News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1896-10-01

q - General Evans vaIn
fields, but how
many know that there were two of the
name in the armies of the Confederacy
both gallant and ubiquitous when there
was work to be done? Clement A. Evans
began his soldier career as lieut. nant in
the Thirty first Georgia, fighting his
first battles under GtOnewall jackson.
He served to the end Of the war in the
Virginia campaign and laid Gown the
sword of a major general at App0mattox.
AS colonel Of the Thirty first regiment
Evans received his first wound at Gaines
Mill in 1862 Having given proof Of
good soldier stuff in command Of a reci-
ment, he wGs often called uTOn to take
the post Of danger with the Thirty first.
A good regiment and good leader
make a stroug team. The writer was
one of the proud and confident boys in
blue who climbed up Marye's Heights
May 3, 1868, and stood on the crest all
next day, Boosting not little over the
conquest CT those frovsling hills. AS
soon as it grew dark enough to steal
away safely he was going toward
Banks fora among the skirmishing rear
guard Of the rear guard Of Sedgwick's
corps 'armee. We skirmishers had
lively fight i'll the cleaning with some
plucky skirmishers in gray, firing in
retreat, man against man. Long after
the war ] learned that Evans led the
skirmish line, composed of his own regi-
ments of Georgians. l remarked the
gallantry Of their advance at the time,
for we frs welcomed them from am
bush and had masked battery on the
spot to help us with canister. 1t seems
that Evans was so vigorous in attacking
with skirmish line that his brigade
commander, John B. Gordon, was forced
to throw in the other regiments to
back up the charge, and in this way the
heights were recaptured within "A hours
after we took them by storming. That
race for Banks ford ahead of Evans
skirmishefs was my first and last run
FROM. the esie2y and shall never for
get it. One incident recall. just be-
fore our battery retired from the skir-
mish line l saw the shots pillow through
the solid ranks of Gordon's troops,
marching as reserves to Evans line, and
hurl men into the air piecemeal. With
undaunted valor the ranks closed the
gaps and marched steadily forward on
the guns. No wonder that we conclud-
ed Marye's Heights was no place for
hiu th at c,ponnl nj
Evans gallantry at Fredericksburg
placed him at the head of Gordon's old
brigade, and with it he marched for the
Susquehanra. A wound received in
Gordon's fight with Barlow, ON the
plain north Of Gettysburg, consecrated
his promotion to the rank of brigadier
general. The winter following Evans
managed small fight on the Rapidan
and came out gloriously, in spite of the
odds against him. In one of the Federal
reconnoissances division of Warren s
corps crossed at Morton's ford, and
Evans was told to attack and drive il
off. With no aid but light battery he
kept up fight for some hours and final
ly gave a parting shot to WaTen's
troops as they recrossed the river
Evans brigade was among the sound
ly sleeping troops i'll the angle behind
McCool's house at Spottsylvania when
Hancock sprung his attack on the 18th
of May. Gordon's division was in re-
serve to Edward Johnson s, which Han
cock captured bodily, with its COM
mander at the head. The reserves, like
the front line, had been thrown off their
guard by some camp rumor the night of
the assault, but at the first sound Of at
tack in the morning sprang to arms. 1t
was yet dark i'll the woods, and it was
impossible for the Confederates in the
rear to tell what was going on in front.
In few moments staff officers reported
that the Federals had broken over the
strong works i'll the angle and were
pouring to the rear unopposed. Evans
faced his men toward the firing and adj
vanced on the general principle of seek
ing the thick of il in battle. Gordon saw
the bold initiative of his subordinate
and told him to go ahead double quick.
Evans rode in front and led his men on
a charge which checked Hancock's adj
vance at that point. Holding his ground,
Evans waited until Gordon formed the
rest of the division, and in one grand
charge the base of the angle was cleared
Of bluecoats 1t was that stroke, led by
Georgians--for Gordon, Evans and the
other brigade leader, Phil Cook, were
all Georgia soldiers-which saved the
angle that day, and the angle was tn,
stronghold Of Lees line. 1t is said that
Lee went to the front and wanted to
lead the Georgians in person at that
time, but was induced to go back out Of
the firing and leave the cause to Others.
Evans brigade lost half its numbers,
and both he and Gordon were promoted
for their gaIlantry.
Gordons division decided the battle
Of Monocacy, Md, in July, 1864, by
one of the most brilliant flank attacks
on record The march of General Fer
ly's raiding column toward Washington
was stopped at the Monocacy river b. a
yipilant and active force under Levy