Washington and Gist Crossing the Allegheny River.
Oil on canvas, possibly painted by Daniel Huntington, c. 1845. The Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association Collections, Purchased by the A. Alfred Taubman Acquisition Endowment Fund, 1997 [M-3941].
Christopher Gist was an accomplished explorer, surveyor, and frontiersman. Traveling with Washington to the Ohio Country in 1754, Gist served as scout, messenger, and Indian agent. It was Gist’s reconnaissance that alerted Washington to the French presence at Great Meadows and allowed for the subsequent massacre of Jumonville’s forces. Gist was also at the battle at Fort Necessity the following month. During this time with Washington, Gist solidified his place in history, twice saving the young colonel's life.