Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1890-08-14

fusing, az, from his account, it would
appear that they had been taken in hand
to-hand conflict by himself and small
detachment of his own troop; but these
were stories told only to over credulous
| friends.
The Eleventh came eastward across
the Rockies in time to participate in the
great campaign against the Sioux in '76
and was on the Yellowstone when Custer
and his favorite companies were being
wiped out of existence on the Little Horn.
The news of that tragedy made many q
heart sick, and Mr.. Noel was so much
affected that when his comrades started
to make night ride to the front to join
what was left of the Seventh, he was left
behind, ostensibly to sleep off a violent
headache. He promised to ride after and
catch them next day, but, through some
error, got aboard Gen. Terry's steamer,
the Far West, and made himself so use
full looking after the wounded that the
surgeon in charge was grateful, and,
knowing nothing of his antecedents, gave
plication for leave on account of sickness,
and went to Bismarck with the wound
ed, and thence to the distant east, where
he thrilled clubs and dinner tables with
graphic accounts of the Custer battle
and how we got up just in time to save
the remnant Of the Seventh.
The Eleventh fought all through the
campaign Of '76 and the chase after Chief
Joseph in II; but Noel was again on
temporary duty at the war department,
and there he stayed until '78, by which
time various officials had become ac-
quainted with some of the facts in the
case. The Eleventh "cold shoUldered"
him for while after he got back; but
they happened to be now in a region
where there were no ''hostiles," and
where hops, germans, theatricals, tab
leaux and entertainments of all kinds
were the rage. No other man could be
half so useful to the ladies as Gordon
Noel. He had just come from Washing
ton and knew everything; and when
they took him up and made much Of
him twas no use for the men to stand
aloof; they had to take him up too.
Lane was adjutant of the regiment at
this time; and he, having seen every re-
port and letter with reference to Nr.
Noel that had been filed in the Office,
would hardly speak to him at all except
when on duty, and this feeling was in
tensified when, year or so later, they
were suddenly hurried to Arizona ON &C
count OF Il wild dash of the Chiricahuas,
and as the different companies took the
field and FASTENED in the pursuit Mr..
Noel was afflicted with a rheumatic
fever Of such alarming character that the
youthful contract" surgeon who had ac-
his troop held him back at
the railway and speedily sent him east
on three months sick leave, which
family influence soon made six. And this
was about the record and reputation that
Mr.. Noel had succeeded in making when
Capt. Rawlins was ready to bet Capt.
Greene that, despite it all, the regimental
: =lonis would get the recruiting detail,
ice Lane, for everybody knew Fred
lane so well as to prophesy that he would
lpply to be relieved and ordered to re-
DIN his regiment, and everybody was
lager to see him take hold of poor old
Curran's troop, for if anybody could
'straighten it out" Lane could.
The news that Noel was named by the
colonel caused a sensation at regimental |
which the Eleventh will |
not soon forget "Old Riggs"
lad become the commander of the regi-
nent after it seemed that the Indian
vars were over and done with, and, |
hanks to our peculiar system of promo
ion, was now at the head of an organi-
alton with which he had never served |
s subaltern, captain or junior field Off
er. Discipline forbade saying anything
o his face-for which the colonel was
evoutly thankful-but everybody said
D everybody else that it was all Mrs.
siggs' doing, fact which the colonel
cry well knew.
So did Noel, though he rushed into the
Tub room apparently overwhelmed with
and delight:
81 supposed of course it would be Fol-
ansbee. never dreamed he would give
10 me. Come up, crowdl come up
It's champagne today" he
'vially shouted; and there were men
Tho could not bear to snub him openly.
'othing had really ever been proved
gainst him; why should they judge
i'm? But there were several who de-
lined, alleging one excuse or another,
nd even those who drank with him did
while applauding Wharton's toast:
well. Noel, here's to you'll 1t ought
have been Follansbee; but 1 wish you
Re joy of it"