This book tells the story of a remarkable enslaved person-turned-formerly enslaved man, Jordan Bankston Noble, a Black drummer in nineteenth-century American armies. This volume uses Noble's life to explore the evolution of nineteenth-century Louisiana race relations. Noble’s life spanned 1800 to 1890, and his participation in four American wars—the War of 1812, Seminole War, Mexican-American War, and Civil War—places him among a very distinct group of participants. This book reveals how Noble brokered his wartime participation to secure recognition and admiration during this period in American history.

Gene Smith is Professor of History and Director of the Center for Texas Studies at Texas Christian University, USA.