, he graduated from Union college in 1859.

This recommendation was duly honored by the State of New York, and Captain Tibbits was appointed major of the regiment, his commission bearing date October 13, 1862. The term of the 2nd Regiment expired in the following year, and on May 23, 1863, Major Tibbits was mustered out with the regiment, at the city of Troy. His reference to the Official Records only shows the August 7, 1864 letter from Major General David Hunter recommending the promotion, the same information cited by Sylvester. However, the Eichers note that the commission was not issued, citing Hunt, Roger D. and Jack R. Brown, Brevet Brigadier Generals in Blue.. Hunt and Brown have no entry for Tibbits as a brevet brigadier general. Tibbits was mustered out of the volunteers on January 15, 1866.

Colonel Tibbits was engaged in battles or actions in Virginia at: New Market, Piedmont, Lynchburg, Hillsboro, Snicker's Gap, Ashby's Gap, Kearnestown, Winchester, Martinsburg, Charlestown, Halltown, Nineveh, Rood's Hill, and Liberty Mill or Gordonsville. The will, admitted to probate on March 24, bequeathed $100,000 for the erection and maintenance of a home for indigent soldiers of the armies of the United States of the Civil War, and for indigent old men and women, who might be admitted if the house was not filled with soldiers. The gift was conditional upon the raising of $50,000 additional within five years, and the erection of the home, to be known as Tibbits Home, in or near Tibbets Avenue, in the city of Troy. The will also left $500 annually for five years to the Tibbits Veteran Corps, and the same amount to the Tibbits Cadets, and at the expiration of five years each company was set to receive $8,333.34. The Tibbits estate, left to four heirs, of whom General Tibbits was one, was the largest landed estate in the city, and had never been divided. It was estimated to amount to upward of $1,000,000. Nathaniel Bartlett Sylvester, writing in 1880, makes the following appraisal of Tibbits: "a man whose sound judgment when advice was needed, whose bravery when fighting was to be done, and whose celerity in movement when action was required, won for him, in the stations which he filled, the reputation of being a skillful soldier, and, at the same time, one of the most intrepid spirits of the war."