Charles Sawyer Russell

Charles Sawyer Russell (March 15, 1831 – November 2, 1866) was a United States Army officer in the Union Army during the American Civil War.

Early life and career Russell was born in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1831, the son of John Brooks Russell, a publisher and seed dealer, and his wife, Mary Hicks Sawyer. In 1855, he married Annie Stretcher of Indianapolis, Indiana, and relocated to that state.

Civil War service At the beginning of the Civil War in 1861, Russell was a sergeant (April 19) and then quickly a captain (May 14) in the 11th U.S. Infantry Regiment, and was stationed to Fort Independence in Boston. Russell was appointed a brevet colonel for the Battle of the Crater, and to brigadier general for Cemetery Hill, both effective from July 30.

He was promoted to colonel on August 27, 1864, and given brigade command in the IX Corps in the Army of the Potomac from September until October. He then was transferred to the Army of the James that winter and commanded several brigades in the Army's XXV Corps from December 3 to February 27, 1865. The regiment was mustered out of the volunteer service on November 8, 1865, in Texas, and returned to Indianapolis for a public reception held on January 8, 1866. Russell was then transferred to the 20th U.S. Infantry Regiment in September 1866. He moved with the regiment to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he died in a cholera outbreak that struck the regiment that November. He is buried in Spring Grove Cemetery in Cincinnati.