CDV shows Russell in a true left profile. He wears a dark double-breasted frock coat with colonel’s shoulder straps and two badges on his left breast. One is a 9^th Corps badge suspended from a ribbon and the other is a 5^th Corps badge also suspended from a ribbon but with the number “11” at center of the Maltese Cross.

Contrast and clarity are excellent. Paper and mount do have some moderate surface dirt.

Reverse is blank. ID is confirmed by other online images.

Charles Sawyer Russell was born in Boston, Massachusetts on March 15, 1831. At some point he relocated to Indianapolis, Indiana where he was living when the Civil War broke out. The 33 year old Russell enlisted as a sergeant in the 11^th Indiana Infantry on April 19, 1861. While in the volunteer service he received a commission in the Regular Army as a captain in the 11^th US Regulars.

While with the regulars Russell received a brevet promotion to major on September 17, 1862 for his services at Antietam followed by another brevet promotion to lieutenant-colonel on May 3, 1863 for his service at Chancellorsville.

On May 26 1864 Russell was appointed lieutenant-colonel of the 28^th US Colored Infantry. While with the 28^th he received two brevet promotions to colonel and brigadier general for his actions at Petersburg on July 30, 1864 and was given command of the 2^nd Brigade, 3^rd Division 25^th Corps. In the following month of August he was promoted to colonel in the Regular Army.

Russell was mustered out of the volunteer service on November 8, 1865 but retained his regular army rank of colonel.

After the war he lived in Indianapolis where he died of cholera on November 2, 1866. He is buried in Spring Grove Cemetery in Cincinnati, Ohio.

A quote by an unknow comrade of Russell’s reads:

“I think all who served near Captain Charles S. Russell, will agree with me that he was an exceptionably able commander of troops in action. I never knew him, in the many times his capacity was put to the test, to fail in the soldierly qualities which made him so distinguished. In every action of the regiment from Gaines' Mill to Gettysburg, he was the acting field officer, and always made his presence felt. He was appointed, at the request of Governor Morton of Indiana, colonel of the [2]8th U. S. Colored Troops, and in the Campaign of 1864, commanded a brigade in the 9th and 25th Corps. His brigade was selected to accompany General Sheridan's Army to Texas. The death of Captain, Brevet Colonel, Russell at Cincinnati, Ohio, in November, 1866, removed from the Army one of its most distinguished officers of his grade. He was of tried courage, and admitted capability for high command.” [ad][ph:L]

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