Daniel Noble

Rescuing Ten Sailors Under Fire at the Battle of Mobile Bay

Daniel Noble (c. 1838–1840 – 1903) was a United States Navy sailor and Medal of Honor recipient who distinguished himself during the American Civil War. Serving as a Landsman aboard USS Metacomet, he participated in the dangerous rescue of ten sailors from the sinking Union ironclad USS Tecumseh during the Battle of Mobile Bay, Alabama, on August 5, 1864.

Noble was born in Kentucky, although historical sources differ regarding his exact birth year and county. Accounts of his early military history identify him as a former Confederate prisoner of war held at Camp Douglas, Illinois, before he entered Union naval service. He subsequently joined the United States Navy, with his service credited to Chicago, Illinois.

During the Civil War, Noble served aboard USS Metacomet, a Union Navy side-wheel gunboat assigned to operations along the Gulf Coast. The vessel formed part of Rear Admiral David Glasgow Farragut's West Gulf Blockading Squadron, which sought to capture Mobile Bay and eliminate one of the Confederacy's important remaining maritime supply routes.

On August 5, 1864, Farragut's fleet advanced toward Mobile Bay, facing Confederate coastal defenses at Fort Morgan and Fort Gaines. The Union warships encountered artillery fire, underwater mines, and Confederate naval resistance while attempting to enter the heavily defended bay.

During the engagement, USS Tecumseh, a single-turret ironclad monitor commanded by Captain Tunis Augustus Macdonough Craven, struck a Confederate underwater mine, then commonly called a torpedo. The explosion caused the vessel to sink rapidly, trapping many members of its crew and leaving survivors struggling in the water.

Recognizing the desperate situation, Farragut ordered USS Metacomet to dispatch a boat to rescue the endangered sailors. A rescue party commanded by Acting Ensign Henry C. Nields immediately moved toward the wreck, despite the intense Confederate artillery fire.

Daniel Noble was among the sailors who manned the rescue boat. As the crew approached the sinking monitor, they exposed themselves to enemy gunfire while attempting to reach survivors in the water. Their mission required exceptional courage because the Confederate batteries continued firing upon the advancing Union fleet.

Despite these dangers, Noble and his fellow rescuers successfully saved ten members of USS Tecumseh's crew. Their actions prevented further loss of life during an engagement in which the monitor's sinking had already caused devastating casualties.

Admiral Farragut later praised the rescue in his official battle report, describing the enemy fire encountered by the boat as among the most intense he had witnessed. He particularly commended Acting Ensign Nields and the courage demonstrated by the rescuing sailors.

The Battle of Mobile Bay ended in a major Union naval victory. Farragut's fleet successfully entered the bay, defeated Confederate naval resistance, and helped secure control of the surrounding waters. The operation became one of the most celebrated naval engagements of the American Civil War.

Noble's participation in the rescue earned him the United States Navy Medal of Honor. His recognition was recorded under General Orders No. 71, dated January 15, 1866. The official citation specifically acknowledged his bravery under enemy fire and his assistance in rescuing ten sailors from USS Tecumseh.

Noble received the decoration alongside other members of the rescue crew, whose collective actions demonstrated the importance of courage and cooperation during naval combat. His recorded rank at the time of the action was Landsman, and no higher naval rank has been reliably established.

Following his Civil War service, Noble returned to civilian life in Kentucky. The surviving published historical records provide limited verified information concerning his subsequent employment, family relationships, and personal activities.

Daniel Noble died in 1903 in Wolfe County, Kentucky. He was buried in Childers Cemetery near Gillmore, Kentucky.

His legacy is defined by his extraordinary courage during the Battle of Mobile Bay. Rather than remaining aboard his warship during an intense naval engagement, Noble joined a small rescue crew that exposed itself to Confederate artillery fire to save fellow sailors.

His Medal of Honor remains a lasting recognition of the bravery and selflessness displayed during the rescue of ten survivors from USS Tecumseh on August 5, 1864.