| Notes |
- 1850 United States Federal Census about Albert Couch
Name: Albert Couch
Age: 16
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1834
Birth Place: Tennessee
Gender: Male
Home in 1850 (City,County,State): Division 9, Greene, Tennessee
Family Number: 1614
Household Members:
Name Age
John Couch 61
Eleanor Couch 63
Hiley Couch 19
Albert Couch 16
American Civil War Regiments
Regiment: 3rd Infantry Regiment North Carolina
Date of Organization: 1 Jun 1864
Muster Date: 8 Aug 1865
Regiment State: North Carolina
Regiment Type: Infantry
Regiment Number: 3rd
Regimental Soldiers and History: List of Soldiers
Regimental History
Battles Fought
Fought on 29 Dec 1864.
1870 United States Federal Census (Living in beside 3 other Couch families!)
Name: Albert Couch
Birth Year: abt 1835
Age in 1870: 35
Home in 1870: District 11, Greene, Tennessee
Race: White
Gender: Male
Post Office: Romeo
Albert Couch 35
Mary Couch 30 (b 1840)
Ellen Couch 2
John Mc Gill 4
1880 United States Federal Census
Name: Albert Couch
Home in 1880: Jackson, Livingston, Missouri
Age: 49
Estimated birth year: abt 1831
Birthplace: Tennessee
Relation to Head of Household: Self (Head)
Spouse's name: Mary A. Couch
Father's birthplace: Virginia
Mother's birthplace: Virginia
Neighbors: View others on page
Occupation: Laborer
Marital Status: Married
Race: White
Gender: Male
Albert Couch 49
Mary A. Couch 28 (b 1852)
John Couch 12
Ellen Couch 11
Nancy Couch 9
Ruth Couch 8
Samuel Couch 6
Ina Couch 3
Anna Couch 2
Civil War Pension Index: General Index to Pension Files, 1861-1934
about Albert Couch
Name: Albert Couch
State Filed: Missouri
1900 United States Federal Census
Name: A B C Couch
Home in 1900: Washington, Buchanan, Missouri
Age: Unkn
Birthplace: Tennessee
Race: White
Gender: Male
Relationship to head-of-house: Inmate
Marital Status: Married
A B C Couch Unkn
1910 United States Federal Census
Name: A B C Conch [A B C Couch]
Age in 1910: 65
Estimated Birth Year: 1845
Birthplace: Tennessee
Relation to Head of House: Patient
Home in 1910: St Joseph Ward 2, Buchanan, Missouri
Marital Status: Married
Race: White
Gender: Male
Name Age
A B C Conch 65
1920 United States Federal Census
Name: A B C Coush [A B C Couch]
Home in 1920: St Joseph Ward 2, Buchanan, Missouri
Birthplace: Tennessee
Relation to Head of House: Patient
Father's Birth Place: United States of America
Mother's Birth Place: United States of America
Marital Status: Married
Race: White
Sex: Male
Able to read: Yes
Able to Write: Yes
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members:
Name Age
A B Crouch 51
Although he was from the Southern state of Tennessee, Albert Couch enlisted with the 3rd North Carolina Mounted infantry on the side of the Union, on October 10, 1864, at Bulls Gap, Tennessee. Many men from the mountain regions of Eastern Tennessee and Western North Carolina sypathized with the North, and joined Union regiments. Sometimes this was seen as the best of three bad options, i.e. voluntarily join the Union Army, go into hiding, or risk being forced into service by the South. The records don't tell us what Albert's motivation for enlisting was, but ultimately Albert was designated a deserter. It's difficult to determine if he deserved that label, or if unlucky circumstances made it difficult for him to clear his name.
The 3rd NCMI was lead by George Washington Kirk who was infamous for employing guerrilla-like tactics. The regiment became known as "Kirk's Raiders" and were referred to as bushwackers by the South. Albert's apparently only enemy engagement began on December 29, 1864, when the 3rd NCMI was involved in a relatively minor skirmish called the "Battle of Red Banks". This took place near Erwin, Tennessee on the Nolichucky River. Although 73 Confederate soldiers were killed, and 32 captured, only 3 Union soldiers were injured. Presumably Albert Couch was one of the three injured. According to Albert's affidavits, a mini-ball, or possibly a cannon ball, struck his rifle on January 1, 1865 during a charge. This jammed his rifle into his shoulder or arm. The injury he sustained was severe enough to partially disable or paralyze his arm.
Albert states he was given leave on March 6, 1864 to visit his home. While on leave, he was captured by Confederate forces. Union records confirm that Albert was taken prisoner on March 12, 1865, in Greene County, Tennesee, and sent to Libby prison in Richmond, Virginia. Records also indicate Albert was involved in a prisoner exchange at Aikens Landing, and sent to Camp Chase in Columbus, Ohio. After being furloughed he was instructed to return to his regiment. He claims he returned to Knoxville Tennessee, learned his regiment was in North Carolina, and he had no way to get to join them. A letter his daughter wrote to the Pension Board claims he was ill upon his return, and his regiment was disbanded before he was well enough to rejoin them.
Since there is no record of him ever reconnecting with his regiment after he left in March, 1885 he was remained listed as a deserter as of March 1, 1865. Because of his status he was never able to obtain a Civil War pension, even after 20 years of correspondence. After his death, his daughter Bessie tried again to obtain the pension on behalf of her mother, Mary Ann Teague-Couch, but was also denied on the basis that Albert was given a dishonerable discharge.
This story is primarily based on the information taken from Albert Couch's Military Service Records and Civil War Pension records. (From Ancestry.com)
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1834 - 1921 (86 years)
