Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1901-04-03
Fighting Bob Evans.

aud AT Gonzaga Classical School. IN
Washington city. His father aud
mother were native VIr.,inians. His
mother WAS ~ daughter of John
Jackson. of Fairfax county. and ~
sister of James Jackson who shot
Colonel Ellsworth. of the Zouavrs At
Alexandria. His father. who was a
physician. and AT one time - member
of the Legislature. died in 1886. la
1860, Young Exams was appointed to
the United States Naval Academy
from Utah. aud was graduated from
that Institution ia 1863.
The \ nirhl has been writing his
"reminiscences of his naval service
for the Saturday Evening Post. of
Philadelphia, aud from them W.
learn that when the war broke on
IN 1861 his famiiy demanded that
he should resign land come South
and fight for Virginia; but that
course did not seem so imperative To
him rs il did to other Southern oil
ceTs. While he was appointed from
Utah,it does not appear that he had
lived there long. if at all. Most of
the time after leaving Virginia, la
1856 he was at School in Washing
ton. His next Younger brother zen
listed ut the age of II IN the Wash
iugton Artillery. aud went 20 the
front under Pelham; but Roblrv
declined tn make amy movement 10
ward joining the South. Yet 80
times he seems 70 have been iu
doubt what To do. for he saws ne
was much assisted "in thos,. dark
aud trying DAYS hy the advice of
Captain Rodgers cone of the instruct
ors at Aunapoli>), who pointed ont
to me what my duty was" And So
he concluded To stick bv the old
Nag and let my family ties look after
themselves lie 50 Informed hi>
mother, who was much grieved aud
Shamed by his determination. Aud
his mother herself finally wrot. his
resignation and sent il TO the Navy
Department, " here it was accept
ed" This course she no doubt felt
Justified in pursuing, as be was a
minor. The rest of this incident WAS
left the Admiral tell in his own Ian
guage, as follows:
What to do unlersuch conditions
was u serious question to me, and |
WAS again assisted 10 the right
course toy Captain Rodgers, who tel.
sraphed % Washington, explaining,
matters. was out
only about twenty four hours, bur
they were very unhappy ones for me-.
| was relieved wh-n my reappoint
mentment came bv wire Nv moth
er. thinking she had finally disposed
Of the matter, went To Richmond TO
nurse my brother. who bad been
badly Wounded, and there waiting
for me to JON here. She was uatur-
ally much disappointed at the result
Of her efforts. aud wrote me very
severe letter, which she sent through
the lines hya blockade runner who
mailed IT, When it came TO me ii
showed no signs of having been
opened, but ] found that it had. aud
many parts of it UNDERLINED with
blue pencil. Many of my letters
during the war mailed in the same
way had been similarity treated.
showing that IN my case at least the
post-oflice officials were watchful.
My brother fought calamity, WAS
twice wounded, aud served to the end
of the war. As soon as he could
make his way North be came, and
never showed amy bitterness over my
course. The other members of the
family did not behave IN quite the
same way. but after some years my
mother changed her views, and fully
forgave me"
Upon the outbreak of hostlhtie:
the Evans family came South, from
Washington, we suppose. Mldshlp
man Evans, however, had an uncle
living in Washington, while the wal
was going on; he sneaks ct being
there on a visit while on leave. lie
had III adventure there with II burg