The Henry strain of hounds was founded by Dr. Thomas Y Henry of Charlottesville, Va., who was a grandson of Patrick Henry of Revolutionary times. His stallion hound was Captain, he by Traveler  out of Sophy, both by Mountain out of Muse.  Mountain and Muse were imported from Ireland in 1830 by Mr. Bolton Jackson of Maryland.             The American Turf  and register volume six, February, 1832, describes Mountain as follows:He was a very compact hound of medium size, and what in England is called freckled,not spotted, with large blue splotches;he was highly prized as a stud dog as well as for his hunting qualities.  Mountain passed successively through the hand of Bolton Jackson, Governor Ogle of Maryland, Charles Carroll  of Carrollton, to Dr. Buchanan of Sharpsville, Md.  Dr. Henry while a medical student heard of these famous Irish hounds and went to see them.  Dr. Buchanan offered him the choicest couple of his pack.  Dr. Henry refused to accept his generous gift, but did accept two younger hounds called Captain and Jim.  Captain was a white dog with black saddle and tan ears, a powerful speedy hound that was rarely satisfied with anything less than an all day hunt and was never anywhere except lead dog of his pack.  He was death on curs and when his edge was not dulled by an adequate amount of running was of a restless, devilish disposition.  If returning from an unsuccessful hunt, Captain was apt to be in a quarrelsome mood and without fear, favor or mercy was likely to attack anything that crossed his path; he was finally killed as a canine felon.  Before this however, he was bred twice to a small, but beautiful black and tan bitch called, Brenda, from the kennels of Dr. Bruse of  Charlottesville, Va.  From these two came  Willis, Lizzie, Bilbo and Tropper.  All four were heavy  coated  hounds and had a particular flesh mark or feather curl on each shoulder.  All  were black and tan  except Lizzie, she being spotted as had been her sire, Captain.  Lizzie was bred to a black and tan  hound named Streaker that was imported from Great Britain in 1840, by Elliot Yullie of Charlotte Co. Va. and was a Kerry Beagle, 22 inches high.  From the Lizzie and Streaker mating which was whelped April 12, 1847, came Ringgold, Ruth, Patrick, Wickham, Porter and Virginia; all six of these were 22 inches high and had black bodies, tan legs, white ring necks, white feet, white tips on tails and had feather curls as had their dam.   The characteristics of the Henry hounds were unusual.   They had great speed, endurance and a habit of hunting and trailing with a looking forward expression as if expecting to see their game.  If they lacked scenting ability, it did not hinder them from carrying a difficult trail as they cast ahead so constantly, recovering even a faulty line.  They had broad heads, small ears, sharp noses and oblique rather wolf-like eyes, their tougueing  note was sharp and easily distinguished; all were great tree dogs.    In 1846 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 kennel of hounds with him, stopping at different points putting in time hunting and fishing as it suited their fancy.   Mr. George L.F. Birdsong of Thomaston, Ga. being informed of his movements intercepted Dr. Henry enroute, spending some time with  him.  On reaching Florida, where deer were plentiful, Dr. Henry's dogs frequently ran them when they would always take to 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 exterminated 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 the opportunity to secure these much coveted dogs, and at once started for them.  After disposing of his pack, Dr. Henry settled at Quincy, Fl. where he became active in politics and served as a state legislator and held other public offices.  One month prior to his death on June 1, 1869, his home burned and all that was saved was a clawfoot bookcase and a mahogany writing desk.  The sportman of America should always honor the memory of Dr. Henry for breeding one of our oldest strains of hounds.  Some of our most noted strains of today carry quite a percentage of this once famous Irish blood.                                         My information has been gleamed from exerpts from letters and articles by Messers. Birdsong, Fred Streever, H.C.Trigg, C.B.Doyle, and H.E.C. Bryant.(by Paul E. Shanor, Rochester, Pa.