General Couch
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AUGUST 2, 1862.] HARPER'S WEEKLY. 485 HUNTSVILLE, ALABAMA.ON page 484 we give a view of HUNTSVILLE, Alabama, from a sketch sent us by an officer serving in General Mitchell's army. Huntsville was taken by General Mitchell some three months ago. It is a pretty town, the capital of Madison County; has a court-house, bank, quite a number of churches, and nearly 3000 inhabitants. It stands ten miles north of the Tennessee. General Mitchell swooped down upon it one fine morning at daybreak, when the rebels hadn't an idea of his approach, frightening the people of the neighborhood so terribly that they haven't recovered since. The following extract from a letter from Huntsville shows that there are good men there among the natives: I this morning conversed with Judge George W. Lane, a resident of Huntsville, who is a Union man of the most enduring stripe. From the time of the secession of the State he has kept the "old flag" flying from his house-top, in defiance of the threats of the secessionists to tear it down. He warned them that the person who undertook the task must be a bold man, and that in the accomplishment of his task he must look well to his safety. He is a man of influence, yet passing through the fiery ordeal of those troubled months tried him as though he passed through a burning furnace. He came through safely at last, and when General Mitchell suddenly entered the town, to the great wonder of the inhabitants, he found that old flag still waving, as if in welcome to his men. He requested that it be presented to him as a memento, and he still has it in his possession. The Judge is a valuable man to our forces in this vicinity, from his extensive acquaintance and consequent knowledge as to the opinions entertained by the citizens here who wish to obtain favors from the officers having charge of the post. GENERAL COUCH.GENERAL DARIUS N. COUCH, whose portrait we publish on this page, is now in command of a division in Fitz-John Porter's corps of the Army of the Potomac, and one of the best and bravest officers we have. He was born in New York about the year 1826, entered West Point in 1812, graduated in the artillery in 1846, and went with his regiment (the Second Artillery) to Mexico. At the battle of Buena Vista he was brevetted First Lieutenant for gallant and meritorious conduct. At the close of the war Lieutenant Couch resigned his rank in the army and settled in Massachusetts. At the outbreak of the rebellion he joined the Volunteers, and left Boston at the head of a well-appointed regiment. In May, 1861, he was appointed Brigadier-General of Volunteers. In all the battles on the Peninsula General Couch has proved himself a gallant and able soldier. MAJOR-GENERAL DIX, U.S.A.—[SEE PAGE 490.]BRIGADIER-GENERAL COUCH, U.S.A. |
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