Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes Co., O. [Ohio]) 1870-1895, 1871-07-06
Gen. B. F. Noyes.

ootH ulcu III HIS lhlstncN. at lile aye
of l3 years he was apprenticed by
his guardian as printer-boy in the
office of the Mcyning Star, a relig-
ious newspaper,published at Dover,
n. II. In this position he remained
four and half years, and then be-
gan preparing for college, at Kings
ton Academy, Rockingham Co, n.
HI. He entered Dartmouth College
in 1858, and four years after he
graduated, ranking fourth in a class
of 81 members. He Immediately
removed to Cincinnati, and studied
law with NJ. E. Corwin, Esq, grad
uating in the Cincinnati Law School
in 1858.
In the same year he began the
practice of law, and was in the sue
cessful prosecution of his profes-
sion at the breaking out of the re-
bellion. On tn Sth of July, 1861,
his law office was changed to re
cruiting headquarters, and in less
than one month a full regiment was
raised and ready for the field. Of
this regiment (the 39th, Ohio Infan-
ry) he was commissioned Major,to
rank July 27, 1861. In this rank
he continued with the command
during all it marches in Missouri
and under Gen. Pope during the
advance upon and final capture of
New Madrid and Island No. 10.
Still under Pope's command, he took
part in all the skimishes and en-
gagements of Gen. Halleck's left
wing in front of Corinth and on the
heights of Pennington. Upon the
resignation of Colonel Groesbeck
and the promotion of Lieut.. Col.
Gilbert, he was commissioned Lieut..
Col. July s, 1862, and in this rank
took part, under Gen. Rosecrans,i lin
the battle of Iuka September 10,
1862, and in the bloody engagements
at Corinth Oct. Sd and 4th. On the
1st of Oct. 1852, he was commits
stoned Colonel vice Gilbert, resigned
and in December following he COM
manded the regiment in the battle
of Parker's Cross Roads, where the
rebel forces under Gen. Frost were
defeated with great loss. From
this time to the beginning Of the
Atlanta campaign he commanded
his regiment in its various move
ments and its garrison duty at Cor
inth and Memphis, and its bridge
building on the railroad in Middle
Tennessee.
While engaged in this latter duty
at Prospect, Tennessee, the sub
.ject of veteran re-enlistment began
to engage the attention of the
troops. Col. Noyes, with quick
perception of its necessity, threw
the whole weight of his influence
into the work of enlisting his regi
ment.
He was so earnest in the matter,
and so industriously advocated it,
that he fully aroused the spirit
of his excellent regiment, and as a
result the 39th Ohio gave to the
country a much larger number of
veterans than any other Ohio regi-
ment.
His zeal had its effect also on
other officers in the command, and
was doubtless instrumental in rem
dering the veteran movement so
popular in Gen. Dodge's district.
In the Atlanta campaign he took
part until July 4. 1864, being in the
engagements at Resaca, May 9, IA,
Is and 16; at Dallas, and at Kene-
saw Mountain. On the 4th of July,
while in command of assault on the
enemy's works near Ruff's Mills, on
Nicojack Greek, he received a wound
which resulted in the loss of leg.
This compelled him to relinquish
for the first time his active connec
ton with his command. After hav-
ing partially recovered from two
amputations, and while yet on
he reported for duty to
Gen. Hooker, and was by him as
signed to to the command of Camp
Dennison, where he remained until
April %, 1865, when he resigned to
accept the position of Attorney
(City Solicitor) for the city of Gin
cinnati, an office to which he had
been elected while absent in the
army.
In Oct, 1866, he was elected Pro-
bate Judge of Hamilton Co. on the
Republican ticket. Colonel Noyes
was with his regiment on every
March, and in every battle and skir
mish in which the command was en-
gagged from the time of entering
the service, in July, 1861, until he
lost leg in battle, July 4, 1864.
That he had the love and respect of
his men is evident from the fact
already stated that he induced so
many of them to re-enlist.
He enjoyed the confidence of his
superior officers, as is shown by the
warm recommendations received
for promotion from Gen'ls. John
Hope, W. S. Rosecrans, d. S.Stan-
ley, G. NJ. Dodge, and W. T. Sher
man.
The latter says:
1 was close by when Col. Noyes
was shot. We were pressing John
sons army back from Marietta
when he made a stand at Smyrna
camp ground, and / ordered his po-
sition to be attacked. 1t was done
successfully at some loss, and Col.
Noyes lost his leg. He fully merits
this honorable title. Col. Noyes
was strict diseiplinarian, and it
was said of him that he in some way
managed to have a greater number
of men present for duty than any
other equal regiment in the COM
mand. Yet he was impartial and
uniformly kind to all who were dis
Posed to do their duty. While he
insisted upon being implicitly obey
ed by his subordinates, he was al
ways ready to obey without ques-
tioning the commands of his super
iors, and he had the satisfaction of
knowing, when the war was over,
that his regiment never turned their
backs to the enemy in battle or
skirmish from first to last.
Having been recommended for
promotion to the full rank of Brig
adler General before he was wound
ed, after he was disabled for active
service, commission as Brevet