Darius N. Couch: The overlooked General

Darius Nash Couch, the man who might have fought Lee at Gettysburg, had bad luck with health and politics or he may have been one of America's best-known generals

she military career of Major General Darius Nash Couch encompasses services from the Mexican War through the Civil War. He commanded at company, regiment, brigade, division, and corps level, and was offered command of the Army of the Potomac just prior to the Battle of Gettysburg. Yet his accomplishments and commendable record have gone largely unacknowledged.

Couch was born on July 23, 1822, in Putnam County, New York. He was appointed to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in 1842, graduating in 1846, 13th in his class. Some of his classmates included George McClellan (number 2), George Pickett (number 59 in a class of 59), and Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson (number 17).

Prior to Couch's graduation, war broke out with Mexico. Couch was commissioned brevet second lieutenant of Co. B, 4th U.S. Light Artillery, and went off to war. Of note, field artillery tactics were largely adapted and developed during the Mexican War and Couch readily acclimated to this growing arm of the army.

Travelling through Port LaVacca and Corpus Christi, Texas, Couch arrived in Mexico in October 1846. Unfortunately he took ill there, suffering from severe intestinal dysentery. This would plague him for the rest of his life, frequently interfering with his participation in military campaigns. Additionally, it is thought that he also suffered from rheumatic fever.

Couch was treated at Monclova by Dr. Ethan Hitchcock, an army physician and friend from West Point. He later was transferred by army ambulance to Parras, arriving there in December 1846. Finally recovering enough to rejoin his battery on December 17, 1846, Couch wrote in his journal, "Hurrah, what a time.... It was after dark before we went into camp; and such a place, the ground being covered with prickly pears and low thorn bushes. Late before supper and later before we got to bed, I began to think that campaigning was not always so delightful."

Turning south to intercept the approaching Mexican Army, Couch wrote, "I was on picquet-guard last night for the first time, the post was seven miles from camp in the famous Carnero pass: there was an alarm in the night - the vidette on the San Luis road came in at full gallop reporting that he was followed by a large body of horsemen: I got my men (14 Dragoons) mounted in quick time; and if I was ever startled it was then, selecting one of the best cavalryman to carry the news to camp in case we were engaged, then gave my orders and started to meet the foes - What were they? Well nothing more or less than a drove of horses without riders."

It was an embarrassing moment for Couch. He nevertheless had to explain the situation to the officer of the day, Lieutenant Irwin McDowell (who would later lose the day at the First Bull Run in 1861).

In camp and Hacienda Buena Vista Couch was visited by his classmate Thomas Jackson, with whom he was very friendly. "He was by nature reserved, not talkative," Couch wrote, "seemingly without much imagination. When he came on to be admitted to the Academy, one could have hardly have found in the country a rougher looking or more ungainly lad, and in fact during his whole cadet life his personal appearance was not neat; in fact he did not seem to know how to keep himself in good trim. But at heart he was a noble specimen of manhood; no duplicity, no meanness about him. How little at the the time his classmates thought he would become so great. And this greatness came from his unswerving faith in his God and devotion to duty."

Couch and Co. B, 4th Artillery, joined Major General Zachary Taylor's army of 5,000 in February 1847. "The old hero is a thick set, stubbed fellow," Couch wrote, "but not so coarse as has been represented; a great fighting soldier." Santa Anna attacked Taylor's forces at Buena Vista, and the resulting battle proved both Taylor's and Couch's fighting abilities.

lo. B was placed in a defensive position in the center of the line. "Precisely at 3 o'clock the battle was opened by the heavy guns of the enemy. Our skirmishers on the field had got up the mountain and opened a musketry fire which was kept up until dark when the firing ended for the day on both sides.... I had a painful rhematism all night but I was on duty every minute while the other officers were mostly sleeping. My rheumatic pains left me in the morning.... At day break we saw large numbers of the enemy on our flank in the mountains and as the sun rose it struck their waving bayonets which glistened and it seemed as if the mountain was full of men.

The firing being resumed, three guns of our battery of 8 pieces were detached on the left commended to throw shells into the mountain. The enemy now advanced both infantry and lancers. They also established a battery of guns at the foot of the mountain.... By 9 o'clock the enemy had gotten a battery of 8 pieces established on the crest of a ridge some 1400 yards on our front. Before this time they had fired several shots at our battery with wonderful precision but doing no damage. Up to this time our captain had no opportunity to use his pieces, but now we could see dark heavy masses of infantry supported by glittering helmeted cavalry moving forward to the same ridge where their heavy guns were placed.... Then they deployed into columns, lines and squares and marched straight toward us. Now was the time for our battery to open.... `Give it to him,' said the Captain, and we did give it to him breaking their squares and columns knocking over men and horses! Now they flee! Now they rally, and now they flee not to return.

"This was the most decisive and splendid affair of the whole battle.... On the left the battle raged with doubtful success; their lancers having turned our left flank charged upon our baggage and stores in the rear, finally they were driven off making a complete circuit of our army; and were fired upon by their large guns as they were coming into their own army. Before this the three pieces of company artillery which were on the table land on our left were taken by the enemy. The Indiana troops who were there to support Lieutenant O'Brien retreated. Many of the cannoneers and 13 horses were killed. It was, therefore, impossible to bring off the guns."

Lieutenant John Paul Jones O'Brien commanded this section of three guns and defended them valiantly. One gun was rendered inoperable and most of his men were killed as were his horses. O'Brien himself was wounded and lost two guns. Later during the battle of Conteras the same two guns were recaptured. They are today on display at West Point with a plaque: "O'Brien. Lost without dishonor at the Battle of Buena Vista by A Company of the 4th Artillery. Recaptured with just pride and exultation by the same regiment at Conteras."

"By two o'clock our

artillery on the left had got out of ammunition, our artillery were driven back and matters looked squally. Subsequently the infantry rallied under the artillery and gallantly recovered what they had lost, driving the enemy in good style but they charged too far. The lancers turned upon them and with heavy infantry reserves that opened upon our exhausted men [who] were driven back...coming in towards our battery. So as we could get a sight of the pursuing horsemen, our guns were opened, firing over the heads of our running almost exhausted men. The Mexican were pretty quickly driven to take shelter behind the hills in front and to the left of the battery and what was left of our poor fellows got in. They all think and rightly too that our battery saved their lives."

Couch was ordered to Saltillo to bring up ammunition. Taking one piece of artillery he saw "plenty signs of the battle. Wounded men who had crawled to a cover, horses likewise without their masters, stragglers behind the bushes, etc., the dead and dying lying side by side. I had nerved myself in the sight and looked on unmoved. I have seen the dead who die in peace but how different is the stamp of death upon those who die in battle." This vision and memory would revisit Couch many more times during the future campaigns of the Army of the Potomac. Couch was commissioned as a second and then as brevet first lieutenant for gallant and meritorious conduct at the battle of Buena Vista. After the Mexican War he was in garrison at Fortress Monroe, Fort Pickens, and at Key West Barracks, where he was in command and took part in the Seminole War of 1849-50. Here he was commended by the Secretary of War for promptly moving his command and protecting settlers.

While on leave Couch undertook research for th Smithsonian Institution, studying the flora and fauna of northern Mexico. In 1852 he discovered and described a species of platyfish, named in his honor xiphophorus couchiana.

Couch resigned from the

army in 1855, leaving his post at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, for domestic life in Taunton, Massachusetts. He married and joined the copper manufacturing business run by his father-in-law.

When war broke out in 1861, Couch offered his services to Massachusetts Governor Andrew, and was authorized to raise the 7th Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, a three-year regiment from Taunton and surrounding Bristol County communities. He was commissioned colonel and accompanied the regiment to the Washington defenses in July. He later took command of the brigade to which the 7th was attached, and was promoted to brigadier general of volunteers.

During the Peninsula Campaign of 1862 Couch was given command of the 1 st Division, IV Corps, Army of the Potomac under Erasmus Keyes. His division held the left of the Union line during the Siege of Yorktown. Of the Battle of Williamsburg Couch wrote, "It was a miserably fought affair...the fact that a few thousand Confederates held us all in check seeing that our people went in by driblets."

At Seven Pines Couch's division was assaulted and forced to give ground due to poor posiboning and indefensible ground. It was a hotly contested withdrawl. Couch skillfully fought a delaying action until reinforced by elements of the II Corps, led by his old West Point instructor Edwin Summer.

During the Battles of Oak Grove and Gaines Mills, Couch's division served mostly in supporting roles. But at Malvern Hill, Couch, suffering severely from his Mexican War illnesses, commanded the left center. It was noted that "the hottest fighting occurred along Couch's front, and that the day's success was largely due to his coolness and skill."

McClellan's "Change of front" to Harrison's Landing was greeted with "great surprise" by Couch who noted, "we commenced falling back at 11 pm leaving many gallant men desperately wounded and in the enemy's hands...a perfect rout...the same soldiers that had fought so magnificently during the last seven days were now a mob." isillusioned with McClellan's leadership and very ill, Couch tendered his resignation at Harrison's landing. McClellan declined to accept it, granting him 20 days of sick leave and then promoting him to major general.

In September 1862 Couch commanded a division at Maryland Heights, across from Harper's Ferry. Consequently he took no active part in the Battle of Antietam, save for reinforcing the Union position on the evening of the 17th.

He was given command of the II Corps on November 7, 1862, and saw McClellan relieved. "He was an unusually smart man," he wrote. "I don't think that he could be called a fighting man, not being pugnacious....he was...rather an engineer."

At Fredericksburg, Couch opposed Burnside's plan for frontal assaults. True to his fear, Couch's corps suffered heavily, losing over 4,000 officers and men to the withering fire in front of Mayre's Heights. "Oh great God, see how our men, our poor fellows are falling!" he wrote. "I remember that the whole plain was covered with men, prostrate and dropping.... I had never before seen fighting like that, nothing approaching it in terrible uproar and destruction.... As they charged the artillery fire would break their formation and they would get mixed; then they would close up, go forward, receive the withering infantry fire...and then the next brigade coming up in succession would do its duty and melt like snow coming down on warm ground."

He argued with Burnside to cease the assault to no avail, noting that "it is only murder now." To bolster his troops Couch rode, under fire, along the entire front of the II Corps line, like Hancock did at Gettysburg, and observers called it a "strange review."

During the night, he wrote, "the dead stiffened like sticks of wood and many of my wounded were frozen to death." He argued with Burnside against resuming the assault in the morning and noted that Burnside "wished his body was also lying in front of Marye's Heights.... I never felt so badly for a man in my life."

In the months following Fredericksburg, Lincoln replaced Burnside with Hooker. This made Couch second in command of the Army of the Potomac. After Hooker's reorganization of the army, Lincoln reviewed the troops with both Hooker and Couch. He counselled them, "I want to impress upon you two gentlemen, in your next battle, put in all your men."

This foreshadowed the Battle of Chancellorsville in which Hooker was found wanting but Couch rose to the pinnacle of his military service.

During the battle's first day Hooker's initially aggressive crossing of the Rappahannock on Lee's left flank turned totally defensive. He ordered Couch to withdraw from high ground to an inferior position. Couch "sorrowfully" obeyed, noting "what a fatality seemed to envelop the Army of the Potomac."

Hooker responded, "It is all right, Couch. I have got Lee just where I want him; he must fight me on my own ground," Couch later wrote. "I retired from his presence with the belief that my commanding general was a whipped man."

Couch's old friend Jackson smashed the right flank of the Union line and the Army of the Potomac was hurled back in retreat. Hooker himself was stunned by a cannon shot that hit the Chancellor's house and temporarily lost his senses.

Couch found himself in command of the Army of the Potomac under dire circumstances. With Major General Winfield Scott Hancock, Couch very ably reversed the retreat and restored the center position, reorganizing the defense. Exposed to severe enemy fire, Couch was twice wounded and his horse was shot out from under him.

After Chancellorsville, Couch's .health again failed him. On sick leave he met with Lincoln twice. On May 22, 1863, Lincoln offered him command of the Army of the Potomac. Couch declined, proffering health reasons, and instead recommended George Meade. Were it not for bad health, history might have paired Couch versus Lee at Gettysburg.

In June, still ill, Couch was ordered by Secretary of War Edwin Stanton to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, to command the Department of the Susquehanna. Raised to assist in the repulse of Lee's invasion of Pennsylvania, the department proved to be ill-manned and underequipped. Further, this position placed Couch in the center of acrimony between state politicians Simon Cameron and Governor Andrew Curtin. This adverse political situation would prove damaging to Couch.

Although Couch and his department were able to aid Meade during the Gettysburg campaign, his support was limited by his lack of resources. Couch was viewed with the same jaundiced eye as Meade during Lee's "unopposed" escape back into Virginia. This, coupled with Major General Jubal Early's sacking of Chambersburg in 1864, catalyzed Couch's being transferred to active duty in Tennessee at Cameron's onerous insistance.

Couch did, however, take great satisfaction in commanding the dedication ceremonies for the Gettysburg National Ceremony in November 1863. Sharing the platform with President Lincoln, this would prove the last time the two leaders met.

In Nashville, under Major General Thomas, Couch initially received command of the IV Corps. This assignment not having met with approval of authorities in Washington, Couch found himself instead in command of the 2d Division, XXIII Corps, under Major General John Schofield.

During the Battle of Nashville, Couch's division saw a great deal of action, fighting spirtedly at Overton Hill where many guns and prisoners were captured. Couch again had a horse shot out from under him.

The 2d Division was transferred afterwards by way of Washington and Fort Fisher, North Carolina, to Goldsboro, North Carolina, in support of Major General William Sherman's march north from Savannah. Couch was assigned to protect the KingstonGoldsboro railroad, a vital supply line. Rather than simply adopt a defensive stance, Couch attacked on many fronts, preventing any Confederate attacks on the railway. There were no losses of rolling stock or supplies when he was in command there.

With Lee's surrender and the cessation of hostilities, Couch resigned his commission on June 9, 1865. He returned to Taunton in seriously bad health but later fully triumphant return of the

Massachusetts red. He presided over to Boston and the presentation of many captured Confederate batts regiments to Boston and the presentation of many 22, 1865. Defeated Confederate flags to the governorship of Massachusetts on December 22, 1865.

the Defeated in a run for the following year, Couch grew tired of Massachusetts on the Democratic ticket the for Norwalk, ing year, Connecticut, where he became the state's and left general. He was Connecticut, where active became the Grand Army state's adjutant general. He Republic. also very active in the Grand Army 1897. His body was the Republic.

Couch and was buried at Moun February 1897. His body was Cemetery. An appropriate last won and would be his buried at Mount regarding his Civil War sery. An appropriate last word in the Taunton Herald be his response regarding his Civil War service, reported in the Taunton Herald on February 16, 1897: "To those of us who survived the war, no great honors are due. We did our simple duty as American citizens - no more - but to the memory of those who died for us we cannot be too extravagant in our devotion."

All photographs, except where indicated, are in the collection of the Old Colony Historical Society, Taunton, Massachusetts, and are reproduced with permission. Couch's notebook/manuscript is in the collection of the same organization and was written as a report for the adjutant general in August 1873 in Norwalk. His Mexican War notes are taken from Lt. Darius Nash Couch in The Mexican War, edited by E.F. Kennedy, Jr., and published by th old Colony Historical Society.

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