Henry Erastus Noyes (August 23, 1839 – July 14, 1919) was a United States Army Officer who served during the American Civil War, American Indian Wars and Spanish American War.
Biography
Henry E. Noyes was born in Belfast, Maine. He was appointed from Massachusetts to the United States Military Academy at West Point, and was a Cadet there from July 1, 1857, to June 24, 1861, when he was graduated and promoted in the Army to brevet second lieutenant, 2nd Dragoons on June 24, 1861. The regiment was redesignated the 2nd U.S. Cavalry on August 3, 1861.
Civil War Service
Noyes entered service during the American Civil War. He served in the defenses of Washington, D. C., from June 27 to July 16, 1861, and in the Manassas Campaign of July 1861. He fought at the Battle of Blackburn's Ford on July 18, 1861, and the Battle of Bull Run on July 21, 1861. Noyes then served in the defenses of Washington, D. C., from July to September 1861, the Port Royal Expedition of October to November 1861, and the Florida Expedition which captured Fernandina, Jacksonville, and St. Augustine from February to June 1862. Henry E. Noyes was promoted to first lieutenant, 2nd Cavalry on February 15, 1862, and was in the Battle of Secessionville on James Island, South Carolina on June 16, 1862, and at Hilton Head, South Carolina from June 18 to August 27, 1862. He then served in the Maryland Campaign at the headquarters of the Army of the Potomac from September to November 1862, being present at the Battle of South Mountain on September 14, 1862, the Battle of Antietam on September 17, 1862, and on the March to Falmouth, Virginia from October‑November 1862. Noyes then served in the Fredericksburg and Rappahannock Campaigns of the Army of the Potomac from December 1862 to June 1863, being engaged in Stoneman's Raid toward Richmond from April 13 to May 9, 1863, and in combat in the Battle of Brandy Station at Beverly's Ford on June 9, 1863. Noyes went on a sick leave of absence from June 13 to July 1863 before returning to the Army during the Gettysburg Campaign of the Army of the Potomac in July 1863, being engaged in skirmishes near Boonsborough, Hagerstown, and Williamsport. Noyes was then sick in a hospital at Frederick, Maryland in July 1863 before returning to the Army on the Rappahannock. Noyes was promoted to brevet captain on August 1, 1863, for "Gallant and Meritorious Services" at the Battle of Brandy Station, Virginia. He continued service in the Army of the Potomac in August 1863, being engaged in several skirmishes, and was at Camp Buford, Washington, D.C., remounting and equipping his company from August to October 1863. Noyes was on sick leave of absence from October 13 to December 27, 1863, and on mustering and disbursing duty for the Draft Rendezvous at Riker and Hart Islands, New York from December 7, 1863, to July 15, 1864. He was appointed Aide-de‑Camp to Brigadier General James H. Wilson and served in that capacity from July 20 to October 5, 1864. Noyes was in operations before Petersburg from July 20 to August 5, 1864, in the Shenandoah Valley Campaign from August 17 to October 5, 1864, and was engaged in skirmishes at Summit Point on August 21, 1864, at Kearneysville on August 25, 1864, the Third Battle of Winchester or Battle of Opequan on September 19, 1864, and skirmishes at Front Royal on September 21, Milford on September 22, and Waynesborough on September 29, 1864. Noyes was on leave of absence from October 5‑26, 1864 as Acting Assistant Inspector General of the Cavalry Corps, Military Division of the Mississippi from October 26, 1864, to October 1865, being engaged in the Battle of Nashville on December 15‑16, 1864 and in the pursuit of the enemy, skirmishing with the Confederate rear guard in December 1864. He was promoted to captain, 2nd Cavalry on January 25, 1865, and served in General Wilson's Expedition into Alabama and Georgia from March to April 1865, participating in the assault on and capture of Selma on April 2, 1865. Noyes was brevetted major retroactive to April 2, 1865, for "Gallant and Meritorious Services" at the Capture of Selma, Alabama. Then the Civil War came to an end.