 Nyora kupfuurira kweiyi ndima - Gilbert akaberekerwa muZanesville, Ohio. Akapedza kudzidza paWest Point muKirasi ine mukurumbira ya1846, achipedza ari wechi21 pavadzidzi 59. Vadzidzi vake vaisanganisira makumi maviri emasoja ehondo yevagari vemo, kusanganisira George B. McClellan, Stonewall Jackson, George Stoneman, Darius N. Couch, naGeorge Pickett. Munguva yeHondo yeMexico neAmerica akashanda mu3rd U.S. Infantry uye 1st U.S. Infantry uye akarwa paVeracruz neMexico City. Ipapo akabatira muTexas kwamakore maviri. Achidzokera kuWest Point muna 1850 somubatsiri wePurofesa weGeography, History uye Ethics akasimudzirwa kuva mutungamiri wekutanga musi waJune 10, 1850. Muna 1855, zvino ari kaputeni mu1st Infantry, akadzokera kuTexas nokuda kwebasa remuganhu uye kurwisana kweIndia. Aivewo nhengo yekutanga yeBeta Theta Pi fraternity chitsauko paOhio University Beta Kappa. 