Image shows Russell seated in a slight left profile. He wears the uniform of a brigadier general and his posed with his hands in his lap.

Image is clean and clear with excellent contrast.

Reverse has no back mark. There is a period pencil inscription that reads “GEN. RUSSELL” followed by collector information in light modern pencil. Bottom of reverse is stamped with number “1392.”

David Allen Russell was born December 10, 1820 in Salem, New York, the son of a member of the House of Representatives. During his father’s last year in Congress, he secured an appointment to the United States Military Academy for his son. The junior Russell graduated near the bottom of his class in 1845 and was assigned to the 1^st U.S. Infantry.

Russell transferred to the 4th Infantry with whom 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 Mexican War, the 4th Infantry was sent to the Pacific Northwest. Russell fought in the Rogue River War and the Yakima War against local Indian tribes. 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 Regiment Massachusetts Volunteers. 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. 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 fighting in the Battle of Fredericksburg. Russell was primarily in reserve during the Battle of Gettysburg, but was brevetted colonel in the regular army shortly afterward.

In 1864, Russell took part in the Overland Campaign. He was mortally wounded later that year in the Shenandoah Valley during the Battle of Opequon, otherwise known as the Third Battle of Winchester, when he was struck by a shell fragment. On May 3, 1867, President Andrew Johnson nominated Russell for the grade of brevet major general in the regular army, to rank from the date of his death in the field, September 19, 1864, and the United States Senate confirmed the appointment on February 14, 1868.

He is buried in Salem, New York, in Evergreen Cemetery.  [ad]

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

THIS ITEM, AS WITH ALL OTHER ITEMS AVAILABLE ON OUR WEB SITE,

MAY BE PURCHASED THROUGH OUR LAYAWAY PROGRAM.

FOR OUR POLICIES AND TERMS,

CLICK ON ‘CONTACT US’ AT THE TOP OF ANY PAGE ON THE SITE,

THEN ON ‘LAYAWAY POLICY’.

THANK YOU!