Page 1 of 1

Brig. Gen. Nathan George Evans

Posted: Tue Jun 19, 2007 2:07 pm
by jkBluesman
Brig. Gen. Nathan George Evans (b. 1824, d. 1868). “Shanks” Evans played a conspicuous role in the first two years of the war in the East. However, he “was difficult to manage and we found him so”, wrote Gen. Gilbert Moxley Sorrel after the war. This was mainly due to Evans’ hard drinking that intensified his aggressiveness. According to Sorrel, Evans was always followed by an orderly who had a wooden vessel with whiskey strapped to his back. Born in Marion, South Carolina Evans attended Randolph-Macon College but left it without a degree, when he received the appointment to West Point. Graduating from the US Military Academy in 1848 he served in the cavalry on the western frontier. However, he resigned from the army in 1861 to fight for his native state. Commissioned colonel of the Confederate army he led a semi-brigade in Gen. P.G.T. Beauregard’s army. At First Manassas his command was positioned on the left – the main point of the Federal attack. Evans managed to defend his position long enough before falling back towards Henry House Hill, where he was reinforced. After the battle, the command – now consisting of a full brigade – was sent north to guard the upper fords of the Potomac. In the night of the 20th October 1861, a Union force crossed the river near Leesburg, Virginia. In the Battle of Ball’s Bluff the next day, the Confederates drove the Union force back into the river, where many Federals drowned. Evans was promoted to brigadier general dating from the day of the victory though at least one source says that the commander left the fighting to his subordinates as he was himself drunk. His next assignment was the defence of Charleston, where he took part in the victorious Battle of Secessionville (or James Island) on June 16, 1862. The following month he was sent to the Army of Northern Virginia with a new South Carolina Brigade. Not attached to a division, the brigade was part of Gen. James Longstreet’s wing. At Second Manassas Evans was positioned behind Gen. John B. Hood for the successful attack on August 30, which pushed the Federals back behind the familiar ground of Henry House Hill. Evans and Hood did not share the fruits of victory but disputed over captured ambulances. Longstreet sided with the former and had the latter arrested. Evans got temporarily in command of Hood’s division but was reverted to command his independent brigade in the wake of the Battle of South Mountain, when the Texan soldiers called for Hood and Gen. Robert E. Lee gave him to them. Evans saw no action in the battle. At Antietam his depleted force could not do much more than using and protecting its attached artillery. Evans and his staff rallied retreating troops on the Confederate left. It was Evans’ last fight with the ANV. Sent to Eastern North Carolina he fought the Battle of Kinston on December 14, 1862, where his outnumbered force had to withdraw. Tried for drunkenness during the battle, Evans was acquitted and sent to South Carolina to get replacements for his brigade. In the summer of 1863 it went to Mississippi as part of Gen. Joseph Johnston’s rescue force for Vicksburg. Back in Charleston, Evans quarreled with his superior, Gen. Roswell Ripley and was arrested. Again acquitted, he got no further command until late spring of 1864. However, he was injured by a buggy accident in Charleston before he could take his brigade to Petersburg, Virginia. Restricted to duties in the War Department in Richmond, he fled the Confederate capital with Pres. Jefferson Davis and his cabinet in April 1865, but left it in South Carolina, where he was later paroled. After the war, Evans became principal of high schools in Cokesbury, South Carolina and Midway, Alabama, where he died on November 23, 1868, probably from lingering effects from the buggy accident.

RE: Brig. Gen. Nathan George Evans

Posted: Tue Jun 19, 2007 2:21 pm
by jkBluesman
It somehow became very long but it is within the limit. That Evans was a drunk makes it hard to find suitable ratings. I suggest the following:

Ldr: 5
Tact: 6
Init: 4
Cmd: 4
Cav: 0

Teaches: Steady, Sustained Volley or Bulldogs, Independent

Someone suggested an 8 for tactics long ago for Evans, but that strikes me as too high. My ratings might still be too good, so other oppinions on this matter are appreciated.

His command when with the ANV included the Holcombe Legion and the Macbeth Artillery. Both might be considered for LU status.
Edit: Both were part of the "Tramp Brigade", which is already in the game.

RE: Brig. Gen. Nathan George Evans

Posted: Wed Jun 20, 2007 2:19 am
by Gil R.
Got it, thanks.

RE: Brig. Gen. Nathan George Evans

Posted: Sat Jun 23, 2007 12:56 pm
by jkBluesman
Brig. Gen. Nathan George Evans (b. 1824, d. 1868). “Shanks” Evans played a conspicuous role in the first two years of the war in the East. However, he “was difficult to manage and we found him so”, wrote Gen. Gilbert Moxley Sorrel after the war. This was mainly due to Evans’ hard drinking that intensified his aggressiveness. According to Sorrel, Evans was always followed by an orderly who had a wooden vessel with whiskey strapped to his back. Born in Marion, South Carolina Evans attended Randolph-Macon College but left it without a degree, when he received the appointment to West Point. Graduating from the US Military Academy in 1848 he served in the cavalry on the western frontier. However, he resigned from the army in 1861 to fight for his native state. Commissioned colonel of the Confederate army he led a semi-brigade in Gen. P.G.T. Beauregard’s army. At First Manassas his command was positioned on the left – the main point of the Federal attack. Evans managed to defend his position long enough before falling back towards Henry House Hill, where he was reinforced. After the battle, the command – now consisting of a full brigade – was sent north to guard the upper fords of the Potomac. In the night of the 20th October 1861, a Union force crossed the river near Leesburg, Virginia. In the Battle of Ball’s Bluff the next day, the Confederates drove the Union force back into the river, where many Federals drowned. Evans was promoted to brigadier general dating from the day of the victory though at least one source says that the commander left the fighting to his subordinates as he was himself drunk. His next assignment was the defence of Charleston, where he took part in the victorious Battle of Secessionville (or James Island) on June 16, 1862. The following month he was sent to the Army of Northern Virginia with recruits from South Carolina: the Tramp Brigade. Not attached to a division, the brigade was part of Gen. James Longstreet’s wing. At Second Manassas Evans was positioned behind Gen. John B. Hood for the successful attack on August 30, which pushed the Federals back behind the familiar ground of Henry House Hill. Evans and Hood did not share the fruits of victory but disputed over captured ambulances. Longstreet sided with the former and had the latter arrested. Evans got temporarily in command of Hood’s division but was reverted to command of the Tramp Brigade in the wake of the Battle of South Mountain, when the Texan soldiers called for Hood and Gen. Robert E. Lee gave him to them. Evans saw no action in the battle. At Antietam his depleted force could not do much more than using and protecting its attached artillery. Evans and his staff rallied retreating troops on the Confederate left. It was Evans’ last fight with the ANV. Sent to Eastern North Carolina he fought the Battle of Kinston on December 14, 1862, where his outnumbered force had to withdraw. Tried for drunkenness during the battle, Evans was acquitted and sent to South Carolina to get replacements for his brigade. In the summer of 1863 it went to Mississippi as part of Gen. Joseph Johnston’s rescue force for Vicksburg. Back in Charleston, Evans quarreled with his superior, Gen. Roswell Ripley and was arrested. Again acquitted, he got no further command until late spring of 1864. However, he was injured by a buggy accident in Charleston before he could take his brigade to Petersburg, Virginia. Restricted to duties in the War Department in Richmond, he fled the Confederate capital with Pres. Jefferson Davis and his cabinet in April 1865, but left it in South Carolina, where he was later paroled. After the war, Evans became principal of high schools in Cokesbury, South Carolina and Midway, Alabama, where he died on November 23, 1868, probably from lingering effects from the buggy accident.

RE: Brig. Gen. Nathan George Evans

Posted: Sat Jun 23, 2007 10:21 pm
by Gil R.
Recopied, thanks.

RE: Brig. Gen. Nathan George Evans

Posted: Tue Jun 26, 2007 6:29 am
by Gil R.
Here's Evans, which required only minor changes. Please note that I have one question. Also, regarding special abilities, how about Bulldogs and Steady?


Brig. Gen. Nathan George Evans (b. 1824, d. 1868). “Shanks” Evans played a conspicuous role in the first two years of the war in the East. However, he “was difficult to manage and we found him so,” wrote Gen. Gilbert Moxley Sorrel after the war. This was mainly due to Evans’ hard drinking, which intensified his aggressiveness. (According to Sorrel, he was always followed by an orderly who had a wooden vessel with whiskey strapped to his back.) Born in Marion, South Carolina, Evans attended Randolph-Macon College but left it without a degree when he received the appointment to West Point. Graduating in 1848, he served in the cavalry on the western frontier until he resigned from the U.S. Army in 1861 to fight for his native state. Commissioned colonel of the Confederate army, he led a small brigade in Gen. P.G.T. Beauregard’s Army of the Potomac. At First Manassas Evans was positioned on the left – the main point of the Union attack. Evans managed to defend his position long enough before falling back towards Henry House Hill, where he was reinforced. After the battle, his command – now consisting of a full brigade – was sent north to guard the upper fords of the Potomac River. During the night of October 20, a Union force crossed the river near Leesburg, Virginia. In the Battle of Ball’s Bluff the next day, the Confederates drove the Union force back into the river, where many Union soldiers drowned. Evans was promoted to brigadier general dating to that battle, though at least one source says that the commander left the fighting to his subordinates as he was himself drunk. His next assignment was the defense of Charleston, where he took part in the victorious Battle of Secessionville (or James Island) on June 16, 1862. The following month he was sent to the Army of Northern Virginia with recruits from South Carolina who would form the “Tramp Brigade.” Not attached to a division, the brigade was part of Gen. James Longstreet’s wing. At Second Manassas, Evans was positioned behind Gen. John B. Hood for the successful attack on August 30, which pushed the Union back behind the familiar ground of Henry House Hill. Evans and Hood did not share the fruits of victory, but disputed over captured ambulances, leading Longstreet to arrest the latter. Evans got temporary command of Hood’s division but was reverted to command of the Tramp Brigade in the wake of the Battle of South Mountain on September 14 (Was it really “in the wake”? It seems that this happened before the battle), when the Texan soldiers called out to Gen. Robert E. Lee “Give us Hood!” and he obliged. Evans saw no action in that battle, and at Antietam three days later his depleted force could not do much more than use and protect its attached artillery, though Evans himself and his staff rallied retreating troops on the Confederate left. This was to be Evans’ last fight in Lee’s army. Sent to eastern North Carolina, he fought the Battle of Kinston on December 14, but was forced to withdraw his outnumbered force. Subsequently tried for drunkenness during the battle, Evans was acquitted and sent to South Carolina to get replacements for his brigade. In the summer of 1863, the unit went to Mississippi as part of Gen. Joseph Johnston’s rescue force for Vicksburg. Back in Charleston, Evans quarreled with his superior, Gen. Roswell Ripley, and was arrested. Though again acquitted, he got no further command until late spring of 1864; however, he was injured by a buggy accident before he could lead his brigade to Petersburg. Restricted to duties in the War Department in Richmond, he fled the Confederate capital with Pres. Jefferson Davis and his cabinet in April 1865, but left them in South Carolina, where he was later paroled. After the war, Evans became principal of high schools in Cokesbury, South Carolina and Midway, Alabama, where he died on November 23, 1868, probably from lingering effects of the buggy accident. (Bio by Joern Kaesebier)

Ldr: 5
Tact: 6
Init: 4
Cmd: 4
Cav: 0

Start date: 19
“Death” date: 80 [I don’t know the date of the buggy accident, so this is an approximation]

Teaches: Steady, Sustained Volley or Bulldogs, Independent

RE: Brig. Gen. Nathan George Evans

Posted: Tue Jun 26, 2007 7:27 am
by jkBluesman
It was shortly before the battle, my fault. As for the accident, I do not have the date of it, but it is said to have happened just before the Petersburg Campaign, which started in the middle of June.
As for the abilities, "Steady" and "Bulldogs" sound fine.
Why is the "Tramp Brigade" one time in quotation marks and the other time not?
By the way, Heidler writes, Evans was called "Shanks" due to his long, thin legs since West Point. If you feel it neccessary to include, feel free to do so.

RE: Brig. Gen. Nathan George Evans

Posted: Tue Jun 26, 2007 9:27 pm
by Gil R.
Good catch on "Tramp Brigade" -- originally I had something like formed the unit that would be known as the "Tramp Brigade", but the way I have it now the quotes aren't necessary.

There isn't room to explain the fully reason for "Shanks" because we're so close to 3900 characters, so I added it to the first sentence. Assuming it's not too goofy to do it that way, this would be the final version of the bio:


Brig. Gen. Nathan George Evans (b. 1824, d. 1868). Long-legged “Shanks” Evans played a conspicuous role in the first two years of the war in the East. However, he “was difficult to manage and we found him so,” wrote Gen. Gilbert Moxley Sorrel after the war. This was mainly due to Evans’ hard drinking, which intensified his aggressiveness. (According to Sorrel, he was always followed by an orderly who had a wooden vessel with whiskey strapped to his back.) Born in Marion, South Carolina, Evans attended Randolph-Macon College but left it without a degree when he received the appointment to West Point. Graduating in 1848, he served in the cavalry on the western frontier until he resigned from the U.S. Army in 1861 to fight for his native state. Commissioned colonel of the Confederate army, he led a small brigade in Gen. P.G.T. Beauregard’s Army of the Potomac. At First Manassas Evans was positioned on the left – the main point of the Union attack. Evans managed to defend his position long enough before falling back towards Henry House Hill, where he was reinforced. After the battle, his command – now consisting of a full brigade – was sent north to guard the upper fords of the Potomac River. During the night of October 20, a Union force crossed the river near Leesburg, Virginia. In the Battle of Ball’s Bluff the next day, the Confederates drove the Union force back into the river, where many Union soldiers drowned. Evans was promoted to brigadier general dating to that battle, though at least one source says that the commander left the fighting to his subordinates as he was himself drunk. His next assignment was the defense of Charleston, where he took part in the victorious Battle of Secessionville (or James Island) on June 16, 1862. The following month he was sent to the Army of Northern Virginia with recruits from South Carolina who would form the Tramp Brigade. Not attached to a division, the brigade was part of Gen. James Longstreet’s wing. At Second Manassas, Evans was positioned behind Gen. John B. Hood for the successful attack on August 30, which pushed the Union back behind the familiar ground of Henry House Hill. Evans and Hood did not share the fruits of victory, but disputed over captured ambulances, leading Longstreet to arrest the latter. Evans got temporary command of Hood’s division but was reverted to command of the Tramp Brigade just before the Battle of South Mountain on September 14, when the Texan soldiers called out to Gen. Robert E. Lee “Give us Hood!” and he obliged. Evans saw no action in that battle, and at Antietam three days later his depleted force could not do much more than use and protect its attached artillery, though Evans himself and his staff rallied retreating troops on the Confederate left. This was to be Evans’ last fight in Lee’s army. Sent to eastern North Carolina, he fought the Battle of Kinston on December 14, but was forced to withdraw his outnumbered force. Subsequently tried for drunkenness during the battle, Evans was acquitted and sent to South Carolina to get replacements for his brigade. In the summer of 1863, the unit went to Mississippi as part of Gen. Joseph Johnston’s rescue force for Vicksburg. Back in Charleston, Evans quarreled with his superior, Gen. Roswell Ripley, and was arrested. Though again acquitted, he got no further command until late spring of 1864; however, he was injured by a buggy accident before he could lead his brigade to Petersburg. Restricted to duties in the War Department in Richmond, he fled the Confederate capital with Pres. Jefferson Davis and his cabinet in April 1865, but left them in South Carolina, where he was later paroled. After the war, Evans became principal of high schools in Cokesbury, South Carolina and Midway, Alabama, where he died on November 23, 1868, probably from lingering effects of the buggy accident. (Bio by Joern Kaesebier)

Ldr: 5
Tact: 6
Init: 4
Cmd: 4
Cav: 0

Start date: 19
“Death” date: 80 [I don’t know the date of the buggy accident, so this is an approximation]

Teaches: Steady, Bulldogs