CSA Bio: Brig. Gen. States Rights Gist

[Battleline]

Brig. Gen. States R. Gist (b. 1831, d. 1864) Just by being named, States Rights Gist made his first political statement. Gist’s father, Nathaniel’s nullification stance on politics played a major role in the name given to the young Gist. States Rights Gist graduated from South Carolina College in 1852 and from Harvard Law School the following year. Admitted to the bar, Gist began his practice in his native Union District of South Carolina. Gist’s military career began soon after that. He joined a volunteer militia company and soon was named captain. In 1854, he was named aide-de-camp to the governor. At the age of 24, in 1856, he was elected brigadier general of state militia forces. When his cousin, William H. Gist, was elected South Carolina governor in 1858, States Rights Gist was named especial aide-de-camp. In October 1860, Gist was sent on a mission to six other state governors to gain support for a planned secession convention. In January of 1861, the state’s new governor, Francis Pickens, appointed Gist as state adjutant and inspector general. While on a business trip to Richmond, Virginia, in July of 1861, Gist met Pres. Jefferson Davis. He joined the staff of Brig. Gen. Barnard Bee as a volunteer aide-de-camp. At First Manassas (Bull Run), Gist briefly commanded the brigade following the deaths of Bee and Col. Egbert Jones of Alabama. Though slightly wounded, Gist served out the battle. After that, Gist returned to South Carolina to train troops and work on the state’s defenses. With help from South Carolina Sen. James Chesnut, Gist was commissioned a brigadier general in the Provisional Army of the Confederate States to rank from March 20, 1862. He commanded a district and a brigade of South Carolina’s coastal defenses. In May of 1863, Gist and Brig. Gen. William H. T. Walker were picked to take brigades to reinforce Gen. Joseph Johnston’s forces in Mississippi. Walker soon was promoted to major general and Gist had a brigade in his division. Gist saw action during action around Jackson and Vicksburg, Mississippi in July of 1863 before being sent to join the Army of Tennessee under Gen. Braxton Bragg in Rome, Georgia, during the buildup to the Battle of Chickamauga. Arriving on the battlefield Sept. 20, 1864, Gist commanded a division. Moving to fill a gap, the division was hit hard, losing over 170 men in 45 minutes of action. During action around Chattanooga, Gist continued to command a division as Walker was on leave. After the Confederates were forced from positions around the city, Gist’s division served as rearguard for the corps of Maj. Gen. John C. Breckinridge. Unlike many of the others in the army, Gist and Walker supported Bragg. They were key in opposing Maj. Gen. Patrick Cleburne’s proposal to arm slaves. Walker reported to Pres. Davis while Gist informed Bragg, now an advisor to Davis. Through the Atlanta Campaign in 1864, Gist led a brigade in Walker’s division. This changed when Walker was killed at the Battle of Atlanta, July 22, 1864. Gist was wounded in the hand. In the meantime, Walker’s division was reassigned and Gist’s brigade went to Maj. Gen. Benjamin Cheatham’s division. With the army now under the command of Gen. John Hood, it went on offensive operations and moved back into Tennessee. At Franklin, Tennessee, Hood’s army pushed the Federals back toward Nashville at a great cost. Among the dead were six generals, including Gist, who perished on foot leading his troops over the Federal breastworks. “General Gist, a noble and brave cavalier from South Carolina, was lying with his sword reaching across the breastworks still grasped in his hand. He was lying there dead,” described Sam R. Watkins of the 1st/27th Consolidated Tennessee Infantry Regiment in his book Co. Aytch. Originally buried near the battlefield, Gist’s remains were removed to Columbia, South Carolina, in 1866.

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[Gil R.]

Copied, thanks.

[Gil R.]

And here he is. I changed around the Chickamauga part a bit, but otherwise nothing too significant. It seems that he had a very good reputation (which was why Hill sent his men in to attack at Chickamauga), so I gave him some good ratings.


Brig. Gen. States Rights Gist (b. 1831, d. 1864). Just by being named, States Rights Gist made his first political statement. His father Nathaniel’s nullification stance on politics played a major role in the name given to the young Gist. Gist graduated from South Carolina College in 1852 and from Harvard Law School the following year. Admitted to the bar, he began his practice in his native Union District of South Carolina. Gist’s military career began soon after that. He joined a volunteer militia company and soon was named captain. In 1854, he was named aide-de-camp to the governor. In 1856, at the age of 24, he was elected brigadier general of state militia forces. When his cousin, William H. Gist, was elected South Carolina governor in 1858, Gist was named especial aide-de-camp. In October 1860, Gist was sent on a mission to six other state governors to gain support for a planned secession convention. In January 1861, the state’s new governor, Francis Pickens, appointed Gist as state adjutant and inspector general. While on a business trip to Richmond, Virginia, in July 1861, Gist met Pres. Jefferson Davis. He soon joined the staff of Gen. Barnard Bee as a volunteer aide-de-camp. At the Battle of First Manassas, Gist briefly commanded the brigade following the deaths of Bee and Col. Egbert Jones of Alabama. Though slightly wounded, Gist served out the battle. After that, Gist returned to South Carolina to train troops and work on the state’s defenses. With help from South Carolina Sen. James Chesnut, Gist was commissioned a brigadier general in the Provisional Army of the Confederate States to rank from March 20, 1862. He commanded a district and a brigade of South Carolina’s coastal defenses. In May 1863, Gist and Gen. William H.T. Walker were picked to take brigades to reinforce Gen. Joseph E. Johnston’s forces in Mississippi. Walker soon was promoted to major general and Gist commanded a brigade in his division. Gist saw action during action around Jackson and Vicksburg that July before being sent to join the Army of Tennessee under Gen. Braxton Bragg in Rome, Georgia, during the buildup to the Battle of Chickamauga. On the second day of the battle, Gist commanded a division which, ordered by Gen. D.H. Hill to attack a salient though exhausted, was hit hard and lost over 170 men in 45 minutes. During subsequent action around Chattanooga, Gist continued to command a division, as Walker was on leave. After the Confederates were forced from positions around the city, Gist’s division served as rearguard for Gen. John C. Breckinridge’s corps. Unlike many of the officers, Gist and Walker supported the unpopular Bragg, who was blamed for the defeat. They also played key roles in opposing Gen. Patrick Cleburne’s proposal to arm slaves, with Walker reporting to Davis while Gist informed Bragg, by then an advisor to Davis. Through the Atlanta Campaign of 1864 Gist led a brigade in Walker’s division. This changed when Walker was killed in the Battle of Atlanta on July 22 (at which Gist himself was wounded in the hand). Walker’s division was reassigned and Gist’s brigade went to Gen. Benjamin Cheatham’s division. With the army now under the command of Gen. John Hood, it embarked on offensive operations and moved back into Tennessee. At Franklin, Hood’s army pushed the Federals back toward Nashville at a great cost on November 30. Among the dead were six generals – including Gist, who perished on foot leading his troops over the enemy breastworks. “General Gist, a noble and brave cavalier from South Carolina, was lying with his sword reaching across the breastworks still grasped in his hand. He was lying there dead,” wrote Sam R. Watkins of the 1st/27th Consolidated Tennessee Infantry Regiment in his book “Co. Aytch.” Originally buried near the battlefield, Gist’s remains were removed to Columbia, S.C. in 1866. (Bio by Bill Battle)

Leadership: 5
Tactics: 5
Initiative: 3
Command: 4
Cavalry:

Start date: 29

Teaches: Oblique Fire (6)

[jkBluesman]

ORIGINAL: Gil R.

And here he is. I changed around the Chickamauga part a bit, but otherwise nothing too significant. It seems that he had a very good reputation (which was why Hill sent his men in to attack at Chickamauga), so I gave him some good ratings.


Brig. Gen. States Rights Gist (b. 1831, d. 1864). Just by being named, States Rights Gist made his first political statement. His father Nathaniel’s nullification stance on politics played a major role in the name given to the young Gist. Gist graduated from South Carolina College in 1852 and from Harvard Law School the following year. Admitted to the bar, he began his practice in his native Union District of South Carolina. Gist’s military career began soon after that. He joined a volunteer militia company and soon was named captain. In 1854, he was named aide-de-camp to the governor. In 1856, at the age of 24, he was elected brigadier general of state militia forces. When his cousin, William H. Gist, was elected South Carolina governor in 1858, Gist was named especial aide-de-camp. In October 1860, Gist was sent on a mission to six other state governors to gain support for a planned secession convention. In January 1861, the state’s new governor, Francis Pickens, appointed Gist as state adjutant and inspector general. While on a business trip to Richmond, Virginia, in July 1861, Gist met Pres. Jefferson Davis. He soon joined the staff of Gen. Barnard Bee as a volunteer aide-de-camp. At the Battle of First Manassas, Gist briefly commanded the brigade following the deaths of Bee and Col. Egbert Jones of Alabama. Though slightly wounded, Gist served out the battle. After that, Gist returned to South Carolina to train troops and work on the state’s defenses. With help from South Carolina Sen. James Chesnut, Gist was commissioned a brigadier general in the Provisional Army of the Confederate States to rank from March 20, 1862. He commanded a district and a brigade of South Carolina’s coastal defenses. In May 1863, Gist and Gen. William H.T. Walker were picked to take brigades to reinforce Gen. Joseph E. Johnston’s forces in Mississippi. Walker soon was promoted to major general and Gist commanded a brigade in his division. Gist saw action during action around Jackson and Vicksburg that July before being sent to join the Army of Tennessee under Gen. Braxton Bragg in Rome, Georgia, during the buildup to the Battle of Chickamauga. On the second day of the battle, Gist commanded a division which, ordered by Gen. D.H. Hill to attack a salient though exhausted, was hit hard and lost over 170 men in 45 minutes. During subsequent action around Chattanooga, Gist continued to command a division, as Walker was on leave. After the Confederates were forced from positions around the city, Gist’s division served as rearguard for Gen. John C. Breckinridge’s corps. Unlike many of the officers, Gist and Walker supported the unpopular Bragg, who was blamed for the defeat. They also played key roles in opposing Gen. Patrick Cleburne’s proposal to arm slaves, with Walker reporting to Davis while Gist informed Bragg, by then an advisor to Davis. Through the Atlanta Campaign of 1864 Gist led a brigade in Walker’s division. This changed when Walker was killed in the Battle of Atlanta on July 22 (at which Gist himself was wounded in the hand). Walker’s division was reassigned and Gist’s brigade went to Gen. Benjamin Cheatham’s division. With the army now under the command of Gen. John Hood, it embarked on offensive operations and moved back into Tennessee. At Franklin, Hood’s army pushed the Federals back toward Nashville at a great cost on November 30. Among the dead were six generals – including Gist, who perished on foot leading his troops over the enemy breastworks. “General Gist, a noble and brave cavalier from South Carolina, was lying with his sword reaching across the breastworks still grasped in his hand. He was lying there dead,” wrote Sam R. Watkins of the 1st/27th Consolidated Tennessee Infantry Regiment in his book “Co. Aytch.” Originally buried near the battlefield, Gist’s remains were removed to Columbia, S.C. in 1866. (Bio by Bill Battle)

Leadership: 5
Tactics: 5
Initiative: 3
Command: 4
Cavalry:

Start date: 29

Teaches: Oblique Fire (6)

Just wanted to point out that you used the word "action" twice in the same sentence which is probably an error.

[Gil R.]

Thanks. I just fixed it.

[Battleline]

Thanks for catching that!
Every once in a while an awkward sentence or phrase might sneak in from trying to edit on the fly.
Battleline.