{⋆★⋆} BG Evans, Nathan G.

Nathan George “Shanks” Evans

Born: February 3, 1824
General Evans.jpg


Birthplace: Marion, South Carolina

Father: Thomas Evans 1790 – 1845
(Buried: Tranquility Plantation, Granville, North Carolina)​

Mother: Jane Beverly Daniel 1795 – 1861
(Buried: Old Town Cemetery, Marion, South Carolina)​

Wife: Ann Victoria Gary 1837 – 1917
(Buried: Tabernacle Cemetery, Cokesbury, South Carolina)​

Children:

Nathan George Evans 1861 – 1924​
(Buried: Tabernacle Cemetery, Cokesbury, South Carolina)​
Governor John Gary Evans 1863 – 1942​
(Buried: Edgefield Village Cemetery, Edgefield, South Carolina)​
Major Barnard Bee “Barney” Evans 1864 – 1942​
(Buried: Tabernacle Cemetery, Cokesbury, South Carolina)​
Mary Martin Evans 1868 – 1934​
(Buried: Tabernacle Cemetery, Cokesbury, South Carolina)​

Education:

Attended Randolph – Macon College​
1848: Graduated from West Point Military Academy – (36th in class)​

Occupation before War:
Before War.jpg


1848 – 1849: Brevet 2nd Lt. United States Army, 1st Dragoons​
1849 – 1855: 2nd Lt. United States Army, 2nd Dragoons​
1855 – 1856: 1st Lt. United States Army, 2nd Cavalry Regiment​
1856 – 1861: Captain United States Army, 2nd Cavalry Regiment​
1861: Resigned from United States Army on February 27th

Civil War Career:

1861: Major and Adjutant General to South Carolina Army​
1861: Participated in the Bombardment of Fort Sumter​
1861 – 1862: Colonel of South Carolina Infantry​
1861: Participated in the First Battle of Bull Run​
1861: Participated in the Battle of Ball's Bluff​
1862 – 1865: Brigadier General in the Confederate Army​
1862: Participated in the Second Battle of Bull Run​
1862: Participated in the Battle of Antietam​
1862 – 1865: Brigade Commander in South Carolina​
1865: Presidential Escort for President Davis leaving at Cokesbury, South Carolina​

Occupation after War:
IMG_5313.JPG


1865 – 1866: Businessman in Charleston, South Carolina​
1866 – 1868: School Teacher & Principal in Midway, Alabama​

Died:
November 23, 1868

Place of Death: Midway, Alabama

Cause of Death: Not Known

Age at time of Death: 44 years old

Burial Place: Tabernacle Cemetery, Cokesbury, South Carolina
 
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He must have been a "troublesome" person as it appears he got onto a scrape or dispute with other commanders on at least 3 occasions. Also the last brigade he was in charge of was known as the "Tramp Brigade". He couldn't return to command this brigade due to a fall from his horse?
 
Evans' tiny brigade was able to delay McDowell's advance at the Stone Bridge and Matthew's Hill long enough for reinforcement from Joe Johnston arrived. His actions went a long way to achieving Confederate victory in the first major land battle of the conflict.
He received a Brigadier star for his actions at Ball's Bluff.
 
He served in South Carolina in 1862, taking command of the "Tramp Brigade" and fighting at Secessionville, before he joined Lee for the Second Manassas Campaign.
After the battle, he got into an argument with John Bell Hood over captured wagons; Hood's men had captured the wagons, but Evans (pulling rank, despite only commanding a brigade) claim they were his, having Hood arrested. Lee put off the court martial and let Hood continue command for the Maryland Campaign. The issue was never properly resolved before a military court; Lee promoted Hood while he transferred Evans back to South Carolina.
 
On July 30, 1864, Evans' former brigade, now commanded by BG Stephen Elliott, Jr. found itself entrenched in the battle lines of Petersburg directly atop a mine dug by Federal troops. They suffered heavy casualties when the mine exploded and in the ensuing Battle of the Crater.
 
Following the CS evacuation of Vicksburg, Evans returned to Charleston, where he began a feud with his superior officer, Gen Ripley. Ripley had Evans tried for disobedience of orders, of which he was acquitted. Despite his acquittal, Beauregard still viewed Evans as a liability. His reputation for being fond of alcohol now preceded him. Beauregard decided not to return Evans to his command. Evans complained that the efficiency of his Bgde was being ruined, to which Beauregard replied "I am sorry to have to add that no distribution or dispersion of the Regts of this Bgde, as commanded by Gen Evans, would diminish its efficiency." Beauregard's report of the Bgde was found to be far from satisfactory.

Evans was finally given back command of his Bgde in April of 1864. As he was preparing to take his Bgde North to participate in the Petersburg Campaign, Evans was seriously injured in a carriage accident in Charleston. The command of Evans' Bgde was passed to Gen Stephen Elliott. Although Evans eventually recovered from his injuries, he was never returned to his command.
 
Evans' tiny brigade was able to delay McDowell's advance at the Stone Bridge and Matthew's Hill long enough for reinforcement from Joe Johnston arrived. His actions went a long way to achieving Confederate victory in the first major land battle of the conflict.
He received a Brigadier star for his actions at Ball's Bluff.
It wasn't just his delaying action at 1st Manassas that "went along way" but Evans was supposedly the first Confederate commander to see that the Union's intent was to turn the left flank.
 
The story of Evan's aide following him around the 1st Manassas battlefield with a small barrel of whiskey is interesting kind of foolish. Would an aide really risk his life in such a foolish manner?It had to be voluntary. Can an officer really order someone to carry his whiskey?
 
Evans and his brother-in-law General Martin Gary both accompanied Jefferson Davis in his flight from Richmond. Gary didn't join the party until they reached Greensboro.They appeared to have both have stayed at the Gary home in Cokesbury, S.C.when Davis continued on his way on May 2,1865.
 
I recall reading and have found some small references online to the virtual implosion of Evans' brigade in late 1862, early 1863. In December 1862 the officers of four regiments of Evans' Brigade (17th, 22nd, 23rd South Carolina & Holcombe Legion) signed a petition requesting transfer to other commands. By January 1863 Evans had filed charges of cowardice and dereliction of duty against some of those officers. The subsequent court martial of one, Colonel F. W. McMaster (17thSC) resulted in his acquittal on all but two minor charges with no punishment resulting. As part of its findings the court issued the following statement not complimentary to Evans.
The Court is pained to declare that, in its opinion, this prosecution was not undertaken with the spirit and for the purpose of promoting the good of the service. A due consideration for the distinguished services of Brig. Gen. Evans to the Confederacy in this war, restrains the Court from any further expression of its opinion as to the motives that prompted the prosecution.
 
Shanks: The Life and Wars of General Nathan George Evans, C.S.A. by Jason H. Silverman, Samuel N. Thomas Jr. and Beverly D. Evans IV

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Wandering to Glory: Confederate Veterans Remember Evans's Brigade by DeWitt Boyd Stone Jr

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Cheers,
USS ALASKA
 
Nathan George “Shanks” Evans

Born: February 3, 1824View attachment 343935

Birthplace: Marion, South Carolina

Father: Thomas Evans 1790 – 1845
(Buried: Tranquility Plantation, Granville, North Carolina)​

Mother: Jane Beverly Daniel 1795 – 1861
(Buried: Old Town Cemetery, Marion, South Carolina)​

Wife: Ann Victoria Gary 1837 – 1917
(Buried: Tabernacle Cemetery, Cokesbury, South Carolina)​

Children:

Nathan George Evans 1861 – 1924
(Buried: Tabernacle Cemetery, Cokesbury, South Carolina)

Governor John Gary Evans 1863 – 1942
(Buried: Edgefield Village Cemetery, Edgefield, South Carolina)

Major Barnard Bee “Barney” Evans 1864 – 1942
(Buried: Tabernacle Cemetery, Cokesbury, South Carolina)

Mary Martin Evans 1868 – 1934
(Buried: Tabernacle Cemetery, Cokesbury, South Carolina)​

Education:

Attended Randolph – Macon College

1848: Graduated from West Point Military Academy – (36th in class)​

Occupation before War:View attachment 343936

1848 – 1849: Brevet 2nd Lt. United States Army, 1st Dragoons

1849 – 1855: 2nd Lt. United States Army, 2nd Dragoons

1855 – 1856: 1st Lt. United States Army, 2nd Cavalry Regiment

1856 – 1861: Captain United States Army, 2nd Cavalry Regiment

1861: Resigned from United States Army on February 27th

Civil War Career:

1861: Major and Adjutant General to South Carolina Army

1861: Participated in the Bombardment of Fort Sumter

1861 – 1862: Colonel of South Carolina Infantry

1861: Participated in the First Battle of Bull Run

1861: Participated in the Battle of Ball's Bluff

1862 – 1865: Brigadier General in the Confederate Army

1862: Participated in the Second Battle of Bull Run

1862: Participated in the Battle of Antietam

1862 – 1865: Brigade Commander in South Carolina

1865: Presidential Escort for President Davis leaving at Cokesbury, South Carolina​

Occupation after War:View attachment 343937

1865 – 1866: Businessman in Charleston, South Carolina

1866 – 1868: School Teacher & Principal in Midway, Alabama​

Died:
November 23, 1868

Place of Death: Midway, Alabama

Cause of Death: Not Known

Age at time of Death: 44 years old

Burial Place: Tabernacle Cemetery, Cokesbury, South Carolina

Thanks for this info. on Nathan George "Shanks" Evans.
I would like to learn the source of: "1866 – 1868: School Teacher & Principal in Midway, Ala." as I am a member of a Midway, Ala. research group. We would like to know more about what brought Gen. Evans to Midway? I have located this info:
Wed, Oct 7, 1885 Union Springs Herald https://www.newspapers.com/article/union-springs-herald-1885-oct-newspaper/15361628/
"In 1865 while darkness and gloom was over the land, James Madison Pruett [my 3rd great grandfather] employed Prof. T. A. Craven and Miss Bettie Pruett, to take charge of the Midway Academy. Etc..." /"The gallant Gen. Evans, of SC, succeeded Doster & Craven in the school. He died shortly after moving to Midway. He was a brave man and an accomplished gentleman."
More details will be greatly appreciated!
Deo vindice, The Midway Researcher
 
Again, thanks for the Info. on Nathan George "Shanks" Evans provided by 'gentlemanrob', South Carolina SCV Historian, who wrote: "I love helping other people gain knowledge".
I located a Montgomery Advertiser 19 Feb 1961 newspaper article: 'Nathan George "Shanks" Evans, an Alabamian by choice'. "When the war was over, he became principal of the high school at Midway, where he died on Nov. 28, 1868." https://www.newspapers.com/.../the-montgomery.../131084488/
*Any thoughts re why he is described as an Alabamian by choice?*
His 4 Dec 1868 Charleston Daily News Obit says "Circumstances compelled him, like many other brave men, to leave the State [SC], and he died an exile from his home & friends." https://sciway3.net/proctor/marion/obits/obite/evans004.html
Deo vindice, The Midway Researcher
 
Evans had been a career U.S. Army officer before resigning in 1861 to join the Confederacy. Like quite a few others when the South lost his career was over and he had to scramble to survive.
 
Your response is much appreciated. This ties in with: Confederate Military History, vol. VI, p. 392
"In Feb, 1861, being then stationed in Texas, and taking farewell of his colonel, Robert E. Lee, Nathan George Evans proceeded to Montgomery, AL, and was commissioned major of cavalry, CSA. Being assigned to duty as adjutant-general of the South Carolina army, he was present at the bombardment of Fort Sumter & was soon afterward promoted colonel." https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryu...PIG38VaLvEA3EXstMin0gBcjUOBvvje2guAi0aKBzpLEE

Deo vindice, The Midway Researcher
 
Happy Birthday Brig. Nathan G. Evans! Salutes remembering a patriot on his birthday.

View attachment 431119

Valuable Reference information, thanks to John DeTreville: "Here are pages from the 1941 Duke Masters' Thesis of Beverly Daniel Evans IV, relating the last days of General Evans, including why he moved to Midway, Ala. The thesis was later reprinted word for word by others, including two who claimed joint authorship with Beverly Daniel Evans IV, but it is all his work. But the book is inexpensive and available on-line book sellers. Gen Evans is a distant uncle, and B. D. Evans IV is a cousin."
Deo vindice, The Midway Researcher

1Duke Masters' Thesis of Beverly Daniel Evans IV, relating the last days of General Evans.jpg


2Duke Masters' Thesis of Beverly Daniel Evans IV, relating the last days of General Evans.jpg


3Duke Masters' Thesis of Beverly Daniel Evans IV, relating the last days of General Evans.jpg


4Duke Masters' Thesis of Beverly Daniel Evans IV, relating the last days of General Evans.jpg


5Duke Masters' Thesis of Beverly Daniel Evans IV, relating the last days of General Evans.jpg
 
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