Franklin Evans

Age: 18

Allegiance: Union

Highest Rank: Private

Unit: Company D, 140th New York Volunteer Infantry

Occupation: Student

Buried: Andersonville, Georgia, Grave No. 9459

Franklin Evans enlisted, along with his older brother John, in Co. D of the 140th New York on Sept. 13, 1862. He was described as being 5' 11" tall, with dark complexion, gray eyes and black hair.

A prolific letter writer, a number of Franklin's letters were published in the Rochester newspapers. The following is an example from the Evening Express, May 14, 1864, describing the actions of the 140th on May 5, 1864 during the Battle of the Wilderness.

My Dear Father:-I write you a few lines to let you know that we have had a very severe battle, and our regiment had lost a great many men, how many I cannot tell. Company D lost twenty in killed, wounded and missing. I am all right. Rennie Campbell was wounded in the leg. I brought him off the field. My tent mate, Frank Reed, was killed, also David Ward and Andrew Ingraham, belonging to our Company. James Sidey is wounded and missing. Lieuts. Pool, Shannon and Capt. Hamilton are killed. Capt. Hoyt wounded and a prisoner. Captains Abbott and Grantsynn are wounded. John Brown wounded. Our regiment charged on the rebels at noon on Thursday. We had to charge across an open field while the rebels were secreted in the woods; we succeeded in driving their first line of battle, but were obliged to fall back. Corporals Langworthy and Sabin were wounded. Corporal Colt wounded and missing. Jacob Boyce, Steward Young, Henry Smith were wounded, all belonging to Company D. This is only a partial list of the killed, wounded and missing.

You will excuse these few lines as I am in a very great hurry to send this to Washington by John Brown. We can send no mail from here as yet. Hoping I shall see you all once more,

I remain your affectionate son,

FRANK EVANS

Franklin was captured in action a month later on June 2, 1864 at Bethesda Church, Va. and was fated to die in captivity at Andersonville Prison of Scorbutus on Sept. 21, 1864.

John Evans	Franklin Evans