The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1896-11-05

Ia fought against
@ = ~ General Evans
r. Ga-~-= on eastern BATTLE
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 lieutenant in
the Thirty-frst Georgia, fighting his
first battles under Stonewall jackson
He served to the end Of the war in the
Virginia campaign and laid down the
sword of major general at Appomattox
AS colonel Of the Thirty-frst regiment
Evans received his first wound at Gaines
Mill i'll 1862. Having given proof Of
good soldier stuff in command OF a regi-
ment, he was often called upon to take
the post of danger with the Thirty first
A good regiment and good leader
make a strong team. The writer was
one Of the proud and confident boys in
blue who climbed up Marye's Heights
May 8, 1853, and stood on the crest all
next day, Boosting not little over the
conquest of those frowning hills. AS
soon as it grew dark enough to steal
away safely he was going toward
Banks ford among the diminishing rear
guard Of the rear guard Of Sedgwick's
corps d'armee. We skirmishers had O
lively fight in the cleaning with some
p]ucky skirmishers in gray, firing in
retreat, man against man. Long after
the war l learned that Evans led the
skirmish line, composed of his own regi-
ments of Georgians. I remarked tho
gallantry of their advance at the time,
for we first welcomed them from am
bush and had a masked battery on the
spot to help us with canister. It 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 storning That
race for Banks ford ahead of Evans
skirmishers was my first and last run
from the enemy, and shall never for
get it. One incident I recall. Just be-
fore our battery retired from the Skin
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
our bivouac that second night.
Evans gallantry at Fredericksburg
placed him at the head Of Gordon's old
SusGuehanna. A wound received in
Gordon's fight with Barlow, on the
plain north of Gettysburg, consecrated
his prom to the rank of brigadier
general. The winter following Evans
managed a small fight on the Rapidan
and came out gloriously, in spite Of the
odds against him. In one of the Federal
Reconnaissance 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
~ gave a parting shot to Warren's
troops as they recrossed the river.
Evans brigade was among the sound.
ly sleeping troops in the angle behind
McCool's house at Spottsylvania wher
Hancock sprung his attack on the 18th
of May. Gordon's division was in re-
serve to Edward Johnson's S, which Han
cock captured bodily, with it's com.
mander at the head. The reserves, like
the front line, had been thrown off thei1
guard by some camp rumor the night Of
the assault, but at the first sound Of at
tack in the morning sprang to arms. II
was yet dark in the woods, and it was
impossible for the Confederates in the
rear to tell what was going on in front.
In a few moments staff officers reported
that the Federals had broken over the
strong works in the anglo and were
pouring to the rear unopposed. Evans
faced his men toward the firing and ad
vanced on the general principle Of seek
ing the thick of it 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 OF
a charge which checked Hancock's ad
vance at that point Holding his ground
Evans waited until Gordon formed tn,
rest of the division, and in one CRANE
charge the base of the angle was cleared
of bluecoats. It was that stroke, led b,
Georgians-for Gordon, Evans and tn
other brigade leader, Phil Cook, wer
all Georgia soldiers-which saved tn
angle that day, and the angle was tn
stronghold of Lees line 1t is said tina
Lee went to the front and wanted t.
lead the Georgians i'll person at tina
time, but was induced to go back out O
the firing ard leave the cause to others
Evans brigade lost half it's numbers
and both he and Gordon were promote.
for their gallantry.
Gordon's division decided the battl
of Monocacy, Md, in July, 1854, b.
one of the most brilliant flank attack
on record. The march of General Ear
ly's raiding column toward Washington
was stopped at the Monocacy river by
vigilant and active force under Ley
Wallace Early outnum hered Wallace