David Allen Russell | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | (1820-12-10)December 10, 1820 Salem,New York |
| Died | September 19, 1864(1864-09-19) (aged 43) Winchester,Virginia |
| Buried | Evergreen Cemetery, Salem, New York |
| Allegiance | United States of America Union |
| Service | United States Army Union Army |
| Years of service | 1845–1864 |
| Rank |  Brigadier General BrevetMajor General |
| Commands | 7th Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry |
| Battles / wars | Mexican–American War |
David Allen Russell (December 10, 1820 – September 19, 1864) was a careerUnited States Army officer who served in theMexican–American War and theAmerican Civil War. He was killed in action as abrigadier general in theUnion Army.
Russell was born inSalem, New York, the son ofDavid Abel Russell, who was a member of the House of Representatives from 1835 to 1841, and his wife. During his final year in Congress, the senior Russell secured an appointment to theUnited States Military Academy for his son. The junior Russell graduated near the bottom of his class in 1845. His first assignment was with theU.S. 1st Infantry Regiment.
He transferred to theU.S. 4th Infantry Regiment where he served inMexico. He was brevetted for gallantry and meritorious service at theBattle of Paso Ovejas and theBattle of Cerro Gordo. He was promoted tofirst lieutenant in 1848.
After the war, the 4th Infantry was sent to thePacific Northwest. Russell fought in theRogue River War and theYakima War against local Native American tribes. He was promoted tocaptain in 1854.
In 1861, the 4th Infantry was recalled to the East and placed in the defenses aroundWashington, D.C. Russell joined the volunteer army and accepted a commission ascolonel of the7th Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry. Russell then served in thePeninsula Campaign and theSeven Days Battles. He wasbrevettedlieutenant colonel in theregular army for gallant and meritorious service.
In 1862, Russell was promoted tomajor in the regular army and assigned to theU.S. 8th Infantry Regiment. Still in command of the 7th Massachusetts, he fought in theBattle of Antietam. Later in 1862, Russell was promoted to brigadier general of volunteers and commanded abrigade during the Rappahannock campaign. He later fought at theBattle of Fredericksburg. Russell was primarily in reserve during theBattle of Gettysburg, but was brevetted colonel in the regular army shortly afterward.
In 1864, Russell fought in theOverland Campaign. He was mortally wounded later that year in theShenandoah Valley during theBattle of Opequon, otherwise known as the Third Battle of Winchester, when he was struck by a shell fragment. On May 3, 1867,PresidentAndrew Johnson nominated Russell for the grade of brevetmajor general in the regular army, to rank from the date of his death in the field, September 19, 1864, and theUnited States Senate confirmed the appointment on February 14, 1868.[1]
He is buried inSalem, New York, in Evergreen Cemetery.
Fort D. A. Russell in theWyoming Territory, established in 1867, was named in Russell's honor; this post was renamed for Governor and U. S. SenatorFrancis E. Warren in 1930. Afterwards, Camp Marfa, established in 1911 nearMarfa, Texas, becameFort D. A. Russell. This post was closed in 1945, duringdemobilization afterWorld War II.
Gun Battery David A. Russell, located within Fort Stevens State Park in Hammond, Oregon, is also named in Russell's honor.
