John Wilson Bubb

John Wilson Bubb
1901 black and white head and shoulders photo of John Wilson Bubb in dress uniform
Bubb circa 1901
Born(1843-04-26)26 April 1843
Danville, Pennsylvania, US
Died22 February 1922(1922-02-22) (aged 78)
Wilmington, Delaware, US
Burial place
Arlington National Cemetery
Spouse
Frances Henrietta "Fannie" Steele
​
​
(m. 1867⁠–⁠1922)​
Children7
Military career
AllegianceUnion (American Civil War)
United States
Service
Union Army
United States Army
Service years
1861–1866 (Union Army)
1866–1907 (US Army)
Rank
Brigadier General
UnitUS Army Infantry Branch
Commands
Wars
American Civil War
American Indian Wars
Spanish–American War
Philippine–American War

John Wilson Bubb (26 April 1843 – 22 February 1922) was a career officer in the United States Army. An enlisted veteran of the Union Army during the American Civil War, he received his commission as an officer in 1866. Bubb went on to serve in the American Indian Wars, Spanish–American War, and Philippine–American War, and his commands included the 24th Infantry Regiment and 12th Infantry Regiment. Bubb attained the rank of brigadier general in April 1906 and commanded the Department of Dakota. He left the army upon reaching the mandatory retirement age of 64 in April 1907.

Early life and start of career

John W. Bubb was born in Danville, Pennsylvania on 26 April 1843, a son of Frederick Bubb and Sarah J. (Wilson) Bubb. He was raised and educated in Danville, after which he was a laborer at a Danville iron mill. In September 1861 he joined the Union Army for the American Civil War. Assigned to Company E, 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment as a private, he advanced through the ranks to become the company's first sergeant. Bubb took part in several engagements, including the Battle of Fredericksburg, Battle of Gettysburg, First Battle of Petersburg, and Second Battle of Petersburg.

Bubb was taken as a prisoner of war in August 1864 and was imprisoned at Libby Prison and Belle Isle in Virginia, and Salisbury, North Carolina. After his release at the end of the war, he continued as a non-commissioned officer until 25 April 1866, when he was commissioned as an officer. Bubb was appointed a second lieutenant and promoted to first lieutenant on the same day, to date from 5 February 1866.

Continued career

In September 1866, Bubb transferred to the 30th Infantry Regiment. He served with this unit until March 1869, when he transferred to the 4th Infantry Regiment. In 1867, he married Frances Henrietta "Fannie" Steele; they were married until his death and were the parents of seven children. Bubb remained with the 4th Infantry until October 1899, and saw extensive service in the western states during the American Indian Wars. In 1876, he served as commissary officer of the force commanded by George Crook during the Great Sioux War of 1876. His service with Crook's expedition included participation in the Battle of Slim Buttes in September 1876, the army's first significant victory since the defeat of George A. Custer at the Battle of the Little Bighorn. Bubb was promoted to captain in March 1879 and major in April 1898.

During Bubb's long service with the 4th Infantry, his postings included command of Company D, command of Company K, and US Indian Agent at the Colville Reservation in Washington state. Following the start of the Spanish–American War in 1898, Bubb commanded the post of Fort McPherson, Georgia. During the war, the post was the site of a general hospital and nearly 20,000 recruits passed through its training center before joining their units. It was also a prisoner of war facility, and 16 Spanish Army prisoners were incarcerated on its grounds. In August 1898, Bubb was assigned to command the newly established recruit depot at Camp Cleary near Pearl Springs in Newnan, Georgia.

Later career

During the Philippine–American War, Bubb served in the Philippines from 1899 to 1902 and again from 1904 to 1906. In June 1899, he was commended for gallantry during combat near the city of Dasmariñas. In March 1925, he received a posthumous Citation Star to recognize his heroism in June 1899 fighting near the city of Imus; when the Silver Star award was created in 1932, Citation Stars were upgraded to the new medal. Bubb was promoted to lieutenant colonel of the 12th Infantry in October 1899. In July 1901, Bubb was promoted to colonel and assigned to command the 24th Infantry Regiment. In August, he transferred to command of the 12th Infantry. While serving in the Philippines in 1905, Bubb commanded the Department of the Visayas.

By April 1906, Bubb ranked high enough in seniority that he was in line for promotion to brigadier general. When a vacancy occurred, President Theodore Roosevelt desired to appoint John J. Pershing, who was then a captain. Army leaders, including William Howard Taft, then serving as Secretary of War, advocated for Bubb, and he received the appointment. After his promotion, Bubb served as commander of the Department of Dakota. He remained in this post until April 1907, when he reached the army's mandatory retirement age of 64.

In retirement, Bubb resided with sons and daughters in Galesburg, Illinois, Portland, Oregon, and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania before settling permanently in Wilmington, Delaware. His memberships included the Grand Army of the Republic, Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States, and Military Order of Foreign Wars. Bubb died in Wilmington on 22 February 1922. He was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

Dates of rank

Bubb's dates of rank were:

Bubb is a character in the Deadwood episode "Sold Under Sin" (Season 1, Episode 12, 13 June 2004). The plot includes Crook's 1876 expedition arriving in Deadwood to resupply, and Bubb is depicted as Crook's quartermaster and commissary officer with the rank of captain. He is portrayed by actor Michael David Lally.

Notes

  1. ↑ Bubb's children included John Pearson Bubb, a 1905 graduate of the United States Military Academy who served in World War I and retired as a colonel.
  2. ↑ Roosevelt nominated Pershing for promotion to brigadier general in September 1906.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Marquis, Albert N., ed. (1908). Who's Who In America. Chicago, Illinois: A. N. Marquis & Company. p. 248 – via Google Books.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Brigadier Genl. John W. Bubb". The Morning News. Danville, Pennsylvania. 20 July 1912. pp. 1, 3 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. 1 2 3 4 US Army Adjutant General (1907). Official Army Register for 1908. Washington, DC: United States Department of War. p. 443.
  4. ↑ Jones, Emma C. Brewster (1908). The Brewster Genealogy, 1566-1907. Vol. I. New York, New York: The Grafton Press. p. 476 – via Google Books.
  5. ↑ "Death Notice, Frances H. Bubb". The Evening Star. Washington, DC. 27 September 1923. p. 7 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ↑ "Colonel John P. Bubb; Son of Brigadier General Was Veteran of Two Wars". The New York Times. New York, New York. 8 October 1940. p. 25 – via TimesMachine.
  7. ↑ Hedren, Paul L. (1996). Traveler's Guide to the Great Sioux War. Helena, Montana: Montana Historical Society Press. p. 77. ISBN 978-0-9172-9838-7 – via Google Books.
  8. ↑ "Army Orders: Capt. John W. Bubb". St. Louis Globe-Democrat. St. Louis, Missouri. 17 May 1894. p. 5 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ↑ "Flotsam From Washington". Kansas City Times. Kansas City, Missouri. 3 November 1894. p. 2 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ↑ "Fifth has Left For Tampa". The Constitution. Atlanta, Georgia. 20 July 1898. p. 55 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. 1 2 "Fort McPherson, Georgia". Army History.org. Fort Belvoir, Virginia: The Army Historical Foundation. 2025. Retrieved 18 September 2026.
  12. ↑ "Post Ready for Fifth Infantry". The Constitution. Atlanta, Georgia. 15 August 1898. p. 5 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ↑ "Silver Star Citations". Army and Navy Register. Washington, DC. 14 March 1925. p. 262 – via Google Books.
  14. ↑ Clarke, John D. (2001). Gallantry Medals & Decorations of the World. South Yorkshire, England: Pen & Sword. p. 247. ISBN 978-0-8505-2783-4 – via Google Books.
  15. 1 2 3 "Capt. Pershing Will Not be A Brigadier General: President Bows Before Army Protests and Appoints Col. John W. Bubb to the Vacancy". The St. Louis Republic. St. Louis, Missouri. 9 March 1906. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ↑ "Pershing's Big Jump". The Evening Star. Washington, DC. 15 September 1906. p. 7 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. ↑ "Bubb Will Command". The Minneapolis Journal. Minneapolis, Minnesota. 7 April 1906. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ↑ "Army and Navy Gossip: United States Army; Brig. Gen. John W. Bubb". the Washington Post. Washington, DC. 28 April 1907. p. 7 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. 1 2 3 "Gen. J. W. Bubb, 78, Dies; Record In Army Notable". Wilmington Morning News. Wilmington, Delaware. 22 February 1922. pp. 1, 9 – via Newspapers.com.
  20. ↑ "Personals: Recently elected companions of the M.O.L.L.U.S." Army and Navy Journal. New York, New York. 5 July 1902. p. 1111 – via Google Books.
  21. ↑ US Army Quartermaster Corps (25 February 1922). "U.S. National Cemetery Interment Control Forms, Entry for John Wilson Bubb". Ancestry.com. Washington, DC: United States Department of War. Retrieved 19 September 2026.
  22. ↑ "Deadwood: Sold Under Sin". Apple TV. Cupertino, California: Apple Inc. Retrieved 19 September 2026.
  23. ↑ "Deadwood (2004–2006): Season 1, Episode 12 – Sold Under Sin – full transcript". Subslikescript.com. Subs Likes Script. 2004. Retrieved 19 September 2026.
  24. ↑ "Deadwood – Season 1, Episode 12: Full Cast & Crew". Rotten Tomatoes. New York, New York: Versant. 2004. Retrieved 19 September 2026.