Oliver Gibbs, of Prescott, served in the 2nd Wisconsin Cavalry, 2nd Battalion. His commission was dated December 18, 1861, and he resigned June 18, 1862.
As an adjutant, Gibbs was a staff officer who assisted his battalion’s major with the administrative functions of the battalion, such as the management of correspondence, reports, and other secretarial functions. Remember that everything at this time was handwritten and Gibbs would have written the letters and reports for his commanding officer’s signature.
Following is a short article from The Prescott Journal of December 25, 1861.
OLIVER GIBBS, Jr., of this city, has received an appointment as Adjutant of a Battalion, with rank of first Lieutenant, in the 2d Reg. Wis. Cavalry, Col. Washburne [sic]. He leaves for Milwaukee to-morrow.
Another short article in the January 22, 1862, issue of The Prescott Journal:
Adj’t O. GIBBS, Jr., is in town, recruiting for Washburn’s Cavalry. Patriots wishing to serve their country on horsebakc can have a good opportunity by calling soon at McKEE’s bookstore. We should judge, from the appearance of Adj’t. GIBBS, that Uncle Same does not intend to starve his nephews.
This article is from the January 29, 1862, issue of The Prescott Journal:
Adj’t. O. GIBBS, Jr., has been actively engaged in recruiting since his arrival here. The following named men leave to-day with him for Camp Washburn, Milwaukee :—
G. H. Nichols, E. S. Falkinburg, P. I. Wright, H. C. Cook, Adventure Smith, Geo. C. Bracket, N. S. Goss, Theodore Childs, John A. Muzzey, G. B. Adams.
The Civil War and Northwest Wisconsin 