Guide to the Gen. David Allen Russell Family Papers

Collection

Identifier: HC 104

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

Certificates, correspondence, and newspaper clippings from Brig. Gen. David Allen Russell. Of note are his certificate of admission to West Point in 1841, letters written to family members during Russell's time stationed in Mexico and Oregon, as well as letters to family during the Civil War. Many of his letters discuss his desire to further his military career, sometimes with the help of his father's influence.

Special Orders No. 22, dated January 28, 1862, from Major General McClellan gave Captain Russell leave from the 4th Infantry to "command a regiment of volunteers." and a letter from William Brown, Assistant Adjutant General of Massachusetts, appointed him Colonel of the 7th Regiment of the Massachusetts Volunteers.

Dates

1841-1864

Creator

Russell, David Allen, 1820-1864 (Person)

Biographical Note

David Allen Russell was born in 1820 to politician David Abel and Alida Lansing Russell in New York State. David Abel served as a Congressman from New York State from 1835-1841. In 1841, Russell was admitted to West Point, graduating in 1845 38th in his class.

During his military career, Russell saw action in the Mexican War and was stationed for a time in Michigan, Oregon, and Washington. In January 1862, Captain Russell was promoted to Major and given command of the 7th Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteers. By November of 1862, he had been promoted to Brigadier General.

Russell died of injuries sustained during the Battle of Winchester in 1864. In 1867, the newly established fort near Cheyenne was named Fort D.A. Russell in his honor.

Extent

.25 cubic feet

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

Certificates, correspondence, and newspaper clippings from Brig. Gen. David Allen Russell.

Arrangement

Arranged in general chronological order by series.

Series 1: Russell Family Papers. Documents donated in 1929 by Cornelia Russell Simmons (granddaughter of D.A.R.'s brother Cornelius) and Major Montesinos.

Series 2: Donated by Mr. and Mrs. Harold A. Cartier in 1966.

Separated Materials

Gen. Russell's sword and sash, and a badge worn by Cornelia Russell Simmons at the unveiling of a monument in memory of Gen. Russell are a part of the Wyoming State Museum collection.

Photographs from H66-189 transferred to P70-77 and filed in the D.A. Russell bio file.