Accept my thanks for
your kind remembrance and good wishes. You want to know about
Colonel John DeCourcey, who commanded the [16th] regiment of Ohio
Infantry for some time during our late war. I have not much to
tell you of him, except that I made his acquaintance afterwards as
a British nobleman. He was appointed a Union officer, I believe,
by Governor Dennison, and had had, as I understand, some previous
military experience and training.

"One night, in a party at the house of a friend in London, about
1872, I was told that Lord Kinsale desired especially to be presented
to me. I said of course it would be agreeable. On being introduced
he explained that, besides a general desire to pay his respects to
the American Minister, he took an interest in me as being from
Ohio. I was a little surprised to find an English gentleman having
any particular knowledge about Ohio. He went on to tell me he had
not been in London for some time, and had been ill, or he would
have called on me before that time, for that he had served as
commander of an Ohio regiment during our late war. This surprised
me, but he explained that he was not then Lord Kinsale, else the
fact might have attracted some attention, but only John DeCourcey,
having succeeded rather unexpectedly to the title. I think he said
on the death of a cousin, and perhaps the end of two or three other
lives intervening. He was himself then an invalid, apparently,
and has since died. I found him an agreeable gentleman.

"The Barony of Kinsale is an old title. I believe this Lord Kinsale
was the 31st or 32d Baron. His ancestor, Earl of Ulster, for
defending King John, in single combat, with a champion provided by
Philip Augustus of France, was granted the privilege for himself
and heirs, _forever to go with covered head in the presence of
Royalty_. This, my dear general, must be about all that I told
you of John DeCourcey, or could remember when I met you on the
occasion you mention, at Springfield. Hope you are in good heart
and health, I am

"Very sincerely yours,
"Robt. C. Schenck."

(18) _War Records_, vol. x., Part I., pp. 904, 919-920.

(19) _War Records_, vol. x., Part I., pp, 904, 919-920.

(20) _Battles and Leaders_, etc., vol. ii., pp. 706-7; _War
Records_, vol. xvi., Part II., p. 92.

CHAPTER VIII
Confederate Invasion of Kentucky (1862)--Cincinnati Threatened,
and "Squirrel Hunters" Called Out--Battles of Iuka, Corinth, and
Hatc