Gustavus De Russy
Encyclopedia
Gustavus Adolphus De Russy (November 3, 1818 - May 29, 1891) was a US Army officer, who became a general during the American Civil War
.
De Russy was born in Brooklyn
to French-American army officer René Edward De Russy
and Helen Augusta Maxwell. He was also brother-in-law to Union general Henry Jackson Hunt
. He entered West Point in 1835, but was forced to resign in 1838 for alcohol use. In 1847, he was commissioned a second lieutenant
in the army and served in the Mexican-American War. He remained in the army following the war, and served as quartermaster at Fort Monroe
from 1848 until 1857, when he was promoted to captain.
By the start of the Civil War, he was serving in the 4th US Artillery
. He commanded the artillery reserve of III Corps in the Peninsula Campaign
and the Seven Days Battles
, receiving promotions to major
and lieutenant colonel
. He was promoted to colonel
in March 1863 and again to brigadier general
of volunteers in May of the same year, and commanded the southern defences of Washington, D.C.
until the end of the war.
After the war, he reverted to the rank of major and continued serving in the army, receiving new promotions to lieutenant colonel (1879) and colonel (1882) until retiring in 1882. De Russy eventually died in his home in Detroit, Michigan
. He was buried in Elmwood Cemetery
in his hometown.
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
.
De Russy was born in Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
to French-American army officer René Edward De Russy
René Edward De Russy
René Edward De Russy was an engineer, military educator, and career United States Army officer who was responsible for erecting many Eastern United States coastal fortifications...
and Helen Augusta Maxwell. He was also brother-in-law to Union general Henry Jackson Hunt
Henry Jackson Hunt
Henry Jackson Hunt was Chief of Artillery in the Army of the Potomac during the American Civil War. Considered by his contemporaries the greatest artillery tactician and strategist of the war, he was a master of the science of gunnery and rewrote the manual on the organization and use of artillery...
. He entered West Point in 1835, but was forced to resign in 1838 for alcohol use. In 1847, he was commissioned a second lieutenant
Second Lieutenant
Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces.- United Kingdom and Commonwealth :The rank second lieutenant was introduced throughout the British Army in 1871 to replace the rank of ensign , although it had long been used in the Royal Artillery, Royal...
in the army and served in the Mexican-American War. He remained in the army following the war, and served as quartermaster at Fort Monroe
Fort Monroe
Fort Monroe was a military installation in Hampton, Virginia—at Old Point Comfort, the southern tip of the Virginia Peninsula...
from 1848 until 1857, when he was promoted to captain.
By the start of the Civil War, he was serving in the 4th US Artillery
4th Air Defense Artillery Regiment (United States)
The 4th Air Defense Artillery Regiment was constituted 1 June 1821 in the Regular Army as the 4th Regiment of Artillery and organized from new and existing units with Headquarters at Pensacola, Florida...
. He commanded the artillery reserve of III Corps in the Peninsula Campaign
Peninsula Campaign
The Peninsula Campaign of the American Civil War was a major Union operation launched in southeastern Virginia from March through July 1862, the first large-scale offensive in the Eastern Theater. The operation, commanded by Maj. Gen. George B...
and the Seven Days Battles
Seven Days Battles
The Seven Days Battles was a series of six major battles over the seven days from June 25 to July 1, 1862, near Richmond, Virginia during the American Civil War. Confederate General Robert E. Lee drove the invading Union Army of the Potomac, commanded by Maj. Gen. George B. McClellan, away from...
, receiving promotions to major
Major
Major is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
and lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and most marine forces and some air forces of the world, typically ranking above a major and below a colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence...
. He was promoted to colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
in March 1863 and again to brigadier general
Brigadier General
Brigadier general is a senior rank in the armed forces. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries, usually sitting between the ranks of colonel and major general. When appointed to a field command, a brigadier general is typically in command of a brigade consisting of around 4,000...
of volunteers in May of the same year, and commanded the southern defences of Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
until the end of the war.
After the war, he reverted to the rank of major and continued serving in the army, receiving new promotions to lieutenant colonel (1879) and colonel (1882) until retiring in 1882. De Russy eventually died in his home in Detroit, Michigan
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
. He was buried in Elmwood Cemetery
Elmwood Cemetery (Detroit, Michigan)
Elmwood Cemetery in Detroit is one of Michigan's most important historic cemeteries. Located at 1200 Elmwood Street in Detroit's Eastside Historic Cemetery District, Elmwood is the oldest continuously operating, non-denominational cemetery in Michigan...
in his hometown.