Civil War Confederate Army Brigadier General. He was born in Union, South Carolina, and was a graduate of South Carolina College and the Harvard University Law School. An attorney in his home state, he became active in the militia, and rose to state Brigadier General in 1859. His brother Joseph was also a Brigadier of the militia and was a Major in the Fifteenth South Carolina. His cousin, William Henry Gist, was Governor of South Carolina during the war. Governor Gist's son, William, was also a Major of the Fifteenth and was killed in action at Knoxville. Knowing that war was on the horizon, he prepared South Carolinians for war. After South Carolina seceded, as state adjutant and inspector general he acquired arms for and oversaw the bombardment of Fort Sumter. As a volunteer aide to South Carolina Brigadier General Barnard E. Bee, he witnessed the First Battle of Bull Run, and on Bee's death the day after the battle assumed temporary command of his brigade. After returning to South Carolina and duties as adjutant general, he received appointment as a Confederate Brigadier General on March 20, 1862, and was sent to state coastal defenses commanded by Major General John C. Pemberton. On Pemberton's encirclement at Vicksburg, Mississippi, he joined General Joseph Johnston's failed relief expedition to the city. His reassignment to the Army of Tennessee and combat duty at Chickamauga, Chattanooga, and the battle for Atlanta followed. He commanded a brigade in Major General John C. Brown's division during General John B. Hood's Franklin and Nashville Campaign. In the assault on the Federal center at the Battle of Franklin, while leading his troops on foot, he was killed, thus becoming 1 of 6 Confederate generals to die as a result of the fight.
Civil War Confederate Army Brigadier General. He was born in Union, South Carolina, and was a graduate of South Carolina College and the Harvard University Law School. An attorney in his home state, he became active in the militia, and rose to state Brigadier General in 1859. His brother Joseph was also a Brigadier of the militia and was a Major in the Fifteenth South Carolina. His cousin, William Henry Gist, was Governor of South Carolina during the war. Governor Gist's son, William, was also a Major of the Fifteenth and was killed in action at Knoxville. Knowing that war was on the horizon, he prepared South Carolinians for war. After South Carolina seceded, as state adjutant and inspector general he acquired arms for and oversaw the bombardment of Fort Sumter. As a volunteer aide to South Carolina Brigadier General Barnard E. Bee, he witnessed the First Battle of Bull Run, and on Bee's death the day after the battle assumed temporary command of his brigade. After returning to South Carolina and duties as adjutant general, he received appointment as a Confederate Brigadier General on March 20, 1862, and was sent to state coastal defenses commanded by Major General John C. Pemberton. On Pemberton's encirclement at Vicksburg, Mississippi, he joined General Joseph Johnston's failed relief expedition to the city. His reassignment to the Army of Tennessee and combat duty at Chickamauga, Chattanooga, and the battle for Atlanta followed. He commanded a brigade in Major General John C. Brown's division during General John B. Hood's Franklin and Nashville Campaign. In the assault on the Federal center at the Battle of Franklin, while leading his troops on foot, he was killed, thus becoming 1 of 6 Confederate generals to die as a result of the fight.
Bio by: Ugaalltheway
Family Members
Advertisement
See more Gist memorials in:
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
