All language subtitles for Christopher Gist_ Unsung Hero of the First Frontier _ Into the Wild Frontier _ Season 3 _ Episode 1

♪ ♪

NARRATOR: CHRISTOPHER GIST HAS
MADE HIS NAME EXPLORING

THE WILDS OF NORTH AMERICA
FOR ENGLAND'S GROWING

COLONIAL EMPIRE.

BUT IN 1753, HE FACES

THE GREATEST CHALLENGE
OF HIS LIFE:

GUIDING A YOUNG MAJOR
ON A PERILOUS MISSION,

AND RETURNING HIM SAFELY DOWN
THE ICY ALLEGHENY RIVER.

WASHINGTON: AH!

GIST: MAJOR WASHINGTON!

NARRATOR: SUDDENLY, GIST'S
MISSION BECOMES NOT ONLY

A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH,
BUT ONE THAT COULD

DETERMINE THE COURSE OF HISTORY.

GIST: TAKE MY HAND!

NARRATOR: BECAUSE THIS ISN'T
JUST ANY MAN...

THIS IS GEORGE WASHINGTON.

♪ ["THEME"] ♪

♪ ♪

NARRATOR: CHRISTOPHER GIST IS
ONE OF THE GREATEST EXPLORERS

AND SCOUTS OF
THE COLONIAL ERA.

BUT HIS IMPORTANCE TO AMERICAN

HISTORY IS OFTEN OVERLOOKED.

ANDREW NELSON: GIST WAS A
REMARKABLE SURVEYOR, SCOUT,

FRONTIERSMAN, AND EXPLORER
WHOSE DETAILED RECORDS

PUBLISHED LONG AFTER HIS
DEATH OFFERED

A VIVID AND COMPREHENSIVE
ACCOUNT OF FRONTIER LIFE.

♪ ♪

ERIN HOLMES: HE IS REALLY
THE ORIGINAL FRONTIERSMAN,

GOING INTO THESE
WESTERN TERRITORIES

LONG BEFORE ANY OF THE PEOPLE
WE THINK OF AS FRONTIERSMEN.

GIST IS, IN MANY WAYS,
THE EMBODIMENT OF

WHAT WE TEND TO THINK
OF AS THE FRONTIER HERO.

♪ ♪

[GUNSHOT]

NARRATOR: IN THE WILDERNESS OF
NORTH CAROLINA'S REMOTE

YADKIN RIVER VALLEY,
CHRISTOPHER GIST IS

A MAN IN HIS ELEMENT.

♪ ♪

DESPITE HIS EASE AT NAVIGATING
THE WILDERNESS,

GIST IS NOT BORN
TO THE FRONTIER.

GIST: AH!

NELSON: UNLIKE MANY
OF HIS MUCH YOUNGER

CONTEMPORARIES, GIST WAS

BORN IN ONE OF THE LARGEST,
MOST WELL-DEVELOPED

CITIES IN THE AMERICAN COLONIES,

THE CITY OF BALTIMORE.

NARRATOR: GIST AMASSED A
FORTUNE, AND LOST IT ALL

WHEN A WAREHOUSE STORING
ALL HIS GOODS BURNED DOWN.

SEEKING A FRESH START,
HE MOVES HIS FAMILY TO

THE NORTH CAROLINA FRONTIER.

MOVING TO
THE FRONTIER IS- IS NOT

A SIMPLE PROPOSITION
AT THIS TIME.

YOU LITERALLY HAVE TO FIND A NEW
PIECE OF LAND AND START

TO HACK A LIFE OUT
OF THE WILDERNESS.

SO, IT HAD TO BE A HUGE
ADJUSTMENT FOR THE FAMILY.

♪ ♪

NARRATOR: GIST QUICKLY
ESTABLISHES HIMSELF AS A TRADER.

SIRS.

NARRATOR: DEALING WITH
THE CHEROKEE,

CATAWBA, AND OTHER LOCAL TRIBES.

THE BLANKETS I BRING
YOU ARE ENGLAND'S FINEST.

COME, FEEL.

COME WINTER, THEY WILL KEEP
YOU WARM AS YOU SLEEP.

OR CAN BE MADE INTO
A FINE COAT FOR THE HUNT.

♪ ♪

STAN BUMGARDNER: GIST
DEFINITELY BUILT UP A REPUTATION

OF BEING ONE OF THE WHITE

EUROPEAN SETTLERS THAT DIFFERENT
INDIAN GROUPS COULD TRUST.

NELSON: HE BECOMES A
KIND OF RESPECTED INTERMEDIARY.

THIS IS YET ANOTHER SKILL
THAT WILL SERVE HIM WELL

IN THE LATTER STAGES
OF HIS CAREER

WHEN HE'S CALLED UPON TO LEAD

LESS EXPERIENCED
MEN INTO THE WILDERNESS.

NARRATOR: GIST IS SOON OFFERED
AN OPPORTUNITY THAT COULD

CHANGE HIS FORTUNES OVERNIGHT:
TO EXPLORE AND

SURVEY THE OHIO TERRITORY,
AN EXPANSE OF LAND

WEST OF THE APPALACHIAN
MOUNTAINS.

NELSON: THE OHIO TERRITORY

COMPRISED ALL OF MODERN DAY
OHIO, AS WELL AS PARTS

OF INDIANA, PENNSYLVANIA, AND
WEST VIRGINIA.

NARRATOR: AS THE CITIES ON
THE EAST COAST GROW MORE

CROWDED, COLONISTS ARE LOOKING
TO THE WIDE-OPEN

SPACES FARTHER WEST.

THE OHIO COMPANY
WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1748

TO EXPLORE THE OHIO
RIVER VALLEY,

AND TO PAVE THE WAY
FOR SETTLEMENT.

♪ ♪

YOU MUST NOT WORRY.

NARRATOR: GIST IS SOMEONE WHO
CAN NOT ONLY MAP

THE UNCHARTED TERRITORY,
BUT BEFRIEND LOCAL TRIBES

TO ENSURE THE SETTLERS' SAFETY.

DANIEL BARR: AND GIST
BECOMES, IN MANY WAYS,

THE PERFECT CANDIDATE.

HE ALSO HAS THE EXPERIENCE
DEALING AND NEGOTIATING

WITH INDIANS THROUGH
HIS TRADING VENTURES,

SO THAT HE CAN APPROACH
THEM SENSITIVELY.

NARRATOR: THE JOURNEY
WILL NOT BE AN EASY ONE.

BUT GIST SEES AN OPPORTUNITY
TO CREATE A BETTER FUTURE

FOR HIS FAMILY -
AND FOR HIS COUNTRY.

♪ ♪

WORKING HIS WAY ACROSS ROUGH,
MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN, IT DOESN'T

TAKE LONG FOR GIST TO REALIZE
THE DAUNTING TASK

HE'S TAKEN ON.

DAVID MCCOY: WHEN GIST COMES
OVER THE MOUNTAINS,

THAT'S A PRETTY
RUGGED LANDSCAPE.

THERE'S A LOT OF HILLS,
THE- THE RAVINES ARE

EXTREMELY UH SHARP AND DEEP.

BARR: LARGELY HE'S
ON HIS OWN HERE, TRYIN'

TO GET OVER
THE MOUNTAINS AND SURVIVE.

♪ ♪

NARRATOR: NEARLY A MONTH INTO
HIS JOURNEY, GIST FINALLY

DESCENDS INTO THE
OHIO RIVER VALLEY.

♪ ♪

BUMGARDNER: WHEN
CHRISTOPHER GIST ARRIVES AT

THE FORKS OF THE OHIO,
IT'S ENTIRELY WILDERNESS.

HE SEES THE POTENTIAL OF WHERE
TWO MAJOR RIVERS COME

TOGETHER TO FORM
THIS GREAT OHIO RIVER.

♪ ♪

NARRATOR: CONVINCED THE AREA
WOULD BE IDEAL FOR

SETTLEMENTS, GIST KNOWS HE
MUST BE CAUTIOUS AS HE

TAKES MEASUREMENTS.

♪ ♪

ERIN HOLMES: MOST OF
THE NATIVE GROUPS THAT OCCUPY

THE OHIO TERRITORY, THEY HAVE
A LONG EXPERIENCE WITH BEING

PUSHED OUT OF THEIR

ANCESTRAL LANDS.

AND SURVEYORS LIKE
CHRISTOPHER GIST ARE

THE FIRST SIGN THAT
THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

♪ ♪

STEPHEN BRUMWELL: INDIANS
ACTUALLY REFER TO THE COMPASS

AS THE "LAND STEALER."

GIST HAD TO BE FAR MORE
CAUTIOUS ABOUT HIS BEHAVIOR

WHEN HE WAS IN INDIAN COUNTRY.

NARRATOR: THE AREA GIST HAS
SCOUTED IS NOT FAR FROM AN

IMPORTANT NATIVE AMERICAN
SETTLEMENT, KNOWN AS LOGSTOWN.

♪ ♪

NELSON: LOGSTOWN
WAS ONE OF THE MOST

POLITICALLY SIGNIFICANT

INDIAN COLONIES
IN WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA.

IT WAS A

LINGUISTICALLY AND
CULTURALLY DIVERSE COMMUNITY.

LAURA KAMOIE: OF COURSE,
THERE WERE NATIVE AMERICAN

DWELLINGS, BUT THERE WERE ALSO

LOG CABIN DWELLINGS BUILT
IN THE FRENCH STYLE.

NARRATOR: GIST IS LOOKING
FORWARD TO RESTING HIMSELF

AND HIS HORSES, BUT HE ALSO
NEEDS TO BEGIN REACHING

OUT TO NATIVE LEADERS.

♪ ♪

GOOD MORROW.

PRAY PARDON, DOES ANY
MAN SPEAK ENGLISH?

LENAPE WARRIOR: WHAT IS
YOUR BUSINESS HERE?

HOLMES: SO,
THE PEOPLE OF LOGSTOWN

ARE USED TO SEEING STRANGERS.

BUT MOST STRANGERS
SAY WHY THEY'RE THERE

AND CHRISTOPHER GIST DOESN'T.

BARR: HE HAS NOTHING
TO BARTER WITH.

THAT IMMEDIATELY RAISES SOME
SUSPICION AMONG THE LENAPES

BECAUSE IF HE'S NOT A TRADER,

THEN WHY IS HE HERE?

LENAPE WARRIOR: WHAT IS
YOUR BUSINESS HERE?

GIST: I AM SIMPLY LOOKING
FOR A PLACE TO REST.

I HAVE HAD A LONG JOURNEY.

NO, I COME IN PEACE.

I AM A FRIEND.

CHIEF KAKOWATCHEKY LIVES HERE.

MAY I SPEAK TO HIM?

LENAPE WARRIOR: WE HAVE
HEARD WHAT YOU HAVE TO SAY.

YOU MUST LEAVE THIS PLACE.

NOW!

NARRATOR: IF GIST DOESN'T

MAKE THE RIGHT MOVE NOW,

HIS MISSION COULD END
HERE - IN BLOOD.

GIST IS ON A MISSION TO

ER

SURVEY THE OHIO TERRITORY
FOR SETTLEMENT...

LENAPE WARRIOR: YOU MUST
LEAVE THIS PLACE.

NOW!

NARRATOR: BUT IN THE NATIVE
AMERICAN COMMUNITY

OF LOGSTOWN, THAT MISSION HAS

TAKEN A POTENTIALLY DEADLY TURN.

I COME IN PEACE.

I'M A FRIEND.

GIST WAS IN A TRULY
DESPERATE SITUATION.

SO, TO GET OUT OF IT,

HE BASICALLY HAD TO TELL A LIE.

GEORGE CROGHAN!

HE IS A FRIEND.

HE WILL VOUCH FOR MY GOOD NAME.

NELSON: GEORGE CROGHAN
WAS A FUR TRADER.

HE COMES TO KNOW, RESPECT,
AND BEFRIEND

MANY AMERICAN INDIAN TRIBES.

BRUMWELL: HE INVOKED
THE NAME OF GEORGE CROGHAN

AS A WAY OF KIND OF
CLAIMING HIS FRIENDSHIP,

AND ALMOST CLAIMING
HIS PROTECTION.

LENAPE WARRIOR:
CROGHAN IS A GOOD MAN.

IF HE IS YOUR FRIEND,
YOU MAY STAY.

NARRATOR: WELCOME INTO LOGSTOWN,
GIST STAYS OVER NIGHT,

DEPARTING THE NEXT MORNING
TO CONTINUE HIS

EXPEDITION FOR
THE OHIO COMPANY.

OVER SEVERAL MONTHS, GIST
SURVEYS AND MAPS THE UNCHARTED

OHIO TERRITORY...

♪ ♪

ALWAYS WARY OF FURTHER
ENCOUNTERS WITH HOSTILE TRIBES.

GIST IS INFORMED
THAT THERE IS A FRENCH ALLIED

HUNTING PARTY DIRECTLY
IN HIS PATH, ESSENTIALLY.

AND HE'S TOLD IN NO UNCERTAIN
TERMS THAT IF THEY CAPTURE

HIM, HE'S VERY LIKELY
TO BE KILLED.

[GUNSHOTS]

NARRATOR: FOR A SOLO
TRAVELER, GUNSHOTS IN

THE DISTANCE ARE A BAD OMEN.

TED BELUE: HE KNOWS
IMMEDIATELY THAT THIS IS NOT

A WHITE MAN'S GUN.

NATIVE PEOPLE
ALWAYS LOADED LIGHT.

THEY HAD TO PRESERVE LEAD
AND THEY HAD TO PRESERVE,

MOST ESPECIALLY, POWDER.

♪ ♪

BRUMWELL:
THEN HE SAW THE TRAPS

THAT THEY HAD SET,
AND THEN

HE KNEW THIS WASN'T
THE SITUATION WHERE

HE WANTED TO HANG ABOUT.

♪ ♪

NARRATOR: IF DISCOVERED,
GIST WILL BECOME

THE HUNTING PARTY'S NEXT PREY.

♪ ♪

GIST KNOWS THAT ONE SOUND
COULD MEAN HIS DEATH.

♪ ♪

BARR: BUT HE'S
SAVVY ENOUGH,

KNOWLEDGEABLE ENOUGH
TO HIDE AND CONCEAL

SIGNS OF HIS PRESENCE.

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

AND SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETE

HIS MISSION AND WITHDRAW

WITHOUT FALLING
INTO THEIR HANDS.

NARRATOR: AFTER MORE THAN
SEVEN MONTHS AWAY,

GIST HAS COMPLETED HIS SURVEY
FOR THE OHIO COMPANY,

AND FINALLY MAKES
HIS WAY BACK HOME.

BUT HE REALIZES IMMEDIATELY
THAT SOMETHING ISN'T RIGHT.

♪ ♪

BELUE: HIS IMMEDIATE THOUGHT,

"WHERE'S MY FAMILY?

WHAT HAPPENED?"

IT MUST'VE BEEN
GUT WRENCHING.

NARRATOR: FEARING THE WORST,

GIST SETS OFF IN SEARCH OF NEWS

ABOUT THE WHEREABOUTS,

OR FATE, OF HIS FAMILY.

HE GOES OUT,
AND HE HEARS THAT THERE'D

BEEN AN INDIAN ATTACK.

FIVE PEOPLE WERE KILLED.

BUMGARDNER: WHEN YOU
LIVED ON THE FRONTIER BACK THEN,

YOU COULDN'T HELP
BUT THINK THE WORST.

SO, I'M SURE THAT'S THE FIRST
THOUGHT THAT WENT THROUGH

HIS MIND IS THAT HIS FAMILY
HAD BEEN KILLED.

NARRATOR: GIST GETS WORD THAT
HIS FAMILY MAY HAVE ESCAPED

TO ROANOKE, VIRGINIA.

HE CAN ONLY RIDE NORTH,
HOPING THAT THE RUMOR IS TRUE.

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

THEY'D BEEN DISPLACED BECAUSE
OF INDIAN RAIDING.

AS IT TURNED OUT,
HIS FAMILY HAD ACTUALLY

MANAGED TO GET AWAY SAFELY.

NARRATOR: GIST'S FIRST
EXPEDITION ENDS WITH A JOYFUL

REUNION, BUT HE WILL SOON BE
CALLED TO LEAD A MISSION

THAT COULD DETERMINE THE FATE
OF THE BRITISH COLONIES.

♪ ♪

WITH HIS FAMILY SAFE,
GIST RETURNS TO PRESENT HIS

FINDINGS TO HIS EMPLOYERS
AT THE OHIO COMPANY.

HE REALLY JUST PROVIDES
THEM WITH A WEALTH OF

INFORMATION ABOUT THE
TERRITORY, THE REGIONS,

THE POSITION OF INDIAN VILLAGES.

IT'S REALLY EVERYTHING
THAT THE OHIO COMPANY

COULD HAVE HOPED FOR.

NARRATOR: OFF THE STRENGTH OF
THAT SUCCESS, GIST IS HIRED

TO LEAD AN URGENT
DIPLOMATIC MISSION INTO

THE OHIO TERRITORY.

♪ ♪

HIS CRUCIAL CHARGE IS
A TWENTY-ONE YEAR OLD

MAJOR IN THE VIRGINIA
MILITIA: GEORGE WASHINGTON.

MARTIN MORGAN: WHEN WE THINK
OF GEORGE WASHINGTON,

THIS IS THE GEORGE
WASHINGTON WE THINK OF.

THE GEORGE WASHINGTON THAT
ACCOMPANIES CHRISTOPHER GIST

INTO WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA
IS ONE WHO'S YOUNGER

AND MORE IMPULSIVE.

PRIDEFUL,
A LITTLE NARCISSISTIC.

NARRATOR: GIST WILL LEAD
WASHINGTON'S EXPEDITION INTO

DISPUTED FRONTIER TERRITORY.

BOTH THE BRITISH
AND THE FRENCH HAVE LEGAL

CLAIMS TO THE LAND IN
THE OHIO RIVER VALLEY.

THE FRENCH MEANWHILE HAD BEGUN
TO ESTABLISH A SERIES OF FORTS.

THE VIRGINIA GOVERNOR
WHO CLAIMED THIS TERRITORY,

SOUGHT AND RECEIVED
APPROVAL FROM THE CROWN

TO DEMAND THAT THE FRENCH
VACATE, AND IF THEY DIDN'T,

HE ALSO HAD APPROVAL TO DRIVE
THEM OUT BY FORCE OF ARMS.

MAJOR, THERE'S
A CREEK UP AHEAD.

WE SHOULD STOP TO WATER
THE HORSES. '

TIS A LONG CLIMB
TILL WE MAKE CAMP.

WASHINGTON: I AGREE.

I COULD USE A DRINK MYSELF.

NARRATOR: WASHINGTON'S MISSION

IS BOTH A DANGEROUS AND A

DELICATE ONE: TO DELIVER
A MESSAGE TO THE FRENCH

COMMANDER AT FORT LE
BOEUF DEMANDING THEIR

RETREAT FROM BRITISH LAND.

BARR: DINWIDDIE AS A
GOVERNOR, HAS TO SEND SOMEONE

WILLING TO MAKE THIS
DANGEROUS 500 MILE

TREK THROUGH THE WILDERNESS.

BUT, AT THE SAME TIME,
THERE'S A VERY REAL POSSIBILITY

THAT THE INDIVIDUAL
YOU SEND IS NOT COMING BACK.

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

TWO DAYS
TO LOGSTOWN?

I HAD HOPED WE WOULD
BE FURTHER ALONG.

IN THIS WEATHER,
ON THIS TERRAIN,

WE ARE MAKING GOOD PROGRESS.

YES, BUT MY ORDERS
FROM THE GOVERNOR WERE CLEAR:

OBTAIN A REPLY WITH GREAT HASTE.

I UNDERSTAND.

BUT IF WE PUSH TOO
HARD NOW, THE HORSES

MIGHT FAIL ON THE RETURN.

♪ ♪

BARR: SENDING A 21 YEAR OLD

INTO THE WILDERNESS IS NOT

A RECIPE FOR SUCCESS AT THIS
TIME, ESPECIALLY ONE WITH

VERY LITTLE PRACTICAL
EXPERIENCE IN THE WOODS,

LIKE GEORGE WASHINGTON.

NARRATOR: WITH SO MUCH RIDING
ON HIS MISSION, GIST HOPES

TO REACH FORT LE BOEUF
AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

BUT THE WEATHER SOON BRINGS
THE MISSION TO A HALT.

♪ ♪

IT IS NOT PASSABLE.

WASHINGTON: THAT LITTLE CREEK?

THE RAINS HAVE HAD
THEIR WAY WITH IT.

TOO DEEP TO WALK
THE HORSES ACROSS.

BARR: WASHINGTON'S
VERY IMPATIENT.

IT WAS VERY HEAVILY PRESSED
UPON HIM TO MOVE WITH ALL DUE

DISPATCH TO GET THIS
MISSION ACCOMPLISHED

AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

GIST: WE'LL BUILD A RAFT

AND FERRY EVERYTHING ACROSS
TOMORROW MORNING.

WASHINGTON: TOMORROW?

GIST: I'M SORRY.

WE HAVE NO CHOICE.

I HAVE BEEN
RIDING SINCE I COULD WALK.

AND I HAVE CROSSED COUNTLESS
CREEKS, AND RIVERS, I CAN-

MAJOR, I DO NOT DOUBT
YOUR HORSEMANSHIP.

BUT IF A PACK HORSE DROWNS,
IT WILL ONLY DELAY

OUR PROGRESS FURTHER.

NARRATOR: GEORGE WASHINGTON
ISN'T A MAN

WHO TAKES NO FOR AN ANSWER...

BUT TO BE CERTAIN,
I SHALL SEE HOW DEEP IT IS.

GIST: MAJOR, NO!

NARRATOR: BUT HIS OVERCONFIDENCE
COULD SPELL HIS DOOM.

ST IS G

GEORGE WASHINGTON
TO A CRUCIAL MEETING,

BUT WASHINGTON IS ENDANGERING
THE MISSION AND HIS

OWN LIFE WITH HIS IMPULSIVENESS.

MAJOR, NO! MAJOR!

GIST!

GIST: MAJOR!

I HAVE CROSSED
THIS CREEK MANY TIMES.

I HAVE NEVER SEEN IT THIS HIGH.

OUR PACK HORSES WILL DROWN!

CRYTZER: CHRISTOPHER GIST,

HE WAS THE PERFECT PERSON
TO PAIR UP WITH

A 21 YEAR OLD, NAIVE,

INEXPERIENCED GEORGE WASHINGTON.

CHRISTOPHER GIST
COMES FROM A SIMILAR CLASS,

SO HE'S SOMEBODY THAT
WASHINGTON WILL LISTEN TO.

GIST: MAJOR, I UNDERSTAND YOUR
IMPATIENCE, BUT THE WILDERNESS

FOLLOWS ITS OWN RHYTHMS.

NO ONE MAN'S DESIRE
CAN INTERFERE WITH IT.

I HAVE SPENT MY LIFE
LEARNING TO WORK WITH IT.

HOLMES: BUT, HE'S ALSO
SOMEBODY WHO IS GOING TO HAVE

A LOT OF PATIENCE WITH THIS
HOTHEADED, HARD HEADED,

21 YEAR OLD

MILITARY OFFICER
WHO IS DETERMINED TO PROVE

HIMSELF IN THIS SITUATION.

WASHINGTON NEEDS A STEADYING
HAND AND HE FINDS THAT

IN CHRISTOPHER GIST.

NARRATOR: AFTER A GRUELING
FIVE DAY JOURNEY,

THEY FINALLY ARRIVE AT FORT
LE BOEUF, WHERE WASHINGTON

DELIVERS HIS MESSAGE.

♪ ♪

[WARMING HANDS]

MORGAN: GEORGE
WASHINGTON HAD TO DELIVER AN

ULTIMATUM TO THE FRENCH:

"THIS IS OUR PROPERTY.

YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO BE HERE.

YOU MUST VACATE YOUR
FORTS AND GO AWAY."

NARRATOR: BUT THE FRENCH
ARE SLOW IN RESPONDING.

BARR: THEY'RE STALLING.

AND WASHINGTON HAD TO BE
WELL AWARE THAT THE

ANSWER IS GOING TO BE,
"NO, WE'RE NOT LEAVING."

AND SO, HE'S EAGER
TO JUST GET ON WITH IT.

STILL NO WORD?

AT THIS POINT,
IT'S SIMPLY GAMESMANSHIP.

HE'S WILLFULLY TRYING
TO DELAY US.

FROM WHAT I HAVE SEEN,
HIS ANSWER SHOULD BE CLEAR.

AND THE NUMBER OF CANOES
I COUNTED IS ASTOUNDING.

HIS ARSENAL IS
EQUALLY AS IMPRESSIVE.

COME SPRING, THERE WILL BE
NOTHING TO STOP THEM FROM USING

THE RIVERS TO FLOOD THIS REGION
WITH TROOPS AND SEIZE CONTROL.

I MUST GET BACK TO WILLIAMSBURG
AS SOON AS POSSIBLE...

[DOOR OPENS]

♪ ♪

SO THAT THE KING MAY HAVE TIME
TO MOBILIZE A PROPER DEFENSE.

AYE.

IN THOSE FEW DAYS,

WASHINGTON'S BEEN

GOING AROUND THE FORT
ESSENTIALLY SPYING ON

WHAT THE
FRENCH HAVE GOING THERE.

HE'S BEEN ABLE, ALONG WITH- WITH
GIST, TO MAKE SOME NOTATIONS

ON THE SIZE OF THE FORT,

THE RELATIVE STRENGTH OF THE
BASTIONS,

RIGHT DOWN TO COUNTING
HOW MANY BOATS THEY HAVE

AVAILABLE TO GO DOWN THE RIVER
IN THE SPRING.

NARRATOR: THE FRENCH COMMANDER'S
RESPONSE IS UNEQUIVOCAL:

THEY WILL NOT RETREAT.

THAT IS EFFECTIVELY A
DECLARATION OF WAR.

IT'S BASICALLY SAYING,

"IF YOU WANT TO GET RID OF US,

YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO
SEND TROOPS TO DO SO."

♪ ♪

NARRATOR: THERE'S NO TIME TO
WASTE IN DELIVERING THE MESSAGE

TO THE GOVERNOR
OF VIRGINIA.

BUT BEFORE THEY CAN EVEN LEAVE,

THE MISSION IS DEALT A SETBACK.

MAJOR, WE HAVE A PROBLEM.

THE PACK HORSES
ARE STILL TOO WEAK.

IT'LL TAKE ALL WE CAN DO
TO KEEP THEM ALIVE

FOR THE JOURNEY HOME.

♪ ♪

AND WE ABSOLUTELY MUST.

NARRATOR: THE BURDEN ON THE
HORSES

WILL HAVE TO BE LIGHTENED

OF BOTH SUPPLIES AND RIDERS.

WASHINGTON DOESN'T LIKE
THIS ANSWER.

THIS IS WHERE HIS
INEXPERIENCE STARTS TO COME ON.

VERY WELL, THEN.
LET US WASTE NO MORE TIME.

NARRATOR: WITH THEIR HORSES
WEAKENED, PROCEEDING ON FOOT

WILL ADD PRECIOUS DAYS TO THE
JOURNEY.

AND THE WEATHER IS ONLY
GETTING WORSE.

THIS IS WHEN THE WEATHER
REALLY GETS NASTY.

THIS IS DECEMBER,
THESE ARCTIC STORMS BLOW IN.

THE COLD TEMPERATURES
ARE MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT

TO FIND FORAGE
FOR THE ANIMALS.

AND HORSES NEED
TO EAT CONSIDERABLE AMOUNTS

IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN THEIR
STRENGTH.

♪ ♪

MAJOR.

WE SHOULD STOP HERE AND
MAKE CAMP.

THE TREES OFFER
SHELTER FROM THE WIND.

THERE'S A STREAM NEARBY TO WATER
THE HORSES.

IT BECOMES A VERY DANGEROUS
SITUATION.

BUT WASHINGTON
DOESN'T WANT TO HEAR THAT.

GRAB AN AX, WE'LL CHOP SOME
WOOD.

WE'LL GET A FIRE STARTED
AND-

MAJOR!

♪ ♪

THEY'RE NOT MOVING FAST ENOUGH
FOR WASHINGTON.

HIS AGE AND INEXPERIENCE ARE
BEGINNING TO SHOW,

AND HIS PATIENCE FINALLY
BUBBLES OVER.

MAJOR!

PERHAPS YOU DID NOT HEAR
ME.

WE ARE STOPPING TO MAKE CAMP.

I HEARD YOU QUITE CLEARLY,
MR. GIST.

WHAT I DESIRE IS TO
DELIVER THIS LETTER

TO GOVERNOR
DINWIDDIE WITH GREAT HASTE.

A TASK THAT YOU AND I BOTH KNOW
IS IMPOSSIBLE

AT OUR CURRENT PACE.
- MAJOR.

I MUST INSIST, THE HORSES ARE
SPENT-

MR. GIST, I HAVE FOLLOWED YOUR
GOOD ADVICES

AT EVERY TURN IN THIS JOURNEY.

I HAVE LEARNED
FROM YOU.

BUT, NOW, I MUST INSIST THAT YOU
FOLLOW MY ORDERS.

YOU AND I ARE TO
CONTINUE ON OUR OWN

BY THE MOST
DIRECT ROUTE POSSIBLE.

SO, THIS IS A- A PIVOTAL MOMENT.

WASHINGTON SAYS, "WHY DON'T WE
LEAVE THE HORSES AND WALK?

LET'S GO BY COMPASS BEARING."

GOING OFF KNOWN TRAILS, IN THESE
CONDITIONS IS NOT SOMETHING-

NOT SOMETHING THAT YOU ARE
ACCUSTOMED TO.

THEN I SHALL BECOME SO.

THE COLONIES' FATE
HANGS IN THE BALANCE,

AND CRISIS DEMANDS
ACTIONS.

♪ ♪

ENSIGN!

♪ ♪

NOW.
NARRATOR: AT A CRUCIAL MOMENT

IN THEIR
PERILOUS EXPEDITION,

THE UNTRIED
YOUNG MAJOR IS PULLING RANK.

♪ ♪

ENSIGN!
NARRATOR: RETURNING FROM A

DIPLOMATIC MISSION ACROSS
TREACHEROUS WILDERNESS,

MAJOR GEORGE WASHINGTON AND
FRONTIERSMAN CHRISTOPHER GIST

ARE AT ODDS OVER WASHINGTON'S
INSISTENCE

TO CONTINUE THEIR
JOURNEY ALONE, AND ON FOOT.

HIS HORSES ARE WEAK,

THEY'RE NOT MOVING FAST ENOUGH
FOR WASHINGTON.

HE'S NOT PATIENT. BUT,
CHRISTOPHER GIST

UNDERSTANDS THAT GEORGE
WASHINGTON IS MAKING

A TERRIBLE DECISION
WITH THIS ORDER.

BUT HE IS
THE COMMANDING OFFICER,

SO GIST DOES OBLIGE.

DEEP DOWN, HOWEVER, HE KNOWS
THIS IS A PERILOUS MISTAKE.

♪ ♪

NARRATOR: WASHINGTON HAS MADE UP
HIS MIND,

AND GIST HAS NO CHOICE
BUT TO GO WITH HIM.

♪ ♪

LEAVING THE
PACK HORSES BEHIND,

GIST AND WASHINGTON WILL HAVE TO
WALK NEARLY 150 MILES.

♪ ♪

THEY HAD TO PARE DOWN TO AN
ABSOLUTE MINIMUM.

PUT ON WHAT
THEY CALLED "INDIAN DRESS",

THAT WERE FASTER, LIGHTER,
MORE MANEUVERABLE.

THIS ALSO IS RISKY BECAUSE IF
ONE OF THEM BECOMES INJURED,

THEY'RE ENTIRELY DEPENDENT
ON THE OTHER.

THERE'S NO LARGER
GROUP TO HELP THEM,

THERE'S NO
HORSE TO CARRY THEM.

NARRATOR: AFTER COVERING
18 MILES IN ONE DAY,

WASHINGTON, UNACCUSTOMED TO
TRAVELING IN THE WILDERNESS,

IS FALLING BEHIND.

MR. GIST!

WE HAVE BEEN WALKING
SINCE WELL BEFORE FIRST LIGHT.

PERHAPS WE CAN-
- MAJOR!

WE CANNOT WASTE THE DAYLIGHT.

SO, WASHINGTON VERY QUICKLY
STARTS TO REALIZE

TRAVELING ALL DAY BY FOOT

WITH YOUR PROVISIONS
ON YOUR BACK

THROUGH
SUB-FREEZING TEMPERATURES

IS A LOT MORE MAYBE THAN HE
BARGAINED FOR.

WASHINGTON NOW BECOMES THE
ONE SLOWING THEM DOWN.

♪ ♪

THERE IS A FRIENDLY INDIAN
VILLAGE, NOT FAR.

PERHAPS WE CAN
REST THERE BRIEFLY.

AH! THAT'S A RELIEF.

WHAT VILLAGE?

MURDERING TOWN.

COME.

THEY COME ACROSS THIS
INDIAN VILLAGE,

WHICH IS CALLED
MURDERING TOWN.

AND IT'S LIKE,
WELL, THAT'S A BAD OMEN.

♪ ♪

NARRATOR: "MURDERING TOWN" IS
THE COLONISTS' NAME

FOR A SMALL CLUSTER OF LENAPE
VILLAGES NEAR LOGSTOWN.

♪ ♪

THEY GET A SMALL STROKE
OF GOOD FORTUNE

NEAR A SMALL SETTLEMENT
CALLED MURDERING TOWN.

MAYBE ONE OF THE MOST OMINOUSLY
NAMED INDIAN VILLAGES EVER.

THERE'S ONE INDIAN WHO OFFERS

TO PROVIDE THEM SERVICES
AS A GUIDE.

♪ ♪

MAJOR, WHERE WE BE HEADED,

THERE WILL BE AN ABSENCE
OF REASON.

ONLY INSTINCT AND SURVIVAL
RULE THERE.

YOU MUST LISTEN TO ME.

♪ ♪

YOU SEEK A GUIDE?

'TIS A GENEROUS OFFER,
BUT...

WE HAVE NO NEED
OF YOUR SERVICES.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING,
MR. GIST?

OUR PRAYERS HAVE BEEN ANSWERED.

LENAPE GUIDE: SIR, YOU WILL EAT
LIKE KINGS.

AND I WILL CARRY THE
MAJOR'S PACK.

♪ ♪

DO AS YOU PROMISE,

AND YOU WILL BE WELL COMPENSATED
FOR YOUR EFFORTS.

MAJOR!

FOLLOW ME.

WE MUST HAVE FAITH, MR. GIST.
FAITH.

WASHINGTON SEEMED TO BE GLAD OF
THIS OFFER OF SUPPORT.

GIST WAS
FAR MORE SUSPICIOUS

AND HE WAS FAR MORE WARY
OF THIS OFFER OF HELP.

AND IT TURNED OUT WITH
VERY GOOD CAUSE.

NARRATOR: THEY FOLLOW THEIR
LENAPE GUIDE FOR HOURS,

BUT EVEN AS WASHINGTON TIRES,
GIST HAS BIGGER CONCERNS.

♪ ♪

GIST BECAME INCREASINGLY
SUSPICIOUS BECAUSE IT SEEMED,

TO HIM, THAT THEY WERE HEADING
IN THE WRONG DIRECTION;

THAT THEY WERE
BEING LED ASTRAY.

GIST: FRIEND! IT IS NIGHTFALL.

WE MUST STOP AND MAKE CAMP.

LENAPE GUIDE: THE OTTAWA ROAM
THESE WOODS,

HUNTING FOR SCALPS.

WE MUST HEAD FOR MY LODGE.

IT IS SAFE THERE.

GIST: HOW MUCH FURTHER?
- JUST AHEAD.

ONLY AS FAR AS THE
SOUND OF A GUNSHOT.

WELL, THEY KEEP WALKING
AND THE LODGE DOESN'T SHOW UP.

AND SO, GIST STARTS SUSPECTING
THAT THIS IS A TRAP.

SOMETHING IS AMISS. WE'VE BEEN
WALKING NORTH FOR THREE MILES.

NORTH? WHY WOULD HE
BE TAKING US NORTH?

I DO NOT KNOW. BUT I MOST
ASSUREDLY INTEND TO FIND OUT.

AND IT'S GOOD PERHAPS THAT
THEIR, YOU KNOW,

THEIR RADAR STARTED TO BECOME A
LITTLE BIT AWARE NOW,

BECAUSE THINGS WERE GONNA GET

PROGRESSIVELY WORSE VERY
QUICKLY.

[GUNSHOT]

WASHINGTON: ARE YOU SHOT?
GIST: NO. ARE YOU?

HE MISSED,

BUT HAD THAT BULLET HIT 10
INCHES IN EITHER DIRECTION,

WE'D ALL HAVE DIFFERENT
PASSPORTS RIGHT NOW.

NARRATOR: GIST AND WASHINGTON'S
GUIDE HAS TURNED ON THEM,

AND HE SEEMS INTENT ON FINISHING
THEM OFF.

HOW HAVE YOU TAKEN US NORTH?
- I DO NOT KNOW,

BUT I MOST
ASSUREDLY INTEND TO FIND OUT.

NARRATOR: ON A GRUELING TREK
ACROSS THE WILDERNESS,

CHRISTOPHER GIST AND
GEORGE WASHINGTON

FACE AN UNPROVOKED ATTACK FROM
THEIR NATIVE GUIDE.

ARE YOU SHOT?
GIST: NO, ARE YOU?

♪ ♪

GIST GOES AFTER THE INDIAN,

AND HE'S READY TO KILL HIM.

DON'T SHOOT!
I WAS FIRING AT A DEER

THAT FLASHED FROM THE TREES.
- DO YOU TAKE ME FOR A FOOL?

YOU TOOK DEAD AIM.

LENAPE GUIDE: PLEASE, DON'T.

WASHINGTON: GIST, NO!

♪ ♪

PERHAPS HE TELLS THE TRUTH?

THE MOONLIGHT PLAYS TRICKS ON
THE EYES.

A MAN LOADS A MUSKET
BALL FOR ONE TARGET:

ANOTHER MAN.

WASHINGTON HAD A CERTAIN
CODE OF HONOR,

A CODE OF BEHAVIOR, WHICH
DIDN'T REALLY SANCTION

THE KILLING OF SOMEONE WHO WAS
AT YOUR MERCY.

WE'LL TAKE HIM PRISONER THEN.
- AND DO WHAT?

DRAG HIM ALL THE
WAY TO WILLIAMSBURG?

NOW, THIS PUTS GIST IN A PRETTY,

YOU KNOW, DIFFICULT SITUATION
HERE.

HOW DO WE RESOLVE THIS?

THIS GUY JUST TRIED TO KILL US,

BUT YOU WANNA LET HIM GO?

NARRATOR: GIST HAS A FATEFUL
CHOICE TO MAKE:

DO AS WASHINGTON
SAYS AND LET THE MAN GO,

OR FOLLOW HIS OWN INSTINCTS AND
KILL HIM.

♪ ♪

YOU ARE LUCKY I AM NOT ALONE.

MAJOR, WAIT HERE. GO.

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

NARRATOR: GIST SPARES THE
GUIDE'S LIFE,

DISARMING AND
RELEASING HIM INTO THE WOODS,

BUT HE REMAINS WARY OF ANOTHER
AMBUSH.

GIST?

♪ ♪

MAJOR. HE IS GONE,

BUT I WOULD
WAGER MY PAY HE WILL BE BACK

WITH REINFORCEMENTS.

WE MUST START WALKING.

NOW.

THEY'RE ABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY
PUSH THROUGH

WITH NO REST OVER
SEVERAL DAYS AND REACH

THE WEST BANK OF
THE ALLEGHENY RIVER,

WHERE THEY'RE PRESENTED
WITH YET ANOTHER CHALLENGE.

♪ ♪

MY HANDS BE FROSTBITTEN,
YET THE RIVER STILL FLOWS.

♪ ♪

IT'S BEEN SO COLD,
THEY EXPECT

THE ALLEGHENY
TO BE FROZEN ACROSS SOLID.

AND THEY CAN JUST
WALK ACROSS THE ICE.

BUT WHEN THEY GET
THERE, IT'S NOT.

SWIMMING THE RIVER WAS
ESSENTIALLY NOT AN OPTION.

HYPOTHERMIA WOULD HAVE SET IN.

THEY WOULD HAVE PERISHED.

♪ ♪

NARRATOR: THE ONLY WAY TO
CROSS THE RIVER

IS TO BUILD A RAFT,

BUT THEIR
TOOLS ARE LIMITED.

THANKS TO MAJOR WASHINGTON'S
INSISTENCE,

THEY'VE LEFT THE
GOOD EQUIPMENT BEHIND.

THEY HAVE ONLY WITH THEM
ONE LITTLE HATCHET.

♪ ♪

CONSTRUCTING A RAFT FROM LOGS
TOOK THEM A WHOLE DAY.

SO, IT WAS SUNSET
BEFORE THEY COULD START

RAFTING THEIR WAY
ACROSS THE RIVER.

NARRATOR: USING POLES
MADE FROM BRANCHES,

GIST AND WASHINGTON SET OUT INTO
THE ALLEGHENY RIVER.

♪ ♪

BUT CROSSING THE RIVER
QUICKLY PROVES DIFFICULT,

AS THEIR MAKESHIFT RAFT IS
CAUGHT UP

IN THE TREACHEROUS DOWNSTREAM
CURRENT.

♪ ♪

THE PROBLEM WAS THIS

FREEZING COLD RIVER'S
RUNNING VERY SWIFTLY.

AND THE RIVER, AT THIS STAGE,

WAS CHOKED WITH FAST
MOVING ICE FLOES.

WASHINGTON HAS NEVER BEEN IN
SITUATIONS LIKE THIS.

HE'S NOT UNDERSTANDING
THE POWER OF THE RIVER

AND THE COLD AND THE
FORCES OUT HERE.

♪ ♪

MAJOR WASHINGTON!

WHEN THE ICE FLOE CONNECTED
WITH HIS SETTING POLE,

THE IMPACT WAS ENOUGH
TO KNOCK HIM OFF BALANCE.

NEXT THING HE KNOWS, HE'S IN 10
FEET OF FREEZING WATER.

[YELLING]

♪ ♪

TAKE MY HAND!

MAJOR WASHINGTON!

♪ ♪

[GRUNTING]

NARRATOR: GIST PULLS WASHINGTON
FROM THE ICY RIVER,

SAVING HIS LIFE, BUT
THE DANGER ISN'T OVER.

THE RAFT
IS BEING SWEPT DOWN RIVER,

AND WITH THEIR POLES
WASHED AWAY,

THEY HAVE NO WAY TO CONTROL IT.

GIST: THERE!

♪ ♪

FORTUNATELY, THERE WAS
A SMALL ISLAND

EXPOSED IN THE MIDDLE OF
THE RIVER.

♪ ♪

[GASPING]

♪ ♪

[GASPING]

NARRATOR: THEY'VE ESCAPED THE
FREEZING RIVER,

BUT NOW THEY'RE STRANDED,

AND THE TEMPERATURE IS
DROPPING.

GEORGE WASHINGTON IS SOAKED
FROM HEAD TO TOE.

HE COULD PROBABLY
BARELY STAND UP.

♪ ♪

[STRIKING FLINT]

♪ ♪

THE FUTURE FATHER OF
THE COUNTRY IS, IN FACT,

IN DANGER OF
FREEZING TO DEATH.

♪ ♪

GIST IS NOT THAT MUCH BETTER,

HIS TOES AND FINGERS ARE
PROBABLY FROSTBITTEN.

AND SO THEY NEED TO FIND SOME
WAY

TO SURVIVE THROUGH THE
NIGHT.

[STRIKING FLINT]

♪ ♪

THEIR HANDS ARE FROZEN,

ALMOST USELESS AT THAT POINT.

GIST TRIES TO START A FIRE
USING A FLINT AND STEEL,

IT'S THE CLASSIC WAY,
BUT TO NO AVAIL.

HIS FINGERS JUST AREN'T WORKING
THE WAY HE NEEDS THEM TO.

AND GEORGE WASHINGTON
WILL DIE

IF THEY DON'T GET
A FIRE GOING FAST.

♪ ♪

NARRATOR: AFTER A DISASTROUS
MISHAP

ON THE ICY ALLEGHENY
RIVER,

MAJOR GEORGE WASHINGTON AND
FRONTIERSMAN CHRISTOPHER GIST

ARE IN DANGER OF FREEZING
TO DEATH.

FOR GEORGE WASHINGTON AND
CHRISTOPHER GIST,

A FIRE AT THAT MOMENT WAS THEIR
NUMBER ONE PRIORITY.

AND IF THAT FIRE
DOESN'T GET STARTED,

YOU CAN
IMAGINE HOW HISTORY CHANGES.

[STRIKING FLINT]

NARRATOR: WITH FLINT AND STEEL
FAILING,

GIST'S LAST HOPE IS,
LITERALLY,

A SHOT IN THE DARK.

♪ ♪

WHEN HE'S NOT ABLE TO START A
FIRE THE TRADITIONAL WAY,

HE RESORTS TO AN OLD FRONTIER
TRICK USING HIS MUSKET,

BY PUTTING A PIECE OF CLOTH INTO
THE FIRING PAN,

SO THAT WHEN YOU FIRED THE
GUN YOU WOULD GET A SPARK,

AND INSTEAD OF IGNITING THE
GUNPOWDER,

WOULD IGNITE THE CLOTH AND, IN
TURN -

[EXPLOSION]

FIRE.

♪ ♪

HE SUFFERED MIGHTILY WITH HIS
FROZEN FINGERS TO- TO MAKE-

TO GET THIS FIRE GOING TO SAVE
GEORGE WASHINGTON.

BUT THEY GOT A GOOD FIRE GOING,

AND THEY MANAGED TO SURVIVE THE
NIGHT.

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

WE SHOULD GET SOME SLEEP.

NEED TO BUILD A NEW RAFT
IN THE MORNING.

WITHOUT THE FIRE,
IT'S LIKELY THAT

WASHINGTON PROBABLY WOULD
HAVE DIED OF HYPOTHERMIA.

I THINK THIS IS THE MOMENT THAT
REALLY

CEMENTED THE FRIENDSHIP, AT
LEAST FOR WASHINGTON,

BECAUSE THIS MAN SAVED MY LIFE
RISKING HIS LIFE.

♪ ♪

NARRATOR: THE NEXT MORNING, GIST
AWAKENS TO A WELCOME SIGHT.

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

THEY SAW THAT THE RIVER HAD
FROZEN ACROSS TO THE FAR SIDE.

AND, SUDDENLY, THEY REALIZED
THEY WERE SAVED.

I SHOULD THINK THAT
I WAS DREAMING.

IF YOU ARE, DO NOT OPEN
YOUR EYES

UNTIL WE ARE SAFELY
ACROSS.

THEY WERE ABLE TO
WALK OFF THE ISLAND,

YOU KNOW, GOIN' STRAIGHT
ACROSS IT.

THAT WAS ONE BIT OF
LUCK THEY HAD.

NARRATOR: TWO MONTHS AFTER
SETTING OUT ON THEIR JOURNEY,

GIST AND WASHINGTON FINALLY MAKE
IT BACK, EXHAUSTED, BUT ALIVE.

♪ ♪

WASHINGTON: IF ALL GOES WELL,

I SHOULD MAKE IT TO
WILLIAMSBURG

IN 10 DAYS' TIME.

GIST: PERHAPS FEWER.

FOUR LEGS WILL SERVE YOU BETTER
THAN TWO.

WASHINGTON: INDEED.
NARRATOR: HERE THEY SEPARATE,

GIST TO RETURN TO HIS FAMILY,

AND WASHINGTON TO DELIVER THE
MESSAGE

TO THE GOVERNOR IN
WILLIAMSBURG.

I SHALL BE...

INFORMING GOVERNOR DINWIDDIE OF
YOUR EXEMPLARY WORK ON HIS
BEHALF.

ENGLAND OWES YOU
A GREAT DEBT.

IT WAS AN HONOR, MAJOR.

♪ ♪

I, HOWEVER...

OWE YOU AN EVEN
GREATER ONE.

MY VERY LIFE.

♪ ♪

I SHALL NEVER FORGET
WHAT YOU HAVE DONE.

WASHINGTON, OF COURSE,
PARTING WAYS WITH A MAN

WHO'S LITERALLY RESPONSIBLE
FOR KEEPING HIM ALIVE

ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS.

IF YOU SHOULD
EVER NEED ME,

I'LL ALWAYS BE
AT YOUR SERVICE.

♪ ♪

I SUSPECT THAT DAY
MAY BE SOONER THAN YOU THINK.

THE HARDSHIPS THAT
WASHINGTON ENCOUNTERED

IN COMPANY WITH
CHRISTOPHER GIST WERE A-

A KIND OF A DEFINITIVE
MOMENT IN HIS LIFE,

BECAUSE BY
OVERCOMING THEM,

IT GAVE HIM A SENSE OF
WHAT HE COULD ACHIEVE.

NARRATOR: HE MAY NOT
KNOW IT YET,

BUT CHRISTOPHER GIST HAS
PLAYED A CRUCIAL ROLE

IN AMERICAN HISTORY,

AND IT WON'T BE HIS LAST.

CHRISTOPHER GIST REALLY EMBODIED

THE EXPANSION OF COLONIAL
AMERICA.

HE WAS REALLY, IN MANY
WAYS,

THE POINT OF A SPEAR OF
WESTWARD EXPANSION

INTO THE OHIO RIVER VALLEY.

HIS TIME WITH WASHINGTON
OVERSHADOWS

SO MUCH OF WHO GIST
WAS.

BUT, GIST WENT
INTO THE UNKNOWN

IN A WAY THAT VERY FEW
PEOPLE HAD DONE IN THAT ERA.

GIST IS THE FIRST PERSON

TO DESCRIBE THE OHIO TERRITORY

FOR BRITISH COLONISTS
IN NORTH AMERICA.

AND THESE DESCRIPTIONS
AND SURVEYS ARE A REALLY

CRITICAL PART OF CONVINCING
PEOPLE TO MOVE WEST.

WHILE HIS NAME MAY NOT RESONATE
LIKE DANIEL BOONE

OR DAVY CROCKET, IT SHOULD.

HE SERVES AS
A DOORWAY TO OPEN THE REGION

FOR ALMOST EVERYONE ELSE WHO
COMES AFTER.