Our Collection

At the Institute’s core is the Gilder Lehrman Collection, one of the great archives in American history. More than 85,000 items cover five hundred years of American history, from Columbus’s 1493 letter describing the New World through the end of the twentieth century.

Couch, Darius Nash, 1822-1897 to the Adjutant General for the State of New York

Order a pdf of this item here.

Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02465.07 Author/Creator: Couch, Darius Nash, 1822-1897 Place Written: Harrison's Landing, Virginia Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 19 July 1862 Pagination: 1 p. : docket Height: 25.5 cm, Width: 19.8 cm Order a Copy

Brigadier General Couch writes to New York's Adjutant General (possibly John Titcomb Sprague or Thomas Hillhouse). Recommends Captain James Walsh of the 36th Regiment New York Volunteers for the position of Colonel or Lieutenant Colonel to Sprague and the Governor of New York (Edwin D. Morgan). Writes, "It is almost presuming for me unknown as I am to the Governor to make this recommendation- but the regiment has been under my command nearly a year and therefor know something of its condition- At the battle of Fair Oak Capt Walsh was the ruling spirit in the regiment." Goes on to praise Walsh, mentioning the Battle of Malvern Hill. Can not recommend Major Rana for promotion because his hand was shot, and some soldiers are of the opinion that Rana shot himself. Notes that after the battle, "Rana left immediately for the North."

Couch, Darius Nash, 1822-1897
Sprague, J. T. (John Titcomb), 1810-1878
Morgan, Edwin Denison, 1811-1883
Walsh, James, fl. 1862

Citation Guidelines for Online Resources