Mortally wounded at the Battle of Nashville, December 1864

When he was a boy, Russell was brought to Logan County, Kentucky. The importation of slaves into Kentucky was restricted by the Nonimportation Act of 1833. However on 26 February 1849, an act was approved by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky to allow Russell to be brought into Kentucky at the request of Jacob Shall Golladay.

Russell was 21 years old when he enlisted on 28 October 1863 at Clarksville, Tennessee. His height was listed as 5' 5" and he was born in Tennessee. Russell was wounded in the battle of Nashville on 16 December 1864. He was sent to the General Hospital at Nashville.

Russell died on 05 January 1865 from the wounds that he received in battle. He is buried at the National Cemetery in Nashville in a marked grave (Section K, grave 13240).