Page:Confederate Military History - 1899 - Volume 3.djvu/924

864 were accepted, he had a strong desire for military service, which led him to enroll himself with one of the three junior military organizations of the city, the "Junior Volunteers." His company was the first to assemble for action on the memorable Sunday when Richmond anxiously watched for the Pawnee to steam up to the wharfs and open fire on the city. In such a state of affairs study was out of the question, and, having lost both his parents, the spirit of unrest had full sway, and business was more acceptable than school. In the fall of 1861, when it was determined to form companies, battalions and regiments of men over the age of forty-five and boys above sixteen years, young Evans, though still under the required age, was elected second lieutenant of one of the companies. He served in the city of Richmond until one month after the date of his commission, March, 1862, and then, desirous of more active duty, resigned his commission and enlisted as a private in the Parker battery, then organizing with nine other batteries at Camp Lee. The history of the "Parker battery" is well worth study—a battery of boys with the records of men. Early in his service he was wounded, May 30th, by a shot through the right leg, and being sent home on sick leave, was not able to rejoin his command until after it had crossed the Potomac for the Maryland campaign. With his battery he fought at Sharpsburg, and was one of a volunteer section which returned to the battlefield as a "forlorn hope," at the request of Col. Stephen D. Lee. Subsequently he was detailed as courier at the headquarters of Colonel Lee's battalion, and after the promotion of Lee to general, he continued with his successor, Col. E. P. Alexander, until the spring of 1863, participating, meanwhile, in the battle of Fredericksburg. Again, with his battery, he fought on General Jackson's skirmish line at Chancellorsville, May 1, 1863, with the advance guard May 2d, and on the main line May 3d. In July he returned to duty at battalion headquarters and served in that capacity at the battle of Gettysburg, and with the rear guard at the subsequent crossing of the Potomac river. His next important service was with Longstreet's corps in Tennessee, where he was present at every action from Sweetwater to Knoxville, including the affairs at Bean Station and Campbell Station. During the winter of 1863-64 he was engaged in outpost duty, then participated in the campaign from the Wilderness to Hewlett House, served in the defense of Richmond until the evacuation, and on the retreat fought and was captured at Sailor's Creek, April 6, 1865. This unfortunate event resulted in his imprisonment at Point Lookout until June 20th, from the effects of which he was an invalid until the following winter. Then returning to civil life, he devoted himself to business with the same fidelity which characterized his service in the field. He is now serving his twenty-third year as office manager for a large wholesale house. About fifteen years ago Mr. Evans joined the Richmond Light Infantry Blues as a private, and was promoted through the positions of corporal and sergeant to the rank of lieutenant. Then receiving appointment to the brigade staff as commissary of subsistence, he was promoted adjutant-general and chief of staff, which has been his rank during the past nine years.

William R. Ezell, M. D., of Gholsonville, was born in