W.A Russell - Civil War Veteran

History books tell us that the Civil War ended in 1865.  For those who lost property, loved ones or were injured during the fighting the post-war years proved just as grueling.

William Alexander Russell was born July 7, 1831, near Baton Rouge, but was raised in Mississippi.  From historical records, it appears as though young W.A.'s father died at some point before 1849 because in that year his mother Mary "Polly" (Knight) Russell remarried to Henry Roberts.  In 1850 "Alexander" resided with the Roberts' family in Clarke County, Mississippi, just to the south of Meridian.  He was 19.

On April 17, 1858, W.A. married Catherine Colleen Miller in Choctaw County, Alabama.  Catherine was the daughter of Ross Miller, an immigrant from Ireland before the birth of his daughter.  Family stories tell that Mr. Miller's brogue was so strong his grandchildren could not understand him.

In the 1860 Census W.A. lists his occupation as a farm laborer and since his real estate value is not listed it can be assumed that he worked for others.  A son William is also listed on the census.

When the Civil War came William A. Russell enlisted in Co. D, 36th Mississippi Infantry.  Based on the pension records held in the Texas State Archives his enlistment date of March 12, 1862.  He served until the end of the war.  The unit's history can be found HERE.  Another good bit of information can be found HERE.

When General Lee surrendered his Army of Northern Virginia on April 9, 1865, 3rd Sgt. W.A. Russell was still fighting.  He was captured at Spanish Fort, Alabama, in the defense of Mobile Bay, and was taken to Ship Island Prison Camp along with 561 other soldiers.  The numbers would swell less than a week later when Confederate defeat at Blakely, Alabama, would open Mobile Bay to Federal occupation.  3,056 more soldiers would be transported to Ship Island on April 15, 1865.

             (above is W. A. Russell on the morning roll call while at Ship Island)



It is hard to believe that this spit of land once held 20,000 Union soldiers and a major supply base, as well as a POW camp.  Today, Ship Island of 1860 is now two islands, having been cut in two in by Hurricane Camille in 1969.  The gap between the two islands - Camille's Cut - was the location of the Confederate cemetery on the island.

Russell's stay was not as long as some.  By most accounts, the majority of the Confederate soldiers were paroled and allowed to go home by the middle part of May 1865.  A 1984 National Park Service study, which controls the island today as part of the Gulf Islands National Park is a fascinating read: find it HERE - SHIP ISLAND.  The National Park Service's page dedicated to Fort Massachusetts, Ship Island, and Gulf Islands National Seashore can be found HERE.

When the war was over Russell returned home to Newton County but quickly moved the family back to Baton Rouge where he was born, and hence it can be assumed, had relatives.  Newton County is just south of Meridian, and General Sherman's destruction of that town is legendary.  According to family oral histories what property the family had was burned with nothing left to them but a single chicken. It stands to reason this played a large part in their migration. They did not stay in Baton Rouge for long, however, continuing the trek to Texas. The date of their migration can be somewhat deduced from family stories.  Around 1873 their oldest daughter Catherine (born in 1861) moved with her husband to Texas (Daughter Catherine seems to be around the age of 14 when she married, which was not uncommon).  W.A. and Catherine followed in covered wagons. Wife Catherine was pregnant at the time.  In the summer of 1873, they reached the Sabine River, which as swollen from rains. Their last child John Bunyon Russell was born on the Louisiana side of the river on August 31, 1873. In 1880 the family was in Madisonville, Madison County, Texas. William A. Russell was 49 and their youngest son, John Bunion, was 8.  He was listed as a farmer.

William Alexander Russell died on April 15, 1907, and a year later his widow applied for a pension in his name.  It was accepted and issued by the state of Texas.  He is buried in Willow Hole, Madison County, Texas, as is his wife Catherine.  

(Russell's Grave with Masonic honors at Willow Hole Cemetery)

In studying the history of the Civil War we tend to get caught up in the grand politics, social causes, and rhetoric of "great men."  It is easy to forget the average people who, as in the apparent case of W. A. Russell, had virtually nothing but marched to war to fight in a cause that was very real to him and anything but "Lost."

Sources:

Cotton, Mildred Russell. Background of a Family, Unpublished manuscript. N.D.

Various Census records recovered through Ancestry.com

The National Park Service