Title: Petition of Col. Gilbert Christian Russell Sr.
First published: 1825
Description: Col. Gilbert Christian Russell, Sr., (1782-1861), 1815, Mobile, Alabama, 3rd U.S. Infantry, for whom Russell County, Alabama, is named; helped supply the initial bricks by which historic Fort Morgan (National Park; site of Civil War, "*Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead*."), Mobile outer harbor was constructed. 

His daughter, Ann Maria Russell, wed Capt. Edward Malone, Sr., CSA, Mobile and Galveston cotton broker, who's aunt; Mrs. Emily W. Malone Tuttle, wed U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, east coast light-house builder, Maj. Cornelius Augustus Ogden who had helped superintend the building of Fort Morgan. Maj. Ogden of the New Jersey Ogdens, died 1855, Brandon, Vt., building a lighthouse, and is buried in the Malone lot, Magnolia Cemetery, Mobile. 

An Army Corps of Engineers financial officer suspected (without clear proof), illegal family collusion in supplying the bricks, and would not pay Col. Russell, who demobilized 1815, went to to Georgetown, D.C., to petition Congress for payment; the subject of this Congressional printing. 

With Col. Russell was Col. Russell's wife, Mrs. Margaret Hollinger Russell's step-mother, Mrs. Elizabth Moniac Hollinger's younger brother David; the son of Creek Chief Samuel 'Sam' Moniac, Sr., who signed the peace treaty with President Washington, New York City, 1790. The treaty provided for the removal of the Creeks west, from Alabama; except Sam could remain in Alabama with his land and slaves (none-the-less, Sam died Pass Christian, Miss., in the removal). Sam's cadet son David, at West Point, would receive letters to come home; the white man keeps your father drunk, selling Sam's, David's future land; for more drink). 

The treaty provided for the education of Sam Sr's son David. Col. Russell was young David's mentor at Georgetown, but I do not know at which school there, David was enrolled in?  West Point archives has two letters from Col. Russell, asking that the rules be waived, and David be admitted. 

The West Point website says David was West Point's first Native American graduate (David's father was 3/4's white, the son or grandson of German trader and translator, Abraham? Moniac), initially commissioned to the 5th U.S. Infantry, which Col. Russell in 1809 had been a Major in. The name is pronounced 'Mannn-ick" .

Col. Russell was born (*High-on-a-Windy-Hill*?), Abingdon, Virginia; the son of Battle of Kings Mountain, Maj. Andrew Russell, Jr., and Mrs. Margaret Christian who's grandfather was; Scott-Irish, Gilbert Christian, who 1733, settled '*Beverly Manor*', Christian's Creek, Augusta County, Virginia. The home of Gilbert's brother, Clerk of Court, Andrew Russell, III, is now an Abingdon inn (see it's website).  

Maj. David Moniac, Alabama Creek Volunteers in U.S. service, was killed in the Second Seminole War whilst leading his troop at the Battle of Wahoo Swamp, Florida. He had over 50 bullets in his remains, and with others was temporally buried in the only high ground; the swamp road. He and fellow troopers, due to the heat; were moved and reburied several more times until allegedly interred under two mass-graves under two pyramids at the ocean bluff of lovely St. Augustine National Cemetery, Florida. 

As brave Maj. David Moniac is not mentioned by name there; I petitioned for a personnel tombstone there; where there was a removable bush* in a row of tombstones next to the two pyramids. I was told it was a "closed" cemetery, no more tombstone even for an un-named, existing internment.  *Note: I suspected the suspicious bush, might be a camouflaged place-holder for some general's wife, or some such? Hopefully, I was wrong; no in death, Army RHIP there!

In the alternative, I petitioned for a memorial stone to David be placed at Bushnell National Cemetery, Florida, near the battlefield. This was done, no additional charge for the quote on the obverse from Gen. Jesup (who did not like Indians?); that David was, "*A brave as any man who drew a sword and faced the enemy*".  Both public open, and closed private Native American ceremonies were held at the dedication, and West Point send a speaker.  I'd hoped for  Native American spiritual symbol on the stone, but as David's father had held an Episcopal service; the Episcopalian Cross seemed more consistent with original intent.  Reared Episcopalian, I am simply deist now.

David's  memorial stone is featured at the  cemetery website. The U.S. government also provided at tombstone for Col. Russell's un-marked grave at Magnolia Cemetery, Mobile; near the Confederate graves (see "Find-a-Grave").  Thank you sirs!

Allegedly Chief Sam Moniac, Sr., who fought as a Native American nation ally, with Gen. Jackson; and Sam's son, Pvt. Samuel Moniac, Jr.; died during the removal at Pass Christian, Miss. The exact location of their graves are now lost to the ages; I would hope the oldest, or nearest, Episcopal Church with a graveyard; would graciously accept (with Episcopalian Crosses) these ally nation soldier's, U.S. government memorial stones?  

Jim Miller/*focusoninfinity*, Dutchman's Creek Bluff at Calf Gully Gulch, Southport, North Carolina 28461-7420 USA. 

*Post Scrip* for African American genealogist.  Prior to Col. Russell's removal to Mobile, he had a future retirement farm near Louisville, Kentucky; there under the care of a caretaker with many of Col. Russell's slaves. Col. Russell was later involved in a long reported case concerning the sale of that farm. If the slaves were removed to Mobile, they may have helped make the bricks for Fort Morgan? Those slaves have may come to the Louisville farm, from the earlier time Russell was a Captain in the 7th U.S. Infantry, at Fort Pickering below Memphis? There Captain or Major Russell, tried to save the life of his friend, Capt. Meriwether Lewis. Capt. or Maj. Russell (5th) investigated and reported on the death of Capt. Lewis who I suspect was an un-diagnosed, manic-depressive?  My father was both an un-diagnosed; then diagnosed, sufferer.

Col. Russell is mentioned in the anti-President Jackson "*Six Coffins*" posters as he executed the six Tennessee (one actually from Kentucky) militiamen.  I've read most of the courts martial transcript; and no where in it, did I see the court address the men's sole defense; that the men's contractual obligation to remain in-service as Tennessee militiamen out of state; had ceased to exist due to the expiration of their contract. Yes, such was belatedly addressed after their execution; and they could no longer appeal. Convenient!

The men had acted under the direction of their Tennessee militiamen officer (men of standing in Tenn.) leaders; leaders who were NOT likewise executed.  The officers several times had attempted to speak with Gen. Jackson about the contractual expiration of their, and their men's obligated service to remain. Gen. Jackson continually refused to see them. 

The court martial did not cite "*military necessity*" (Jackson had an impending battle and would need as many troops as he could husband). Nor did the court martial in the court martial, cite statute law, military tradition, nor legalese to the contrary, within the four-corners of the contract.  After the men's death and public hell was raised; all sorts of stuff got into the record.  But dead men can't file appeals.  

Even if after-the-fact, the men's execution could be otherwise legal; the fact it was not timely, initially presented at the militiamen's original courts martial; seemingly would forfeit that after-the-fact justification? 

Perhaps some latter-day "*Soldiers Best Friend*"; or the Army itself, on it's own motion; would apply, petition for grave stones, or memorial stones (or pyramid) for the; if wrongfully executed Tenn. militiamen; and if denied, petition the Army Board for Correction of Military Records, for belated remedy?  

Col. Russell was appointed an Ensign, 2nd U.S. Infantry, from Tenn., in 1803. I am, proudly; his great, great, great grandson. When the six men were executed by musketry, the Tenn. militiaman who was also a Baptist minister, lingered in physical agony much of the day; while Col. Russell lingered in mental anguish; *was it his duty to again attempt to kill the militiaman*, or had the man suffered enough?  Perhaps execution-orders then, did not admonish: "*until dead*"? The soldier's death, finally ended that issue.
Subjects: Defense contracts, US Congress, Army Corps Engineers, light-houses, courts martial law, War of 1812, slaves, executions, manic depressive
Places: United States, Russell County Alabama, Mobile, Louisville Kentucky, Memphis Tennessee, Abingdon, Magnolia Cemetery Virginia, Pass Christian, Missisippi, Augusta County, Fort Pickering, Fort Morgan
People: Gilbert Christian Russell Sr., Cornelius Augustus Ogden, Samuel & David Moniac, Edward Malone Sr., Hollinger, Jesup, Andrew Jackson, Meriwether Lewis, focusoninfinity
Time periods: 1782-1861
LC classification: AC901 .M5 vol. 748, no. 2