Gist's Additional Continental Regiment

Gist's Additional Continental Regiment
Active	1777–1781
Allegiance	Continental Congress
Type	Infantry
Role	Light infantry
Size	3 to 8 companies
Part of	Continental Army
Engagements	Battle of Brandywine (1777) Battle of Germantown (1777) Battle of Monmouth (1778) Battle of Paulus Hook (1779) Siege of Charleston (1780)
Commanders
Notable commanders	Colonel Nathaniel Gist

Gist's Additional Continental Regiment was an American infantry unit that served for four years in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. Authorized in January 1777, the unit was intended to be made up of four companies of light infantry and 500 Indian scouts. In practice, only three companies were recruited from the colonies of Virginia and Maryland. George Washington appointed noted frontiersman Nathaniel Gist as colonel in command. Two companies were attached to the 3rd Maryland Regiment while one company was attached to the 11th Virginia Regiment during the Philadelphia Campaign in summer and fall 1777, and at Monmouth in June 1778.

In April 1779 the regiment absorbed Grayson's Additional Continental Regiment and Thruston's Additional Continental Regiment. The consolidated regiment was reorganized as eight companies and a month later was assigned to the 1st Virginia Brigade. The regiment was probably involved in Light Horse Harry Lee's Paulus Hook Raid in August. In December 1779, the unit was transferred from the main army to the Southern Department. In May 1780, Gist and his regiment were captured at the Siege of Charleston. The unit was officially disbanded on 1 January 1781.

The 13 January 1777 letter from George Washington to Gist with orders to form the regiment is preserved. Since it gives an idea of the conditions under which the Additional regiments were raised, it is worth reproducing in full.

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