Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 02.djvu/427

 COUDERT

COUES

tory in the Smitlisonian institution, and resigned from the army in Iboo. He engaged in business in Taunton, Mass. In 1861 he offered his ser- vices to Govei'nor Andrew and was appointed colonel of the Tth Massachusetts volunteers. He was promoted brigadier-general, June 15, 1861, his commission dating from May 17, 1861, and was made major-general of volunteers, July 4, 1863. He was a participant in the battles of Yorktown, Williamsburg, Fair Oaks, Oak Grove, White Oak Swamp. Glendale, Malvern Hill, sec- ond Bull Run, Antietam, Williamsport, Fred- ericksburg, Chancellorsville and Gettysburg, and subsequently in Tennessee and North Carolina. He commanded a division on the Peninsula, dis- tinguished himself by holding the line of battle at Fair Oaks, and by a masterly movement in taking position on the extreme left at Malvern Hill, witliout the orders of his corps commander. Under Burnside he commanded the 2d corps at Fredericksburg in the disastrous battle of Dec. 13-14, 1862, and his corjis was the last to fall back at Chancellorsville, May 3, 1863. Here he was twice woimded and had his horse killed under him. He commanded the department of the Susquehanna at the time of Lee's invasion of Pennsylvania and directed the movements that checked the progress of the Confederates and de- termined the battlefield. He was conspicuous in the battle of Nashville, Tenn., Dec. 15, 1864, as commander of the 2d division, 20th army corps, in his assault on Hood's extreme left, carrying it by a brilliant charge. In 1865 he was stationed in North Carolina opposing General Hoke and dispersing the remnant of the Confederate forces. He resigned his commission, May 26, 1865, and returned to Massachusetts, where he was the un- successful candidate for governor of the state that year. In 1866 he was appointed by Presi- dent Johnson collector of the port of Boston, serving from October, 1866, to March 4, 1867, but the senate refused to confirm the appointment. He then engaged in mining and manufacturing in Virginia and was president of the comjiany operating the mines. He removed to Norwalk, Conn., in 1876, was quartermaster of the state, 1876-78, and adjutant-general, 1883-84. He mar- ried in 1855 Mary Caroline, daughter of Samuel L. Crocker of Taunton, Mass., and had one son, Leonard Crocker Couch of Taunton, Mass. He died in Norwalk, Conn., Feb. 12, 1897.

COUDERT, Frederick Rene, lawyer, was born in New York city in 1832. His fatlier, Charles Coudert, was a native of Bordeaux, France, an officer in the army of Napoleon I., and after the restoration became allied with Lafayette in a plot to place the Duke of Reich- stadt. Napoleon II., on tlie tlirone. He was sen- tenced to death ; escaped : returned to France two

years later, but was again forced to flee, this tinie, 1824, reaching America. For his services to the Bonapartes he received the decoration of the Legion of Honor, and a medal from the sec- ond Emperor for his services to the first. Fred- erick Rezie was graduated at Columbia college in 1850 and was admitted to the bar in 1853. He practised in partnership with his brothers Louis and Charles under the firm name of Coudert Brothers. He was president of the Bar associa- tion of New York city, an earnest worker in behalf of Tilden and Hayes during the campaign of 1876 and after the election vLsited New Orleans, La., in behalf of the Democratic committee to get a fair counting of votes in that state. He declined in 1888 to be appointed judge of the court of appeals. He was elected to member- ship in many of the prominent New York clubs and was president of the Columbia college alumni association. He was government director of the Union Pacific raih-oad, 1884-87; commis- sioner of public schools, 1883-84; a ti'ustee of Columbia college from 1890, and of Barnard col- lege ; and was president of the Manhattan club for several years. The French government deco- rated him with the cross of the Legion of Honor. He received the degree of LL.D. from Seton Hall in 1880, from St. John's college, Fordham, in 1887 and from Columbia in 1887.

COUDIN, Robert, soldier, was born in Jamaica, Vt., Sept. 18, 1805. He engaged in the lumber business in Boston and was colonel of the 2d regi- ment Massachusetts state militia. At the out- break of the civil war he was made colonel of the 1st Mas.sachusetts volunteers, the first regiment enlisted" for three years or the war."' He was with the army of the Potomac in all the early- battles, had his horse shot under him at the bat- tle of Bull Run and through the remainder of the fight took a musket, leading and firing with his men. He was made brigadier-general, Sept. 26, 1862, for braverj' at Williamsburg and at the close of the war was elected captain of the Ancient and Honorable artillery company of Boston. He died in Boston, Mass., July 9, 1874.

COUES, Elliott, scientist, was born in Ports- mouth, N.H., Sept. 9, 1842; son of Samuel EUiott and Charlotte Haven (Ladd) Coues. His father removed his family to Washington, D.C., in 1853, and Elliott was educated at Gonzaga college by the Jesuits. After a four-years" course he en- tered Columbian college, where he was graduated in 1861, next serving as a medical cadet, U.S. arm}-, in the Washington hospitals, 1862-63. He then pursued the medical course, receiving his M.D. degree in 1863. On March 30, 1864, he was appointed assistant surgeon in the U.S. army and was the next month assigned to duty in Arizona. Here his interest in natural history and scientific