With George Washington in the Wilderness: The Frontier Life of Christopher Gist

by Paul R. Misencik, Sally E. Misencik

Overview

Christopher Gist is a great American hero who has often gone unnoticed. Recognized for giving colonists the first detailed description of the Ohio Country, Gist was a close friend of George Washington, whom he met through their affiliation with the Ohio Company. In 1753, the two went on an arduous trek through the western Pennsylvania wilderness in the dead of winter to deliver a message to the French commander on the upper Allegheny River. Gist had a profound impact on Washington and saved the future president's life on at least two occasions during their mission. Despite Gist's impressive achievements, historians have largely overlooked him. This book extensively details his remarkable accomplishments in frontier exploration and military service.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781476688497
Publisher:	McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers
Publication date:	03/30/2022
Pages:	233
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.47(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Paul R. Misencik is a former airline captain and retired division chief of the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). He is a member of the First Virginia Regiment of the Continental Line, a living history foundation. Sally E. Misencik is a former sociologist and teacher with a sincere appreciation of Ohio’s many small but valued libraries and historical societies that provide a wealth of Native American history. They live in Reston, Virginia.

Table of Contents

Preface 1

1 The Origin of a Frontiersman 5

2 Christopher Gist and the Ohio Company of Virginia 15

3 Gist's First Trek for the Ohio Company, 1750-1751 22

4 Toward the Falls of the Ohio 45

5 Prelude to Another Journey for the Ohio Company 50

6 Gist's Second Trek for the Ohio Company 53

7 The Logstown Conference 63

8 Gist's Move to Western Pennsylvania 68

9 The French Invasion of Western Pennsylvania 76

10 Mission to Evict the French 84

11 The Perilous Return 96

12 Fleur-de-Lis at the Forks 109

13 The World on Fire 117

14 Surrender on the Fourth of July 127

15 Fort Cumberland at Wills Creek 137

16 March to the Monongahela 147

17 Death in the Forest 151

18 Captain of Scouts and Indian Agent 155

19 The Forbes Campaign against Fort Duquesne 164

20 The Last Trail 171

Epilogue 175

Chapter Notes 201

Bibliography 211

Index 215