Brigadier General Robert Kennon Evans (November 19, 1852 – July 31, 1926) was a United States Army officer who served in several high-profile assignments, including Chief of the National Guard Bureau and commander of the Hawaiian Department.
Early life Robert Kennon Evans was born in Jackson, Mississippi on November 19, 1852. He attended the University of Mississippi,Chi Psi Fraternity, The Fourth Decennial Catalogue of the Chi Psi Fraternity, 1883, page 243 graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1875, and received his commission as a second lieutenant of Infantry.George Washington Cullum, Edward Singleton Holden, Wirt Robinson, Biographical Register of the Officers and Graduates of the U.S. Military Academy, Volume VI-A, 1920, page 206
Start of career Initially assigned to the 12th Infantry, Evans served with the regiment until 1898, receiving promotion to first lieutenant in 1882 and captain in 1893. From 1887 to 1898 Evans was the regimental adjutant. During his service with the 12th Infantry Evans was assigned to a variety of posts, including California, Kansas, North Dakota, and numerous sites in Arizona, and New York. He was a veteran of the Nez Perce War and the Bannock War. During the Spanish–American War he served in Cuba and took part in the Battles of El Caney and San Juan Hill.Constance Wynn Altshuler, Cavalry Yellow & Infantry Blue: Army Officers in Arizona Between 1851 and 1886, 1991, page 124United States Military Academy Association of Graduates, Annual Report, 1926, page 62Winthrop Biddle, "Some Famous Army Officers", Munsey's Magazine, October, 1914, page 66
During his service with the 12th Infantry Evans also performed detached duty, including military attache at the U.S. Embassy in Berlin, Germany.University of Mississippi, Annual Catalogue, 1894, page 59New York Times, "The Prussian Remount Depot", November 4, 1895
Later career In 1901 Evans was promoted to major in the 30th Infantry, and was soon reassigned to the 12th Infantry, while performing duty with the Army's Adjutant General department. In 1905 he was promoted to lieutenant colonel in the 5th Regiment, and performed duty with the 28th Infantry and Army General Staff.George Washington Cullum, Edward Singleton Holden, Biographical Register of the Officers and Graduates of the U.S. Military Academy, 1920, pages 206 to 207New York Times, The United Service; The Army, January 21, 1910
In 1908 and 1909 Evans was director of the Army War College and served as acting president.U.S. Army Adjutant General, Official U.S. Army Register, 1909, page 109Baltimore Sun, , May 1, 1909
Evans was promoted to colonel in 1909 and assigned to the 30th Infantry, where he served until 1911. In 1911 Evans was promoted to brigadier general and selected to serve as Chief of the Militia Bureau, the forerunner of the National Guard Bureau.National Guard Association of the United States, "New Chief of Militia Affairs", National Guard Magazine, January, 1911, page 165
Career as a general officer After leaving the Militia Bureau in 1912 Evans continued to serve in command assignments, including the Department of the Gulf (1912–1914), the Department of the East (1914), the 2nd Infantry Brigade in Laredo, Texas (1914 to 1916), and the Hawaiian Department in 1916.United States Army Pacific, , accessed September 8, 2012Atlanta Constitution, , August 18, 1912Atlanta Constitution, , November 5, 1912Atlanta Constitution, , February 18, 1914New York Times, "Order Gen. Evans to Texas Command; His Reprimand, Says Secretary Garrison, Will Go Through Regular Channels", July 8, 1914Christian Science Monitor, , October 9, 1916
Evans took temporary command of the Department of the East in March, 1914, succeeding Major General Thomas Barry. In late June 1914, during a speech he gave in New York City, he made comments critical of President Woodrow Wilson's foreign policy.New York Times, "Gen. Evans Derides Our Foreign Policy", June 27, 1914New York Times, "Misquoted, Says Evans; General Asserts That He Did Not Criticise the Administration", July 3, 1914Atlanta Constitution, , July 5, 1914 Evans was reprimanded for his comments, promptly replaced by Major General Leonard Wood, and given orders to command the 2nd Infantry Brigade in Texas, a lower profile assignment than the Department of the East.
Evans retired in 1916. In 1917 he volunteered for World War I, was recalled to active duty and assigned as commander of the Philippine Department, where he served until 1918.Christian Science Monitor, , July 23, 1917 He retired again in 1918.Dunbar Rowland, History of Mississippi, the Heart of the South, Volume 2, 1925, pages 384 to 385
Awards and decorations Evans was awarded the Silver Star twice, once for heroism at El Caney and once for heroism while fighting insurgents in Luzon. He received the Distinguished Service Medal at his retirement.George Washington Cullum, Biographical Register of the Officers and Graduates of the U.S. Military Academy, Volume 7, 1930, page 131New York Times, "D.S.M. Awarded to Gen. Evans", April 21, 1923
Published works A noted author of articles on military subjects, Evans's published works included "The Indian Question in Arizona" (Atlantic Monthly, August, 1886);Robert K. Evans, The Indian Question in Arizona, August, 1886, page 167 and The Infantry of Our Regular Army, Its History, Possibilities and Necessities (Monographs of the U.S. Infantry Society, 1898).Robert K. Evans, The Infantry of our Regular Army, its History, Possibilities and Necessities, Monographs of the U.S. Infantry Society, 1898, page 1
Retirement and death In retirement Evans lived in Washington, D.C., and later relocated to Camaldoli, Italy, where he died on July 31, 1926.New York Times, "Brig. Gen. R.K. Evans is Dead in Italy", August 4, 1926Atlanta Constitution, , August 4, 1926 He was buried in Rome, Italy's Campo Cestio.Rome Protestant Cemetery, Catalogue, accessed September 8, 2012
Family In 1880, Evans married Jane Findlay Shunk (1859–1938), a daughter of Rebekah Black and James F. Shunk, and a granddaughter of Jeremiah S. Black. They were the parents of a son, Hornsby Evans (1883–1932).
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