Major William M. Gist was a son of Governor W.H.  Gist, the Governor just preceding Secession, and Mrs. Mary E. Gist; born in Union County in 1840.  He was educated in the common schools of Union and York Counties and by private tutors, until January, 1854.  He then went to school at Glenn Springs to Rev. C.S.  Beard for six months.  His health failing, he returned to his home, and in January, 1855, entered the Mt.  Zion College, at Winnsboro, Fairfield County, taught by Hon. J.W.  Hudson, and spent one year at that institution.  He next entered the South Carolina College, in January, 1856, and graduated in the class of ’59.  The class which Major Gist was in at the time, the Junior, did not participate in the great “college rebellion” of March 28th, 1858.  Through that rebellion one hundred and eleven of the students were suspended for six months.

When the first alarm of war was sounded, Major Gist responded promptly, with the same chivalric spirit that was so characteristic of his whole life.  He joined, as a private, Captain Gadberry’s Company, from Union, and left for Charleston on January 12, 1861, the company forming a part of Colonel Maxey Gregg’s First Six Months’ Volunteers, and remained with the command until their term of service expired.  A vacancy occurring, Colonel Gregg appointed him his Sergeant Major.

After the fall of Sumter a part of Colonel Gregg’s Regiment was disbanded, and Major Gist returned to Union and began at once organizing a company for the Confederate States Army.  He was elected Captain of the company and was joined to the Fifteenth Regiment, then collecting at camp near Columbia for drill and instruction.  He served as Captain until the death of Colonel DeSaussure, then was promoted to Major.  There being no officer senior to him, his way was open to the Colonelcy of his regiment at the time of his death.

Major Gist was a young man of rare qualities—­open, frank, generous, and brave.  He commanded the respect and esteem of all.  Just verging into mature manhood as the toscin of war sounded, he had no opportunity to display his great qualities as a civilian, but as a soldier he was all that the most exacting could desire.  He was beloved by his men, and they appreciated his worth.  He was kind and affectionate to all, and showed favoritism or privileges to none.  It was through that ungovernable impulse that permeates the body and flows through the hot Southern blood that he so recklessly threw his life away, leading his men to the charge.  In a moment of hesitancy among his troops, he felt the supreme responsibility of Leadership, placed himself where danger was greatest, bullets falling thick and fast; thus by the inspiration of his own individual courage, he hoped to carry his men with him to success, or to meet a fate like his own.

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LIEUTENANT COLONEL W.G.  RICE.