William Evans (c. 1852 – November 26, 1893) was an Irish-born soldier in the U.S. Army who served with the

7th U.S. Infantry The 7th Infantry Regiment is an infantry regiment in the United States Army. In its 200-year history it has participated in 12 wars, been awarded 78 campaign streamers, and 14 unit decorations. The regiment has served in more campaigns than any ...

during the Black Hills War. He participated in campaigns against the

Sioux The Sioux or Oceti Sakowin (; Dakota language, Dakota: Help:IPA, /otʃʰeːtʰi ʃakoːwĩ/) are groups of Native Americans in the United States, Native American tribes and First Nations in Canada, First Nations peoples in North America. The ...

in the Montana Territory and, at Big Horn from July 9–14, 1876, volunteered to deliver critical dispatches between Generals

George Crook George R. Crook (September 8, 1828 – March 21, 1890) was a career United States Army officer, most noted for his distinguished service during the American Civil War and the Indian Wars. During the 1880s, the Apache nicknamed Crook ''Nantan ...

and Alfred Terry. He later received the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions.

Biography

William Evans was born in Annagh, Ireland, in 1851. He later emigrated to the United States and enlisted in the U.S. Army in St. Louis, Missouri on April 26, 1875. From there, Evans went to Newport, Kentucky where he was sent to the frontier with the

. Within a year, he would take part in actions against the

in the Montana Territory during the Black Hills War. In the aftermath of the Battle of the Little Bighorn, he and two other soldiers, Pvts.

Benjamin F. Stewart Benjamin F. Stewart (born 1851) was a Private in the United States Army who received the Medal of Honor for his actions during the Indian Wars. Biography Benjamin Stewart was born in 1851 in Norfolk, Virginia, and enlisted in the Army from Newpor ...

and James Bell, volunteered to carry important dispatches between Generals

and Alfred Terry. There had been two previous attempts to get messages though, both unsuccessful, and Evans and his comrades had to pass through 100 miles of territory occupied by an estimated 2,000 Sioux and Cheyenne warriors. Between July 9–14, 1876, they traveled back and forth from Crook and Terry's camps. Hiding during the day and traveling at night, they were able to safely avoid Sioux war parties. For their actions, all three men received the Medal of Honor. Evans remained in the military, reenlisting at Camp Baker on November 2, 1878 and promoted to the rank of corporal on November 30, 1880. He spent the last three years of his life farming in Greeley, Colorado. He died there on November 26, 1893 and was buried at Linn Grove Cemetery.

Medal of Honor citation

Rank and organization: Private, Company E, 7th U.S. Infantry. Place and date: At Big Horn, Mont., July 9, 1876. Entered service at: St. Louis, Mo. Birth: Ireland. Date of issue: December 2, 1876. Citation:

Carried dispatches to Brig. Gen. Crook through a country occupied by Sioux.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Evans, William 1850s births 1893 deaths 19th-century Irish people American Indian Wars recipients of the Medal of Honor American military personnel of the Indian Wars Irish emigrants to the United States Irish soldiers in the United States Army Irish-born Medal of Honor recipients Military personnel from County Mayo Military personnel from St. Louis United States Army Medal of Honor recipients

Biography

Medal of Honor citation

See also

References

External links