Civil War Veterans Buried In Washington State - John Evans

136^th PENNSYLVANIA VOLUNTEER INFANTRY
Organized: Summer, 1862 Camp Curtin Harrisburg, PA
Mustered In: 8/20/62 Camp Curtin Harrisburg, PA
Mustered Out: 5/29/63 Harrisburg, PA

52^nd PENNSYLVANIA VOLUNTEER INFANTRY
Organized: Summer/Fall, 1861 Camp Curtin Harrisburg, PA
Mustered In: 10/7/61 Camp Curtin Harrisburg, PA
Mustered Out: 7/12/65 Harrisburg, PA

REGIMENTAL HISTORY: (136^th)
 

The 136^th, a nine month eastern theater infantry regiment, was recruited in the Pennsylvania counties of Allegany, Tioga, Luzerne, Dauphin, Crawford, Center, Columbia and Cambria. Organized and mustered into Federal service at Camp Curtin located in Harrisburg, it left the state and travelled to Washington City in late August, 1862. The battle of Second Bull Run/Manassas was then being fought (8/28 - 8/31) in Virginia.
 

Stationed within the defensive works surrounding Washington the unit remained there until late September when it moved to Sharpsburg, MD. From there it marched into Virginia. It was heavily engaged on the Union left at Fredericksburg (12/11 - 12/15), losing 140 killed, wounded and missing.
 

In January, 1863 the regiment participated in Union Gen. Ambrose P. Burnside's disastrous "Mud March." After that it remained in winter quarters until the May opening of the Chancellorsville Campaign.
 

On the night of 5/2/63 at Chancellorsville, VA the 136^th went into position on the extreme Union right. Breast - works were hastily thrown up. This entrenched position was maintained during the final two days of that battle after which the 136^th then returned to Harrisburg for final muster and discharge.
 

REGIMENTAL LOSSES:

Officers Killed Or Mortally Wounded: 3; Officers Died Of Disease, Accidents, Etc.: 0; Enlisted Men Killed Or Mortally Wounded: 23; Enlisted Men Died Of Disease, Accidents, Etc.: 30. 

REGIMENTAL HISTORY: (52^nd)
 

The 1861 52^nd Pennsylvania* was a three year infantry regiment that saw action in both eastern and western war theaters. Its recruits came primarily from the counties of Luzerne, Clinton, Wyoming, Union Bradford and Columbia. It has been written that they were "well-formed hardy young men, familiar with the use of the rifle."
 

Departing the state on November 8^th, the unit moved to Washington, D.C. where it initially went into camp on Kalorama heights. From there it went into winter quarters on Meridian Hill.
 

In March, 1862 the 52^nd moved to The War's front. Sailing from Newport News, VA it arrived at Lee's Mills and thence moved to the siege of Yorktown. After that it was engaged at Williamsburg (5/5) and Fair Oaks (5/31 - 6/1). During that last named battle one half of the 240 officers and men who went into action were killed, wounded or missing. That August the regiment returned to Yorktown where the men were trained as heavy artillerists.
 

During January, 1863 the 52^nd sailed for Port Royal, SC. It then moved to within 12 miles of Charleston. Additional moves to Folly and James islands followed. Then came the siege of Ft. Wagner. The year concluded with a large portion of the regiment's men reenlisting and going home on veteran furlough.
 

On July 3, 1864 in an assault upon Ft. Johnson on Morris Island, SC the 52^nd lost seven killed and wounded. More than 100 were captured. It then remained on Morris Island into the fall and winter. During this period it performed picket duty as boat infantry in Charleston harbor.
 

1865. Following the Rebel evacuation of Charleston the 52^nd joined the forces of Union Gen. William T. Sherman as they marched northward through the Carolinas. After the late April surrender of Confederate troops commanded by Gen. Joseph Johnston the regiment spent a few weeks in Salisbury, NC before returning to Pennsylvania for final muster.
 

REGIMENTAL LOSSES:
Officers Killed Or Mortally Wounded: 1; Officers Died Of Disease, Accidents, Etc.: 2; Enlisted Men Killed Or Mortally Wounded:  43; Enlisted Men Died Of Disease, Accidents, Etc.:  173

SOLDIER: (136^th)
Residence:  Inf. Not Avail.   Age: 21 yrs. (est.)
Enlisted/Enrolled: 8/16/62   Rank: Pvt.
Mustered In: 8/16/62
Mustered Out: 5/29/63 Harrisburg, PA
Highest Rank: Pvt.
Rank At Discharge: Pvt.
 

SOLDIER: (52^nd)
Residence: Inf. Not Avail.   Age:  22/23 yrs. (est.)
Enlisted/Enrolled: 3/21/64   Rank: Pvt.
Mustered In: 3/21/64
Mustered Out: 7/12/65 Harrisburg, PA
Highest Rank: Pvt.
Rank At Discharge: Pvt.

PERSONAL/FAMILY HISTORY:
 

NOTE: The birth - to - death biographical profile of John Evans was created in December, 2020 during the Covid -19 medical pandemic. As a result, it contains less depth of detail than some other biographies found within this website because military, pension and other veteran - related files housed in the National Archives located within Washington, D.C. were not available. At a later time these documents may be obtained and the data contained therein added to the narrative.
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John B. Evans was born circa 1841 in the United Kingdom country of Wales. His parents were Morgan (b. unk. Wales, UK - d. unk.) and Dorit (nee Kubow b. unk. Scotland - d. unk.) Evans. Morgan Evans was likely a miner who settled in the coal country of Pennsylvania when he brought his family to America during or after 1841.
 

Based on draft registration information collected during the American Civil War we know that Morgan and Dorit produced seven children, all males.  Siblings older than John were Shadrach Evans (b. 1824 **), Elias Evans (b. 1836 Wales***), Thomas Evans (b. 1837), Hugh (b. 1838) and Edward L. Evans (b. 1840 Wales****). Younger than he were Roland Evans (b. ca. 1845) and E.D. Evans (b. 1848).
 

Without access to military service files all we can really say about Private Evans’ two periods of enlistment is that he survived.  He then returned to civilian life.
 

Exactly where John may have settled after The War is not known. However, by 1870 he had made his way westward to California. Noting his occupation as “miner” it was likely the gold and silver mines of that state that drew him there.

In California’s Contra Costa County, John was residing in the home of another Welsh-born miner, David Jones and family. Not long after, one of Jones’ daughters, Rebecca (b. 2/1/53) would become John’s wife. The couples’ first child was born in 1871.
 

 As best as can be determined before her untimely death on 3/24/86 (Nortonville Contra Costa County, CA) Rebecca bore John at least eight children. Those children were: Taliesyn/Talyesin (b. 1871 CA), Shadrach (b. 1873 CA), Damon (b. 1875 CA), Minnie (B. May, 1875 CA), Elizabeth "Lizza" (b. 1877 CA), Sarah (b. 1879), Winnie (b. 1882) and Melville (b. 2/4/83 CA).
 

Following the death of Rebecca - no details are available pertaining to her passing - John and his children migrated northward to the coal mines of King County, WA. They arrived in Black Diamond sometime following his wife's 3/86 death and prior to 6/10/87. The move north was likely prompted by his coal mining brothers living in the region.
 

On 12/12/90 while in Washington State John aided he and his children’s' financial resources by applying for and being granted a U.S. Government disability pension based on his days of Civil War soldiering. Without having access to his pension files the details of this monthly stipend remain unknown. However, on 4//3/94 following his father’s death one of the minor Evans children, Shadrach, petitioned the Government to continue receiving at least a portion of the allowance. That request was granted, but again, until pension files can be obtained the financial details are an unknown.
 

Turning to John's death, he passed away on 1/25/97 in Black Diamond King County, WA. Cause of the fifty six year old's passing was sclerosis of the liver. He was/is buried in the Black Diamond Cemetery. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

* On the heels of the battle of Gettysburg, a second, three month 52^nd Pennsylvania Militia Infantry regiment was fielded in July, 1863.
 

** Shadrach Evans enlisted in the 136^th PA on 8/16/62. He, like his three brothers, served in Co. "B". He survived The War.

*** Elias Evans enlisted in the 136^th PA on 8/16/62. He, like his three brothers, served in Co. “B.” He survived The War.
 

**** Edward L. Evans enlisted in the 136^th, PA on 8/16/62. Like his three brothers, he served in Co. "B". He survived The War.

Buried at Black Diamond Cemetery