Avoiding the Grand Central Parkway, I exited Northern Boulevard near Citifield, and picked up Astoria Boulevard. An old memory stirred, and coupled with recent travels to New York sites connected to the Civil War, I took a right turn onto Ditmars Boulevard, and found a place to park. I have always been intrigued by streets names in this Queens corner. I know this neighborhood a bit, and explored it some.
Darius N. Couch was a general in the United States Army who served ably in numerous campaigns during the Civil War, including the critical battles of Chancellorsville and Gettysburg. Yet he is not remembered; in fact, in that niche where he is known, Civil War buffs, there is disagreement on how his name is pronounced: kush, as is whoosh, or couch as in divan.
Don Carlos Buell also was a general in the United States Army, including serving during the Civil War. As I recall from my reading, he was late in arriving and timid in fighting during the Battle of Shiloh; he was relieved of command later in 1862. He had what President Lincoln called the slows.
Benjamin Butler was a political general: not a professional soldier, but an influential Massachusetts politician Lincoln appeased by giving a military command. Butler proceeded to antagonize the population in New Orleans with his behavior, earning the hateful nickname of The Beast. The city was a lynchpin in the Union strategy to defeat the rebellious states. Recalled, he was given another command in Virginia, and continued his ineffectiveness.
It has always intrigued me why these obscure or unheroic figures have streets named after them: A. A. Humphreys, Quincy Adams Gillmore, Ericsson, McIntosh (whom, if my guess is right, was actually a Confederate). I have no ready answer. John Ericsson was an inventor of great consequence, yet is otherwise forgotten.
Neighborhood names
Other names