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

MM John Wilcox Noble,
W now Secretary OF the
Interior. Like thou
sands Of others, young Noble laic aside as OF
no moment the plans Of his earlier life. which,
when the great strife commenced, had de-
veloped into lucrative and honorable associa-
ton with the law. Lancaster, Ohio, was Gen
Mobiles birthplace-a town and state in which
his father, Col John Noble, occupied promi-
nent place in affairs and in the public esteem.
From Yale College the young man moved west
ward, studying law in Cincinnati In 1856 he
became satisfied that the most satisfactory con-
ditions for him were TO be found in the middle
west, SO he migrated to Iowa and was soon
numbered among the brightest and best Of the
legal stars then SO numerous in that portion of
the country. Located at Keokuk, for a time he
had Judge Lowe for a business partner, but
when the first battle Of Bull Run maddened the
north and gave the south cause for exultation
the firm was Noble 4 Strong
simultaneously with the Union retreat from
Manassas there were threats of the invasion Of
Iowa by rebellious Missourians, and as Keokuk
was the point toward which movemen. was
being made it Is not strange that the populace
generally lost interest in their various occupa-
battle Of Athens, No., resulted in the repulse
Of the force which was organized to devastate
Keokuk and the surrounding region; 1t also
opened the eyes Of the national authorities to
the fact that the southern border of Iowa
needed protection
THE THIRD IOWA CAVALRY.
To afford this the third Iowa cavalry was
raised, and when, on August %, 1861, nearly
eleven hundred recruits were in camp, one of
the number was First Xieut. John W. Noble of
company G. Two weeks later, when the third
was mustered into the service Of the United
States, Lieut.. Noble was adjutant Of the regi-
ment. Unlike many OF his associates he had
more than mere ideas as to the military re-
quirements Of the situation In which he found
himself, for when, months before, war seemed
imminent, he began to prepare himself for the
conspicuous part he afterward bore in adding
luster to lowas magnificent sacrifcial and pa
triotic record From the day when Sumter
fell the young lawyer devoted himself almost
exclusively to the study Of tactics, and when
Col Bussey sought the man who was best quail
fed to perform the exacting duties Of ajjutant
he had no trouble in finding him.
1t was November when the third thoroughly
equipped in all the necessities except carbines,
left Iowa for Benton Barracks, Missouri, and at
the latter rendezvous there was no more faithful
or intelligent toiler than Adjt Noble. The work
OF preparation for effective service In the field
was one Of great magnitude, but when Feb
ruary, 1862, arrived and brought with IL orders
TO move to RoIla, No., there was no better regi-
ment in the Army Of the West than the third
Iowa Only the first and third battalions pro
oeeded to Rolla, for the second battalion was
on detached service and away from the rest Of
the regiment for nearly two year, Adjt
Noble, Of course, remained with the major por-
ton Of the command, and In a little while after
leaving Benton Barracks began to see service of
the most difficult and dangerous description.
Price was then doing his utmost to drive all
loyal people out Of Missouri, and II seemed to
be the particular mission of the third Iowa to
put Q stop to evictions that were In the interest
of rebellion. Reconnaissance In the vicinity
of Fayetteville were numerous. and then came
the battle Of Pea Ridge, a fight in which the
third did magnificent work; the Iowans pur-
suing the defeated and fleeing enemy until ex-
haustion put q stop to further effort. After
this there was more accommodating and for
aging expeditions, trips to adjacent points
where there was promise Of danger, and the
more lively expedition through Arkansas to
Helena.
FROM LIEUTENANT TO MAJoR
In November, 1862, Major Drake died, where
upon Lieut. Noble exchanged his barred
shoulder straps for a new pair decorated with
gold acorns, thus jumping the intervening rank
Of captain This well-earned promotion fol-
lowed Immediately after q satisfactory but diff
cult and dangerous expedition from Helena to
Prairie Landing. The privations were great,
but they were tempered materially by Lieut.
Noble. From the beginning Of his military
career there had been displayed by the Iowan
qualities Of the most superior description, but
these were much less noticeable in the leu
tenant than in the major. With all that dash
and vigor that characterizes the true cavalry
officer he led his battalion in numerous expedi-
lions into the enemys country and was con-
tinuously victorious. In April, 1868, Major
Noble, then commanding the regiment at
tackled . part Of Dobyns command, near the
st. Erancis and won Within a week he came
into conflict with another considerable force and
Nefeated IT. But all the work done in Missouri
)pd Arkansas counted for little in the popular
Destination. The real value Of Il was never
known, and Ia as little appreciated today as
IL was twenty-nine years ago. Early In June
there was relief, for the order arrived which
sent the third Iowa to Join the army under
Grant From that time until Pemberton threw
open the gates Of Vicksburg there was scarcely
an idle moment for Major Noble or any of his
command Then Sherman invested Jackson
and that gave the third all IL could attend TO.
Major Noble was ever on the move, skirmishing
rapidly and successfully. destroying property
and doing all that one man could do 10 bring
the south TO terms.
GALLANT sKRvrcEs.
Major Scott, the ranking major, resigned In
August, 90 the entire command devolved upon
Major Noble-Ool Bussey being chief Of cav
airy under Grant Commanded by Col Wins
Low, an expedition in which Major Noble par
ticipated traversed the state Of Mississippi to
Memphis, Tenn.-one of the most successful
raids In the history Of the war. At the con-
oiusion Of this raid Major Noble was appointed
chief Of cavalry on Gen. Davidson's STAFF Jam
uary, 1854, brought with il further promotion.
Col Bussey had become Q brigadier general
and this made Noble lieutenant colonel Six
month later Col Caldwell resigned TO become
Judge Of the district court for the district of
Arksnsas, and, - . natural sequence, Lieut..
o. Nsbls rs sdvanesd 10 full soloncloy.