David Allen Russell
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David Allen Russell (December 10, 1820 – September 19, 1864) was a career United States Army officer who served in the Mexican-American War and the American Civil War. He was killed in action as a brigadier general in the Union army.
Russell was born in Salem, New York, the son of David Abel Russell who was a member of the House of Representatives from 1835 to 1841. The senior Russell secured an appointment to West Point for his son during his final year in Congress. The junior Russell graduated near the bottom of his class in 1845. His first assignment was with the U.S. 1st Infantry Regiment.
He transferred to the U.S. 4th Infantry Regiment where he served in Mexico. He was brevetted for gallantry and meritorious service at the Battle of Paso Ovejas and the Battle of Cerro Gordo. He was promoted to first lieutenant in 1848.
After the war, the 4th Infantry was sent to the Pacific Northwest. Russell fought in the Rogue River War and the Yakima War. He was promoted to captain in 1854.
In 1861, the 4th Infantry was recalled to the East and placed in the defenses around Washington, D.C. Russell joined the volunteer army and accepted a commission as colonel of the 7th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Regiment. Russell then served in the Peninsula Campaign and the Seven Days Battles. He was brevetted lieutenant colonel in the Regular Army for gallant and meritorious service.
In 1862, Russell was promoted to major in the Regular Army and assigned to the U.S. 8th Infantry Regiment. Still in command of the 7th Massachusetts, he fought in the Battle of Antietam. Later in 1862, Russell was promoted to brigadier general of volunteers and commanded a brigade during the Rappahannock campaign. He later fought at the Battle of Fredericksburg. Russell was primarily in reserve during the Battle of Gettysburg, but was brevetted colonel in the Regular Army shortly afterwards.
In 1864, Russell fought in the Wilderness Campaign. He was mortally wounded later that year in the Shenandoah Valley during the Battle of Opequon when he was struck by a shell fragment. He was brevetted major general in the Regular Army in the field.
He is buried in Salem, New York, in Evergreen Cemetery.
Fort D. A. Russell in the Wyoming Territory was named in his honor.
[edit] References
- Hubbell, John T., and James W. Geary (editors). Biographical Dictionary of the Union: Northern Leaders of the Civil War. Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood Press, 1995. ISBN 0-313-20920-0
- Johnson, Rossiter (editor). The Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans. Boston: The Biographical Society, 1904.
- Warner, Ezra J. Generals in Blue: Lives of the Union Commanders. Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press, 1964.
