Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-02-09
Man Honored by Congress For
Bravery on Battlefield, a
Member Soldiers Home
HAS THE MEDAL GIVEN HIM
Charles Russell, of Dickinson County,
1.-THE Hero Of spottsyIvania," Living
With His Wife in This city-Is Pub
Iicly Honored by Nation DURING Civil
War-other Local News.

who performed deeds of bravery anu
daring during the civil war. MOST Oh
these men were brave in the rruest
sense. and are very modest when
speaking of their own part in this
memorable struggle. Now and then'
however, instances similar to the fol-
lowing come to the surface. The Home
contains one man, Lieut.. Chas. Y. rus
sell, who, with his wife, lives IN the
old peoples building, and VINO LOT Il
single act of unparalleled bravery was
given vote Of thanks by the congress
of the United States and by that same
body was presented with a medal TOR
his herois1n. This token OF the country $
appreciation was given him by his COM
manding general in the presence OF the
entire army division.
The incident related below took place
at the storlning Of the confederate
works at Spottsylvania, and was our
ing Hancock's charge. 1t was the IN
tention of that general to attack the
enemy's works, which We're In three
lines, Just at break Of day. AT the Tune
Of this charge Mr.. Russell was cor
poral in Company H. Ninety-third New
York infantry. There was considerable
rivalry among the different regiments
engaged in the charge, as to Whlcn one
should be the first to reach the me u
earthworks. Noticeable among those
who led the degiment In the race was
Corp. Russell. Before the charging line
reached the intrenchment, held by the
confederates, the latter evacuated ana
fed. The union line was reformed IN
the deserted trenches, preparatory u
the charge on the second line OIL earth
works. into which the fleeing southern
ers had taken refuge, and which ma
been strengthened by those VINO neld
the third line farther back. 1t was eNl-
dent that behind this second me Inc
confederates intended to make the
stand of the day.
The charge on the trench was made
and the union line halted in the often
on the outerside, being confronted ny
an eight foot earthen embanknlene oe'
hind which swarmed the foe. ihis po-
sition was kept for short tl1ne. ne
remainder of the account can pest Dc
quoted from the history OF the Ninety
third regiment. New York volunteer
infantry "The wind blew from their
side toward us. The flag of the Forty
second Virginia infantry was alrecliy
opposite ours, partly covering 1T UP. u
was too much. Corporal Charles J..
Russell. of the color guard, resolved to
nture that flag or die. He did 1t he
stripped to his shirt, jumped the WORKS
right into the rebel line, Knocked rneHl
right and left, grabbed the colonei OF
the regiment, who was holding I'M.
colors, and pitched him headlong, nag
and all over into our line.
The men were wild with enthusiasm
on witnessing the daring deed, and the
line from end to end echoed ana re-
echoed with cheers. The charge oesai'
and the entire lewiston clampereo over
the works, capturing 5000 prisoners
For this act Russell received the THANKS
Of congress, and was presented WIN
medal from that body before the eneire
division. He also received lleuten.
ants commission from the governor OF
New York, and was declared to be th'
hero of Spottsylvania.
Another instance mentioned IN tne
same volume shows Of what stun TINS
man was made The army was lying
before Petersburg. and the command
ing general wished to ascertain the
position and distance from the Union
lines occupied by that of the rebels
FOR this hazardous undertaking ne
chose Russell and comrade named
oliver A. Plat. The men We're re-
nuested to remove their coats and car
ry no arms but to take with them q
few newspapers, SO that in case OF
capture they could give a pretext Tor
their presence within the enemy's
lines. that they desired to exchange
newspapers, which were scarce ana
hard to get at that time. The men left
their own camp and after travelling
thru a thick wood passed, without
knowing it, the picket line OF the enc
my. Not knowing in what direction
or how far they had travelled, the
two men stopped behind a large tree
from which view of the rebel lines
and their position could be secured.
Russell proposed they should advance
near enough to exchange newspapers,
so they would be able to show the
general his instructions had been car
.ried out to the letter. They accord
.ingly did so and, advancing In plain
view of the rebels, halloed to them.
The confederates We're scattered about
in groups playing cards or lying out
side the works reading. The two men
made their wants known, and, calling
to the enemy told one or two to adj
vance with any newspapers they might
want to exchange A rebel officer, tvho
was with the men, picked up gun
and, ordering the others to do likewise,
shouted for the two men to surrender
or they would shoot. AS there We're
thirty or forty guns leveled at them
the situation was decidedly critical.
Russell seems to have been equal to
the occasion, however, and devised a
plan whereby they might stand
chance of escaping. 1t was arranged
between them at "A given signal they
should leave their shelter, run step
or two, then fall face downward on
the earth, in order to escape the fire
of their foes which they knew would
be directed at them the moment the9
stirred. This plan was adopted, and
they had no sooner took to their heels
and thrown themselves upon the
ground, than the bullets of the rebels
cut the twigs above them or tossed
the earth near where they were "
ing. AS soon as the volley had beer
fired they both arose and ran for their
lives. The rebels, however, followed
and the pickets, hearing the firing
closed in, but they ran the gauntlet,