Clement A. Evans

Who was Clement A. Evans?

Clement Anselm Evans was a Confederate infantry general in the American Civil War. He was also a noted politician, preacher, historian and prolific author.

Evans was born in Stewart County, Georgia. He studied at the Augusta Law School and was admitted to the bar at the age of 18. By 21, he was a county judge, and a state senator at 25. With the election of Abraham Lincoln in 1860, Evans organized a company of militia.

He was commissioned as major of the 31st Georgia Infantry on November 19, 1861, and was promoted to colonel on May 13, 1862, fighting in the Seven Days Battles, Second Manassas, and Antietam. He had temporary command of Alexander Lawton's Georgia brigade from September until November 1862, seeing additional action at Fredericksburg. During the Gettysburg Campaign and the 1864 fighting at the Wilderness and Spotsylvania, Evans again commanded the 31st Georgia while John B. Gordon commanded the brigade.

Evans was promoted to brigadier general in May 1864 and was wounded at Monocacy. He commanded Gordon's Division/Second Corps from Petersburg to Appomattox. Evans survived five wounds during the war.