Evan Thomas was born on May 29, 1843 at Georgetown,
District of Columbia, and died on April 23, 1873 at California.
During the Civil War, he served as a Lieutenant
of Battery C, 4th United States Artillery. He was the son of General Lorenzo
Thomas.
He was klled with the rank of Captain on April
23, 1873 while fighting the Modoc Indians under Captain Jack at what is
now Lava Beds National Monument in California. During this encounter General
Edward Canby was also killed.
Captain Thomas was buried in Arlington National Cemetery.
On April 26 , Captain Evan Thomas commanding five officers,
sixty-six troops and fourteen Warm Spring Scouts left Gillem's camp on
a reconnaissance of the lava beds to locate the Modoc. While eating lunch
at the base of Sand Butte (now Hadin Butte ), in a flat area surrounded
by ridges, Captain Thomas and his party were attacked by 22 Modoc led by
Scarfaced Charley. Some of the troops fled in disorder. Those who remained
to fight were either killed or wounded. Casualties included four officers
killed and two wounded, one dying within a few days, and thirteen enlisted
men killed and sixteen wounded.
May 4, 1873:
Captain Evan Thomas, Company A, Fourth Artillery,
rifle ball shots through lower part right forearm and upperpart right thigh,
cutting thefemoral artery. Died on the field.
Evan Thomas, of the District of Columbia
Second Lieutenant, 4th United States Artillery,
9 April 1861
Captain, 31 August 1864
Breveted Captain, 13 December 1862 for gallant
and meritorious service at the Battle of Fredericksburg, Virginia, and
Major, 3 July 1863 for gallant and meritorious service in the battle of
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania,
Killed on 26 April 1873 in action with Modoc
Indians at the Lava Beds, California.
THOMAS, EVAN
CAPT 4TH U S ARTY
VETERAN SERVICE DATES: Unknown
DATE OF INTERMENT: Unknown
BURIED AT: SITE 1105-S
ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY
Posted: 17 October 2001
Updated: 17 April 2004 Updated: 8 September 2004 Updated: 13 November 2005
Updated: 25 August 2007 |
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