The Nation Parks Service is in the process of "improving" the on-line Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System. Now they have made it worthless as a reserch tool. I cannot even fine my great grandfathers in the system anymore. Joshua D.Coffee was in Hardeman's 1st Texas Cavalry and enlisted in Fannin County.

Since J.W. Evans was from Trinity County,it is likely he was also in the 1st Texas Cavalry and enlisted in Colorado County weith plans to return to Arizona-New Mexico Territory and retake the area for the Confederacy. That idea was cancelled and S.O. #81 was issued for all four of the Arizona Brigade regiments. I feel sure that the 31st Texas Cavalry would have taken recruits as far away from Dallas as Trinity County. In early 1865, The 1st Texas Cavalry was consolidated with other units to make a division under Maj. Gen. John A. Wharton and was sent to Hempstead Texas where they were dismounted for coastal defense. The 31st Texas Cavary was combined with other units to make a division under Maj. Gen. Samuel B. Maxey at Marshall Texas.

In June 1865, the remaining troops of the 1st Texas Dismounted Cavalry was furloughed at Hempstead Texas and the 31st Texas Dismounted Cavalry was furloughed at Rusk Texas. The men had to make their way home from those cities.

If the NPS Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System is ever restored like it was when it was a useful research tool, you need to look in the 1st Texas / 31st Texas Cavalry for J.W. Evans. The SCV could look for J.W.Evans in the NPS-CWSSS just as easily as anyone else but they probably know that the system is useless in it's present configuration.