COUCH, Darius Nash, soldier, born in South East, Putnam County, New York, 23 July, 1822. He was graduated at the United States military academy in 1846, and assigned to the 4th artillery, with which he served in the Mexican war, gaining the brevet of first lieutenant, 23 February, 1847, for gallant conduct at Buena Vista. He received his full commission on 4 December, served against the Seminoles in 1849-'50, and in 1853, when on leave of absence, made an Smithsonian Institution exploring expedition into Mexico, gaining distinction as a naturalist. While on expedition he discovered Couch's Kingbird -- tyrannus couchii.

Nash joined the Union army and became Colonel of the 6th Massachusetts at the outbreak of the Civil War.  He was quickly made a brigadier-general TJ.S.V. He served as a divisional commander in the battles of the Army of the Potomac in 1862, and at Fredericksburg (December 1862) and Chancellorsville (May 1863) he commanded the 2nd corps. He had been made a major-general U.S.V. in July 1862. During the Gettysburg campaign he was employed in organizing the Pennsylvanian militia, and he subsequently served in the West, taking part in the battle of Nashville, and in the final operations in the Carolinas. He left the army after the war. General Couch died on the 12th of February 1897 at Norwalk, Connecticut.

His son, Robert Jackson Couch, born in Boston, 21 May, 1839; died in 1864, entered the army as a private in his father's regiment. He rose by bravery on the battle-field to be captain in the 56th Massachusetts regiment, and was probably killed in the battle of Cold Harbor, 3 June, 1864, as he was never heard from after that day.