Charles L. Russell
Inmate of Soldiers Home at Oxford
Holds Medal for Heroism
Utica Saturday Globe, October 1904
Charles L. Russell
1844 - 1910
The Soldiers' Home at Oxford [Chenango Co., NY] contains at least one man who for a single act of bravery during the civil war was given a vote of thanks by the Congress of the United States, and by that same body was presented with a medal for his heroism. the recipient of this recognition is Lieut. Charles L. Russell, who at the age of 60 reticently refers to his daring exploit of 40 years ago, when the incident occurred which brought him such distinction. It was at the storming of the confederate works at Spotsylvania. It was Gen. Hancock's intention to attack the enemy's works, which were in their lines, just at the break of day. Mr. Russell was a corporal in Company H, Ninety-third New York Infantry. There was considerable rivalry among the different regiments engaged in the charge as to which one should be the first to reach the line of earthworks. Before the charging line reached the first line of entrenchment the Confederates fled. The Union line was reformed in the abandoned trenches preparatory to an attack on the second line of earthworks, behind which the fleeing southerners had taken refuge and were strengthened by comrades, who held the third line farther back. It was evident that behind the second line the confederates intended to make the stand of the day.
The charge on the trench was made and the Union line again halted in the ditch on the outer side, confronted by an eight-foot earth embankment behind which the enemy swarmed. This position was held for a short time. The remainder of the story is graphically told in the published history of the Ninety third New York Volunteer infantry.
The wind blew from their side towards us. The flag of the Forty-third Virginia was directly opposite ours, partly covering it. It was too much. Corp. Charles L. Russell, of the color guard resolved to capture that flag or die. He did it. Stripped to his shirt, he jumped the works right into the rebel line, knocking men right and left, grabbed the colonel of the regiment, who was holding the colors, and pitched him headlong, flag and all, over into the ditch and the Union line.
The men were wild with enthusiasm on witnessing this daring deed, and from end to end of the line cheers echoed and re-echoed. The charge began, and the entire division clambered over the works, capturing 600 prisoners. For this act Russell received the thanks of Congress, and was presented with a medal in the presence of the whole division. He also received a lieutenant's commission from the Governor of the State of New York and was declared the hero of Spotsylvania. Another instance of his heroism occurred when the army was lying before Petersburg. The commanding general wished to ascertain the position of the rebels and the distance from the Union lines, and chose Russell and a comrade named Oliver A. Platt to obtain the information. The men were requested to remove their coats and carry no arms, but to take with them a few newspapers, so that in case of capture they could give as a pretext for their presence within the enemy's lines that they wished to exchange newspapers, which were scarce and hard to get at that time.
"After leaving their own camp the men entered the thick woods and coming forth found they had passed the rebel pickets without realizing it. From the shelter of a large tree they could see the Confederate camp and gained the information they sought. Instead of retreating in good order Russell proposed that they should advance near enough to exchange newspapers and thus be able to convince their commander that they had carried out his instructions to the letter. They advanced within plain view of the rebels who were scattered about in groups playing cards and reading. They called to them and invited an exchange of papers, but a rebel officer picked up a gun and others followed his example. He called to the two men to surrender, at the same time leveling his gun. Thirty or forty more guns were pointed at them, but Russell and his companion by agreement ran only a step or two and fell on their faces to escape the first volley, then up and took to their heels in earnest. Though the rebels followed them and the pickets closed in on them, they escaped unhurt and returned in safety to the camp.
Mr. Russell with his wife came to the W.R.C. Home at Oxford last November from the Soldiers Home at Marshalltown, Ia., in the hope that the change would be of benefit to Mrs. Russell, who was injured by a bolt of lightning. The change is proving beneficial. He was a member of the Grand Army post at Cedar Rapids while a resident there and was employed as janitor at the public library. The accompanying illustrations picture Mr. Russell as he appears today and also at the time of his daring adventures.
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Medal of Honor
Awarded for actions during the Civil War
The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Corporal Charles L. Russell, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism on 12 May 1864, while serving with Company H 93d New York Infantry, in action at Spotsylvania, Virginia, for capture of flag of 42d Virginia infantry (confederate States of America)
Date of Issue: December 1, 1864
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