Civil War CDV General Gustavus de Russey by Brady

  
Gustavus Adolphus De Russy (November 3, 1818 - May 29, 1891) was a US Army career officer, who was a part of the prominent De Russy military family. [1] He was promoted to the rank of general during the American Civil War. His father was born in Saint-Domingue (now Haiti) in 1789 and his French colonial family moved as refugees to Virginia two years later, fleeing the revolution on the island.

Both brothers-in-law were also career officers, as were their sons. Like his father and paternal uncle, De Russy was admitted to West Point, starting in 1835.

He was forced to resign in 1838 for alcohol use. DeRussy and Staff on Steps of Arlington House in Arlington, Virginia, May 1864.

In 1847, De Russy was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the US Army and served in the Mexican-American War, first winning a brevet to 1st Lieutenant for "gallantry and meritorious service" at the Battle of Contreras and the Churubusco, and later, a brevet to captain for "gallant and meritorious service" at Chapultepec. [7] By virtue of his service in the Mexican War, he became a member of the Aztec Club of 1847 in 1881. He remained in the army following the war, serving as quartermaster at Fort Monroe from 1848 until 1857. [9] That year he was promoted to captain.

By the start of the Civil War, De Russy 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. [10] He was promoted to colonel in March 1863 and again to brigadier general of volunteers in May of the same year.

He commanded the southern defenses of Washington, D. Until the end of the war. After the war, De Russy reverted to the rank of major as the forces were reduced.

He continued serving in the army, receiving new promotions to lieutenant colonel in 1879, and colonel in 1882, until retiring in 1882. Together, she and De Russy had the following children. De Russy died in his home in Detroit on April 30, 1891. [2] He was buried in Elmwood Cemetery in his hometown.