40 THE AMERICAN FOXHOUND 



In the early forties Dr. T. Y. Henry (grandson of Patrick 

 Henry), of Virginia, presented George L. F. Birdsong, of 

 Thomaston, Georgia, with a pair of puppies from his pack of 

 hounds, which at that time had made an enviable reputation in 

 Virginia. Mr. Birdsong sent a wagon overland (there being no 

 railroad at that time), for the dogs. They proved to be superior 

 to any dogs he had owned up to that time. In 1844 or 1845, Dr. 

 Henry, being threatened with that dreaded disease, consumption, 

 was ordered South by his physician. He started, traveling 

 leisurely by wagon, accompanied by a party of friends, carrying 

 his fine kennel of hounds with him, stopping at different points, 

 putting in the time hunting and fishing as it suited their fancy. 

 Mr. Birdsong, being informed of his movements, intercepted Dr. 

 Henry en route, spending some days with him. 



On reaching Florida, the deer being plentiful, Dr. Henry's 

 dogs frequently ran them, when they would always take to the 

 bayous and lagoons. When swimming after the game the dogs 

 would be killed by alligators that infested these waters. Dr. 

 Henry soon realized that his much-prized pack would be ex- 

 terminated if something was not done. He wrote the facts to 

 his friend, Mr. Birdsong, telling him that he might have the 

 remnant of his famous pack if he would come after them. Mr. 

 Birdsong, while sympathizing with his friend in his misfortune, 

 was glad of an opportunity to secure these much-coveted dogs, 

 and at once started after them. 



Dr. Henry called them Irish hounds, they being descendants 

 of "Mountain" and "Muse," imported from Ireland by Bolton 

 Jackson, of Maryland, and presented by him to Captain Sterrett 

 Ridgely. He gave them to Governor Ogle, of Maryland. He 

 gave Mountain to Captain Charles Carroll, of CarroUton. He 

 gave him to Dr. Buchanan, and he gave Captain (a direct 

 descendant of Mountain and Muse) to Dr. Henry. See Turf 

 Register Vol. 3, pp. 287, 350 and 403; Vol. 4, pp. 234 and 397. 

 This was the foundation of the celebrated Birdsong dogs. In 

 1861 the famous dog "July," imported into Georgia by Miles G. 

 Harris, who purchased him of Gosnell, of Maryland, was crossed 

 on the Birdsong dogs. From letters in our possession and 

 private conversation with Mr. Birdsong, we are satisfied that 

 this dog "July" was of the same strain of old "Captain" and the 

 original Henry dogs. 



These dogs were called "Irish hounds" by Dr. Henry. Mr. 



