Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-09-21


When this latter promotion made n. appear.
ance Col Noble was with Gen. Sturgis on that
ill-starred trip into Mississippi known At that
time as The Guntown Expedition, and de-
spite the incapacity OF sturgi- did deeds that
makes Iowa feel proud even today. On June
Col Noble had heavy skirnish with rebel cav
airy, when near Ripley. but his best work vas
done az the battle OF Brice's Cross Roads, June
rs, 1884 Col u. c. Thomas commanded the
Union forces and when retreat absolutely
necessary he appealed 20 Col. Noble for help.
There was great confusion among the infantry,
but Col Noble did the right thing AZ the right
Tune and saved the disordered foot soldier
from the threatening snnihilation- When the
third cavalry was ordered 20 retire there wss
not an offcer enlisted man, the
wounded, who ont Of his place; their
colonel had grated method into their courage.
Inc third did very commendAble work on the
next day at Ripley. IL protected the rear Of
the retreatng Union forces against superior
and pvlciously sssailIng enemy. Throughout
the entire morning and afternoon Col Noble
and his men faced the enemy and fought gal
lantly 20 gain time for the iufanty. Once he
was relieved. but the enemy proved TOO strong
for the relief. 90 the tired lowans and their
never-tirfng colonel found themselves once
more contending with the advance Of the
enemy. Solid relief finally came. but the regi-
ment got neither food nor sleep until daybreak
the next morning. On thai expedition the
third Iowa marched s2S miles and expended
nearly &c. 600 rounds Of ammunition. Col
Mobiles services were Acknowledged by Col
Thomas In his report Of the fight. Col z. r.
Winslow in whose brigade the third Iowa vns
also spoke highly Of "the gallant conduct Oh
Lieut.. Col Noble" In report on the expedi-
ton Col. Winslow emphasized his prior utter
ances. lie made special mention OF Lieut.. Col.
Noble for the promptness and efficiency with
which he performed the duties devolying upon
him during the expedition. and In the conclud-
ing paragraph SAYS: Il desire the general COM
handing division 70 give much credit 20 Lieut.
Col Noble for his GOODNESS and courage under
FIRE and for valuable aid rendered several
occasions"
on THE EXPEDITION TO rUPrLo.
When Gen A J. Smith started on his expedi-
ton from La Grange, Tenn, 10 Tupelo, Miss,
Col Noble went with him and there, as every
where else, distinguished himself Day after
day his command skirmished and felt the en-
emy's pulse by Reconnaissance At Tishomingo
creek the third q triAe surprised, but 10
fought tenAciously and successfully. The
column marched through about 400 miles Of
country in less than one month Col. Mobiles
regiment used up IS. 900 rounds Of ammunition.
Hardly had the third returned to la Grange
before IL was ordered 20 proceed 10 Oxford,
Miss. This time Col. Noble commanded the
second misunderstanding Of the third and
fourth Iowa, the tenth Missouri and the
seventh Indiana In the fight at the Tallahatchis
river, near Holly Springs. on August &. Col
Noble demorallzed the enemy and would prob
ably have captured a battery and everything
else worth having whereabouts had his order 10
pursue not been countermanded by ranking
officer. Ii was wearisome trip, what with
heavy rains, oppressive heat and $50 miles OF
uniformly bad roads.
Col Noble never shirked duty. Two detach-
ments Of the tenth Missouri cavalry-in his
brigade-were surprised near Union station
When the news reached camp Col Noble
headed relief detachment, rode with all
rapidity 10 the scene of the skirmish and did
his best 10 catch the enemy.
IL OTHER FIELDS.
In November there was an e1cursion-un-
pleasant but successful-from Memphis to Mos
COW, and then followed Gen. Grierson's raid
through Mississippi to vicksburg. Col Noble
was there and is on record as rendering most
valuable services. That piece Of business had
only just been concluded when Col. Noble and
his brigade were called upon to participate In
the great Wilson raid, starting from ChickAav
March %, 1865. From Elyton 10 Selma there
was continuous strife, and then Montgomery,
the home of secession, was captured Headed
by Col. Noble the third Iowa formed no I'M
important portion Of the force, which, under
Ntu- SIkOns hlttCktu tno city Oh SOfuxUDuh -
night The Iowans did most Of the fighting
and the ratio Of prisoners taken by them vas
about three captured to two oaptorsL Il was .
great raid. The spirit OF destruction vas, para
doxically, working to preserve the Union, and
in the scenes surrounding demolished factories,
dislnantled railroads, fre-distorted mills and
powder-wrecked bridges thors was no moro
prominent or active figure than that of Got
John W. Noble His spirit pervsded the regi-
ment until the third was regarded as tnyincfble-
brigadier generals brevet naturally followed
| upon such services as those rendered By Col
Noble. Until August 8 the colonel and his men
were stationed at Atlanta; then they were mus
tered out, and on August 81, st Davenport,
Iowa, the third regiment OF lowe cavalry was
disbanded. Then Brevet Brig. Gen Noble laid
his sword aside, took of his uniform, was CRATE
ful that neither of bis two collisions with rebel
bullets had proven serious and settled down 10
labor on the road that led him to the high Oh
cial. professional and social position which h
now his.