the rest of his days there and died in 1883,
much embittered over the loss of most of his
children and friends. Perhaps in recognition of
this sacrifice, the Northern Cheyenne Reserva-
tion was formally established on their former
homeland in November 1884.
See also
Crazy Horse; Joseph; Red Cloud
Bibliography
Collins, Dennis. The Indians’ Last Fight, or, the Dull
Knife Raid.Girard, KS: Press of the Appeal to Reason,
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University of Nebraska Press, 1980; Hoebel, E. Adam-
son. The Cheyennes: Indians of the Great Plains.
New York: Holt, Rinehart, and Winston, 1978; Hoig,
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versity of Oklahoma Press, 1980; Mails, Thomas E. Dog
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Killing of Morning Star’s People.Chadron, NE: Mari
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Chronicles of Oklahoma46 (1968): 141–154.EVANS, NATHANGEORGE
Evans, Nathan George
(February 3, 1824–November 23, 1868)
Confederate General
“S
hanks” Evans was a brave and capa-
ble leader with an unfortunate fond-
ness for liquor. After rendering dis-
tinguished service at Bull Run and Ball’s Bluff,
he fell into disrepute and saw little fighting.
Nathan George Evans was born in Marion,
South Carolina, on February 3, 1824. After
studying at Randolph-Macon College, he
gained an appointment to attend the U.S. Mili-
tary Academy in 1844 through the influence of
U.S. Senator John C. Calhoun. There he ap-
parently acquired the nickname “Shanks” on
account of his spindly limbs. Unimpressive as
a student, and something of a gruff, self-serv-
ing personality, Evans graduated thirty-fourth
out of a class of 38 in 1848. He next joined the
First U.S. Dragoons as a newly minted second
lieutenant, then commenced a wide-ranging
tour of western posts. On the frontier Evans
gained attention for bravery in a number of
battles against the Comanche Indians. By
1855, he had transferred as a first lieutenant
to the newly raised Second U.S. Cavalry, in
which many future Civil War generals served.
He subsequently fought at the Battle of Wa-
chita Village on October 1, 1858, as a captain
and distinguished himself by killing two noted
chieftains in hand-to-hand combat. For this
feat his state legislature voted him an elabo-
rate sword. But in the wake of South Car-
olina’s secession from the Union two years
later, Evans resigned his commission as of
February 1861. He then rejoined the army of
his native state with the rank of cavalry major.
Evans served as adjutant general of South
Carolina forces when Gen. Pierre G.T. Beau-
regard bombarded Fort Sumter in Charleston
Harbor on April 12, 1861, an act precipitating