Evans - Morris B. - CW - Montgomery InGenWeb Project

  The Eleventh Indiana Regiment was a participant in the battle of Opequon, near Winchester, Va., on September 19, 1864.  A number of the Eleventh were captured that day, among the prisoners being Lieut. J.B. Simpson, Sergeant Albert Ristine and Morris B. Evans, of Co. I.  Evans attempted to escape, was recaptured, but finally succeeded in making his way to the Union lines.  Simpson and Ristine were taken to prison, but in the course of a month or six weeks were paroled.  The story of Evans' experiences is of thrilling interest and possesses all the elements of somber romance.  In company with the other prisoners he was made to march in the rear of the rebel army and sent up the Shenandoah Valley to the terminus of the railroad the enemy was using from Richmond to Lynchburg or Staunton.  There they were placed on board of flat cars to be sent to prison.  Several days intervened between the time of their capture and the day they were placed aboard the cars, and they suffered greatly for lack of rations and blankets.  They continued their journey to prison until within a short distance of Richmond, when by eluding the guard, Evans escaped and endeavored to return to his regiment.  By hiding in the day time and traveling at night, and subsisting on whatever he could manage to get he succeeded in getting back to within a few miles of our army, then stationed around Strausburg.  He was so unfortunate at to be recaptured here by a rebel scout, and again started for prison.  His captor was a rebel soldier of many good qualities and protected him from a party of guerrillas who attempted to take him and hang him.  By the determined stand, the scout took between the guerrillas and his prisoner, facing them with two revolvers aimed at them he declared that he would kill the first man that moved toward his prisoner.  He succeeded in standing them off and finally started again toward Richmond, with his prisoner.  The revolvers, however that had been drawn in his defence, were his menace in his captivity.  Day after day the scout rode behind Evans as he trudged along almost barefoot, carrying one of those revolvers in his hand ready to fire on his prisoner should he attempt a movement in the direction of liberty.  In this way they had traveled almost the entire distance from near Stausburg to within a few miles of Richmond.  Here an event occurred which ended the tragedy.  The long tramp and scanty rations had well nigh used Evans up, and the dread of the horrors of the prison pen, over which he brooded, had partially unbalanced his mind.  They stopped at a spring for water in somewhat of a secluded place.  He was watching for the opportunity to again make a break for freedom.  The scout ordered Evans to drink first, and he complied.  The the scout dismounted, and down on his hands and knees bent over the spring to quench his thirst, still holding a cocked revolver in one hand.  It occurred to Evans to strike him, disable him, kill him if it had to be so, and again be at liberty.  He had a pocket knife, and opening the large blade, he made a quick strike on the back of the scout's neck while he was stooping over the spring.  The blow went sure to the spinal cord and the poor fellow fell dead without a word.  Evans quickly took possession of the horse and arms of the dead scout, and then began another wearisome and extremely dangerous journey toward the Union lines at Strausburg.  Early's army was between him and our lines, and Mosby's guerrillas and disloyal people in almost every house, were all around him.  He was compelled to abandon the horse and rely on his worn out feet, but he did not give up, and succeeded in passing all dangers.  Finally, when he reached the vicinity where Early's army had been camped previous to the battle of Cedar Creek, he was so worn out that he could not realize just where he was or to feel any apprehension of danger.  He had acquired the habit of traveling after night, and as he plodded along avoiding the pike he came suddenly upon a picket post and lost consciousness.  Fortunately for him it proved to be our Calvary picket, and he was properly cared for.  But some time elapsed before he could establish his identity.  When able to do so he was returned to his regiment and company.  He served his term of service in the regiment, and was mustered our at the close of the war, but he was never after wards like the Evans that was captured at Opequon, he became absent minded, dejected, morose at times, and inclined to be seclusive.  When in a proper mood he would tell the story of his experiences while he was a prisoner, but evaded, if possible, the story of the tragedy at the spring.  When reminded by his comrades that all was fair in the war, he would say, "Yes but he was a brave soldier and saved my life," and refused to talk more about it.  Mr. Evans came home and lived for many years in Coal Creek township, a highly respected citizen.  He now lives at Kankakee, Illinois, broken in health and a sufferer from a nervous debility doubtless caused by the privations, hardships and the memory of that awful episode at the spring.  Morris B. Evans is one of the uncrowned hero's of the war. – thanks to Kim H