He'd march the streets of Quebec with his navy ship's company, upwards of 2 dozen of them also wearing Medals of Honor, and they'd be cheered on by thousands of dignitaries and citizens along the route. Probably the largest gathering of MOH men ever in Canada. For another 25 years and more he would wear his navy Medal of Honor with pride... ON AN ARMY UNIFORM!
Not many did that I bet.
It all started back in 1878 in either Quebec City, Rimouski or elsewhere in the province yet to be verified. That's where Henry was born to French Canadian parents. Formal documents would later show that at age 2 he had emigrated to New York.
Not many did that I bet.
It all started back in 1878 in either Quebec City, Rimouski or elsewhere in the province yet to be verified. That's where Henry was born to French Canadian parents. Formal documents would later show that at age 2 he had emigrated to New York.
History has yet to reveal what sort of youth this fellow had but it is known that with only 3 years of formal schooling he ended up becoming a recruit in the US Navy. He'd become the more formal... Henry P. Russell, Landsman, and assigned to the USS Marblehead, shown here stripped down and ready to do battle in the Spanish American War.
It was 11 December 1896, and Henry was 18 1/2 years old. The ship was in New York briefly, had just returned from duties in Europe and no doubt taking on new recruits at the time. About 16 months into its next tour, it was in Florida when the Spanish American War broke out. It was immediately sent south to Cuba for supportive and blockade duties.
Nineteen days later, on May 11 1898 Henry and about 50 other sailors became heroes in the famous cable cutting incident, mentioned many times in this space. There is a lot of detail of the actually cutting and dangers involved in my blog at... http://www.canadianmedalofhonor.com/sunday-evenings-blogs/pei-man-proves-heroism-earns-medal-of-honor-in-cuba
Two large war ships..the Marblehead and the Nashville were assigned with the task of breaking off the connections between Spain and Cuba by cutting some cables. To do this each ship sent out 2 small launches. One from each would do the locating, raising and cutting, while the 2nd from both would carry navy and marine sharpshooters who would provide protection for the cutters.
Most references claim this is the USS Nashville, but I think it may be the Marblehead. Regardless, the ship is cleaned up after the battle, and from the looks of activity of the deck, seems to be in celebration with the women being aboard. The launch at the front contains some of the crew that would have been in either it or the 4 actually used. Obviously the pictured is posed after the fact. If you compare the size of it with the picture at top you can readily see it being dwarfed in size. Look closely near the bow to the right.
There were about 110 Medals of Honor awarded for bravery during the war. Forty five % went to non-American born recipients. About half went to the cable cutting crews. The wording for the 7 July 1898 citation for the cable cutters is brief, as you can see from above. It is difficult to get specific info on many of these heroes and I have yet to even see any listing of who was on which of the 4 work boats.
Other than the above citation little is known about many of these sailors and marines, other than on Wednesday at noon they went out and earned a medal. (it actually was a Wednesday) I checked... hehe.
But with the help recently from the Connecticut Historical Society, The Congressional Medal of Honor Society, The Medal of Honor Historical Society of the US, Arlington National Cemetery, and a few others, some pieces are starting to fall into place about Henry P Russell.
Other than the above citation little is known about many of these sailors and marines, other than on Wednesday at noon they went out and earned a medal. (it actually was a Wednesday) I checked... hehe.
But with the help recently from the Connecticut Historical Society, The Congressional Medal of Honor Society, The Medal of Honor Historical Society of the US, Arlington National Cemetery, and a few others, some pieces are starting to fall into place about Henry P Russell.
From the above internment document there are several pieces to the puzzle provided. At the bottom left I see the first time Henry's SpanAmWar service dates from 11 December 1896 to 10 December 1899.
From the 22 October 1900 issue of the Hartford Courant I see that Henry P Russell has decided to take out US Citizenship, and on
the 20th he appeared in the US Circuit Court at Hartford Ct to so indicate his wishes to become a citizen at a later date.
But curiously, only 2 years after the fact, the paper got the ship wrong when claiming he was serving on the USS New York.
Between 1900 and 1905 Henry was living in the Hartford area. A 1905 Register of Enlistments in the US Army shows that Henry enlisted in the services again, but this time in the army. He joined the 18th Infantry from Hartford and served till released at Angel Island California in 1908. His entry documents list his previous job being that of an Embalmer.
That same year he signed up again, but this time with the 14th US Cavalry. Two years later the US Census had him still with the unit and stationed at Fort Stotsenburg, Luzon, Philippines. By 1911 he is still serving with the Cavalry, but by then stationed at Fort McKinley.
In 1919 Henry gets married and he and wife are living in Cumberland Maine, but by 1923 both are back at Hartford Ct. He was by then serving with the Hq Company of the 62nd US Artillery, and with rank of a First Sergeant.
The above Arlington Document shows a 1930 retirement with the rank of a Master Sergeant and also a note that he held the rank of Captain, and with the National Guard of New Hampshire.
The 1930 federal census shows him then working as a clerk for the New Hampshire Adjutant General.
The 1940 census has him back in Portland Maine, and a bio appearing in 1956 had him passing away on 1 December of that year whilst staying at the US Veterans Hospital at Togus Maine.
the 20th he appeared in the US Circuit Court at Hartford Ct to so indicate his wishes to become a citizen at a later date.
But curiously, only 2 years after the fact, the paper got the ship wrong when claiming he was serving on the USS New York.
Between 1900 and 1905 Henry was living in the Hartford area. A 1905 Register of Enlistments in the US Army shows that Henry enlisted in the services again, but this time in the army. He joined the 18th Infantry from Hartford and served till released at Angel Island California in 1908. His entry documents list his previous job being that of an Embalmer.
That same year he signed up again, but this time with the 14th US Cavalry. Two years later the US Census had him still with the unit and stationed at Fort Stotsenburg, Luzon, Philippines. By 1911 he is still serving with the Cavalry, but by then stationed at Fort McKinley.
In 1919 Henry gets married and he and wife are living in Cumberland Maine, but by 1923 both are back at Hartford Ct. He was by then serving with the Hq Company of the 62nd US Artillery, and with rank of a First Sergeant.
The above Arlington Document shows a 1930 retirement with the rank of a Master Sergeant and also a note that he held the rank of Captain, and with the National Guard of New Hampshire.
The 1930 federal census shows him then working as a clerk for the New Hampshire Adjutant General.
The 1940 census has him back in Portland Maine, and a bio appearing in 1956 had him passing away on 1 December of that year whilst staying at the US Veterans Hospital at Togus Maine.
In mid August 1898, the recipients of the MOH from the USS Nashville were presented their medals on-board the vessel whist in the Boston harbour. A similar presentation may have also happened on the Marblehead, but details have so far eluded me. Above is an actual medal from the Marblehead, awarded to Herbert Foss. Henry Russell's medal should be the same.
In the upper right there is an actual piece of the cable cut out from Cuba. Several sailors got a piece as a keep-sake.
In the upper right there is an actual piece of the cable cut out from Cuba. Several sailors got a piece as a keep-sake.
Robert Blue served as a Seaman on the USS Nashville and this is his actual medal. Use the search engine on this site to learn a little of how this medal was actually here in Victoria many years ago, was later sold in an FBI sting and resulted in the law-breaker going to jail.
I suspect that one of the proudest moments of Canadian born Henry Peter Russell was the Marblehead's sailing to Canada... and to possibly his very city of birth at Quebec in the fall of 1889.
On September 21st the massive memorial to Champlain was unveiled and at the request of the Canadian government, the US government sent this ship as a representative of the American people to participate.
The ship's company marched the streets on the day of unveiling and were provided front row seating for the event and received many a cheer form the dignitaries and audiences for the recent victories in Cuba. And in that ship's company about 2 dozen medals were awarded for the Cable Cutting incident, and probably wore the medals that day.
Henry Peter Russell being one of these.
Doubtfully, there was another time in the entire history of the Medal of Honor that so many recipients had gathered on Canadian soil at the same time.
Sure wish it could happen again,
till next week,
Bart
On September 21st the massive memorial to Champlain was unveiled and at the request of the Canadian government, the US government sent this ship as a representative of the American people to participate.
The ship's company marched the streets on the day of unveiling and were provided front row seating for the event and received many a cheer form the dignitaries and audiences for the recent victories in Cuba. And in that ship's company about 2 dozen medals were awarded for the Cable Cutting incident, and probably wore the medals that day.
Henry Peter Russell being one of these.
Doubtfully, there was another time in the entire history of the Medal of Honor that so many recipients had gathered on Canadian soil at the same time.
Sure wish it could happen again,
till next week,
Bart
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