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

but the latter posted his troops and
cannon in excellent positions at the
bridges to prevent the enemy crossing.
Gordon led his men across by ford be-
low the Federal position and marched
up the bank, giving Evans brigade the
post OF honor to begin the fighting The
moment the column showed itself in
front Of the wood where it formed Wal
/ Aace's men opened upon it with stinging
volleys, having clear range as the
men in gray advanced across the plain.
Evans rode in front of the colors, &C
companied by Captain Eugene Gordon,
his chief aid-de-camp. Captain Gordon
was the brother of General Gordon,
and, like him, gallant soldier. Evans
Confided his orders and plans to his aid,
and luckily, for at almost the first vol
ley he was shot from his horse while
cheering on the men. At the fall of his
chief Captain Gordon notified the senior
colonel Of the brigade and resumed his
place in the advance. ....
The fire proved exceedingly hot at
that juncture, and several officers fell,
causing a check to the march. The
brave captain again rode up and down
the ranks urging the soldiers to avenge
their fallen leader. Wallace's first line
had already given way. Evans men
rushed upon the second with renewed
spirit and swept it from the field. In
spite Of his terrible wound-a bullet
through the body-General Evans NOV
ed with the army to Washington to wit
ness the demonstration against the cap
ital. ""
After the return Of EARLY to the Shen-
andoah valley Evans was disabled for,
months and did not take part in the
fighting of his brigade at Opequon and
Cedar Greek. The brilliant night attack
, on Forts Steadman and Haskell, in front
Of Petersburg, March IS, 1855, was the
next battle. Gordon at that time COM
manded the corps which had formerly
been Stonewall Jackson's. Evans led
Gordon's division. His men surprised
Fort Steadman before daylight and
poured over the breastworks> in num-
bers, which swept away the garrison.
Guns were turned upon Fort Haskell
and the adjoining works. After entering
the gap at Steadman, Evans men turned
to the right and marched along the
works toward Fort Haskell, intending
to roll up the Federal line and cut it
loose from the base and headquarters of
the army This attack was q forlorn
hope, but it was the only attempt made
by Lee to break out through the besieg-
ing lines and was pushed with the usual
vigor Of Gordon and his gallant lieuten-
ants.
Evans march down the works toward
Haskell was pushed rapidly in the dark
ness, and he carried two batteries and
the trenches Of two regiments lying be-
tween the forts. But, owing to a trivial
incident, the garrison in Fort Haskell
was awake, and the artillerymen were
at their guns when daylight broke and
revealed Evans line of battle bounding
along inside the Federal works. In fact,
Haskell's guns had opened before day
light and aroused the troops lying near
it. The guns in this fort speedily well
coined Evans column with shrapnel and
canister, and at the same time the bat
teries in the rear on the TANKS Of the
charging column joined in the firing.
Evans orders were that he should
carry Fort Haskell by an attack upon
its rear. The assault was to be made be-
fore daylight, so as to surprise the gar
rison and avoid the fire of the guns. In
order to accomplish the desperate task,
100 picked men moved through Fort
Steadman the moment it fell into
Evans hands and set out for the COM
panion work. Owing to the ignorance of
the guide selected to pilot the band, the
party moved up to the front Of the fort,
striking the wakeful trench guards, who
alarmed the garrison and gave the
stealthy assailants hot reception. Un.