Mordecai Gist facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mordecai Gist
|
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born | 1743 Maryland, British America |
| Died | 1792 (aged 48–49) South Carolina, U.S. |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch |  Continental Army |
| Rank |  Brigadier general |
| Commands held | 2nd Maryland Brigade |
| Battles/wars | American Revolutionary War |
Mordecai Gist (1743–1792) was an important military leader from Maryland. He became a Brigadier General in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. He led a group of soldiers known as the Maryland Line.
Contents
Early Life and Family
Mordecai Gist was born in Baltimore, Maryland. He was the fourth child of Thomas and Susannah Cockey Gist. His family was well-known in Maryland.
Mordecai Gist was the nephew of Christopher Gist. Christopher was a famous explorer and scout. He even worked with a young George Washington. Christopher Gist is remembered for saving Washington's life twice in 1753.
Mordecai Gist was trained for business. But when the American Revolution began, he chose a different path. Young men in Baltimore formed a group called the "Baltimore Independent Company." They chose Gist to be their captain. This was the first military company formed in Maryland to fight for freedom.
Service in the Revolutionary War
In 1776, Gist was made a Major in Smallwood's Maryland Regiment. He fought bravely in the Battle of Long Island. His soldiers helped hold back the British army. This allowed the American army to escape being surrounded.
In 1779, Gist was promoted to brigadier general in the Continental Army. He then took command of the 2nd Maryland Brigade.
Key Battles and Leadership
Gist showed great courage at the Battle of Camden in South Carolina in 1780. His troops even captured 50 British soldiers at one point. However, the British, led by Lord Cornwallis, fought back hard. Gist managed to escape the battle.
A year later, Gist was present at the surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown. This was a major victory for the Americans. You can even see Gist in a famous painting by John Trumbull called Surrender of Lord Cornwallis. This painting hangs in the United States Capitol building.
Later, Gist joined the southern army under Nathanael Greene. He was put in charge of a special fast-moving group of soldiers in 1782. On August 26, 1782, he helped rally American forces. They had been defeated by a small British group, but Gist helped them regroup.
Life After the War
After the war ended, Mordecai Gist moved to a plantation near Charleston, South Carolina. He became a member of The Society of the Cincinnati in Maryland. This was a group for officers who fought in the Revolutionary War. He was even the first vice president of the Maryland Society.
Gist was also a leader in the Freemasons in South Carolina. He served as their grand master.
Mordecai Gist had two sons. He gave them very unique names: "Independent" and "States." He passed away on September 12, 1792, at the age of 50. He is buried in St. Michael's Churchyard in Charleston, next to his son States Gist and daughter Susannah Gist.
Mordecai Gist was distantly related to States Rights Gist. States Rights Gist was also a Brigadier General, but he fought for the Confederate army during the American Civil War. He died in battle in 1864.
Mordecai Gist's historical papers are kept at the Maryland Historical Society.
Images for kids
-
Mordecai Gist, a Brigadier General in the Continental Army.
