Henry Martyn Cist was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, 20 February, 1839. In April, 1861, he enlisted as a private in the 6th Ohio infantry. He was promoted to second lieutenant in the 52nd Ohio infantry, and then to adjutant of the 74th Ohio, and was post-adjutant of Camp Chase during the confinement of the prisoners captured at Fort Donelson. In 1862 he was in the field with his regiment, serving in middle Tennessee. In September he was promoted to acting assistant adjutant-general of Miller's brigade, during the Tullahoma campaign appointed acting assistant adjutant-general of the department of the Cumberland, and served on the department staff under Generals Rosecrans and Thomas until his resignation in January, 1866. Meanwhile he had attained the rank of major and assistant adjutant-general with the brevet of brigadier-general, having served in the Chickamauga and the Eastport campaigns. General Cist remained n the service after the close of hostilities, at General Thomas's request, to give the necessary orders and to arrange the details providing for the mustering out and disbanding of over 100,000 troops.