Civil War, West Virginia - Biography of Benjamin F. Evans of Hardy County

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Benjamin F. Evans of Hardy County..a narrative..
Benjamin Franklin Evans was born January 20, 1845 in Hardy County, WV 
at Greenland Gap a son of Edward (Ned) Evans and Nancy Burgess. On 
December 7, 1861, he enlisted in the Union Army and served for four years 
in the 7th West Virginia Infantry. This unit was to become the most engaged
unit from West Virginia and had the highest casualty rate. In 1862,
they became a part of the Second Corps of the Army of the Potomac,
serving under General Winfield Hancock throughout most of the war.
The 7th West Viginia Infantry saw action at 2nd
Manassas, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg,
The Wilderness, the Siege of Petersburg and were at Appomattox. The
unit witnessed the formal surrender and marched in the final victory
parade in Washington. The unit received citation for the action on
Culp's Hill on July 2, 1863 at Gettysburg and again for action at the
various battles of the Wilderness in 1864. They were the first unit
to receive new repeating rifles as a result of the heroic action
in the Wilderness. Benjamin re-enlisted in 1863 and was promoted
to the rank of Sergeant. He was discharged in July, 1865, at Stevensburg
Virginia, near Culpeper.
Benjamin married Frances Kessel on February 6,
1866 in Allegheny County Maryland at Cumberland. They spent the rest
of their lives at Kessel, Hardy County, West Virginia and 8 children
were born to their union...Louis Grant, Armeda Bell, Blanchetta
Elizabeth,
Marcellus Alexander, Reuben Edward, Mary Jane, Margaret Ann and an
unamed child. He was a farmer. He received a pension from the
government for his injuries and illnesses received in the war. In
1913 he attended the Reunion of the 50th Anniversary of the Battle
of Gettysburg. A monument to the WV 7th Infantry stands on Culps
Hill at Gettysburg. His enlistment and discharge papers are now owned
by a great grandson, Robert B.Evans of Gallatin, Tennessee.
Benjamin died January 10, 1918 and is buried in the "Smith"
Cemetery at Kessel, Hardy County, West Virginia. For photos and
additional information on this family, contact Michael M. Foreman,
330 Beechcroft Road, Winchester, VA 22601. For militray records,
see Report of the Adjutant General of West Virginia for 1864,
and 1865, at West Virginia University Library.
Copyright 1996 by Michael M. Foreman.  Michael M. Foreman grants USGenWeb
Archives the right to post this information.
This information may be freely copied, but may not be sold.