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.

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.

Paul R. Misencik and Sally E. Misencik

Format: softcover (6 x 9)
Pages: 233
Bibliographic Info: 23 photos, notes, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2022
pISBN: 978-1-4766-8849-7
eISBN: 978-1-4766-4587-2
Imprint: McFarland

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 Will’s 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