Wonderful 1862 Document on  HQ Carr's Brigade, Sickels Division Letterhead requesting a promotion for Capt William B Tibbits who would eventually reach the rank of Bvt Major General.  Autographed by Joseph B Carr.  Tibbits, William B., brigadier-general, was a native of the state of New York, and was one of the first in that commonwealth to offer his services to the Federal cause. He was commissioned captain in the 2nd N. Y. infantry May 14, 1861, being mustered into the U. S. service at Troy for a term of two years. On May 18 he accompanied the regiment to New York and there embarked for Fortress Monroe, at the end of the journey encamping at Mill creek and participating in the battle of Big Bethel. On Aug. 5 the regiment was ordered to Newport News, where permanent quarters were erected and the ensuing winter was passed. In Jan., 1862, his regiment joined an expedition up the James river, on March 7 it became a part of the 1st brigade 1st division, Army of Virginia; from April 6 to 17 it was stationed at Young's mills, and on June 6 was assigned to the 3d brigade, 2nd division, 3d corps. With his regiment Capt. Tibbits took part in the campaign on the Peninsula, was engaged near Fair Oaks and in the Seven Days' battles. During the campaign in Virginia he was active at Bristoe Station, Groveton, the second Bull Run and Chantilly. On Oct. 13, 1862, he was commissioned major of his regiment, which after various marches and counter-marches in Virginia, took part in the battle of Fredericksburg and then went into winter quarters near Falmouth, occupying the same until the opening of the Chancellorsville movement in the spring of 1863. On May 26, 1863, Maj. Tibbits was mustered out of the service, the term of enlistment for his regiment having expired. On Feb. 5, 1864 he again entered the service as colonel of the 21st N. Y. cavalry. With this regiment he served in the 1st brigade, 1st cavalry division, Army of West Virginia. He was at Remount camp, Md., from Aug. to the close of Oct., 1864, then joined the Army of the Shenandoah, being assigned to the 1st brigade, 2nd cavalry division. He saw much trying service throughout the year 1864, when his regiment was constantly employed in the arduous duties devolving on the cavalry arm of the service. During 1865 he took part in engagements near Paris, at White Post, and near Berryville, and on Oct. 18, 1865, he was commissioned brigadier-general of volunteers He was mustered out of the service Jan. 15, 1866, and died Feb. 1O, 1880.
At the start of the war, Carr was instrumental in the recruitment of the 2nd New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment and was appointed its colonel on May 14, 1861. Assigned to Fort Monroe, Virginia, the regiment took part in the engagement at Big Bethel. Carr served in the Army of the Potomac throughout the Peninsula Campaign and Seven Days Battles as well as the Northern Virginia Campaign. As a brigade commander in the III Corps, General Carr participated in the battles of Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville (commanding a division during a part of the latter after the death of Hiram Berry).
Carr was promoted to brigadier general on September 7, 1862, for gallantry at Malvern Hill, but this promotion was plagued by procedural difficulties. His first appointment was returned to the president on February 12, 1863. He was reappointed on March 30, 1863, but the United States Senate failed to confirm the commission in the session in which he was nominated and it expired on March 30, 1864. He was renominated on April 9, 1864, and confirmed on June 30, 1864, with a date of rank of March 30, 1863.[3]
He was distinguished for gallantry at Gettysburg, where he was wounded and his men stubbornly held their ground near the Peach Orchard. He commanded the 3rd Division of III Corps in the autumn campaigns of 1863. Because of the difficulties with his brigadier general appointment, he was technically junior to his own subordinate brigade commanders and on May 2, 1864, Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant reassigned Carr to the Army of the James under Maj. Gen. Benjamin Butler. Carr commanded a division of African-American soldiers in the XVIII Corps and briefly commanded the Defenses of Yorktown in the Department of Virginia and North Carolina.[2] On March 13, 1865, Carr was appointed a brevet major general of volunteers, and he was mustered out of the volunteer service on August 24.[1]