Hey Bob, welcome to the Arkansas in the Civil War message board.

Alexander W. L. Russell was a resident of Saline County, Arkansas, when the war began. He was born c1832 in North Carolina, and died in 1910 in Arkansas.

He enlisted in Co. D, 11th Arkansas Infantry, at Moro, Arkansas, on December 3, 1861, for twelve months. He was captured at Island No. 10, on April 8, 1862; imprisoned at Camp Butler, Springfield, Illinois; and was exchanged at Vicksburg, Mississippi, on September 23, 1862.

About January 1, 1863, the 11th Arkansas was consolidated with elements of the 17th Arkansas to form the 11th & 17th Arkansas Regiment, a mounted infantry unit. Russell was assigned to Co. D of the consolidated regiment, and appears in the records of the regiment as late as September 1, 1863.

He returned to Arkansas (probably on furlough) and enlisted in Co. A, Poe's Battalion Arkansas Cavalry, at Camden on November 22, 1863, and appears to have served in this command to the end of the war.

He applied for a Confederate pension from Union County, Arkansas, in 1903. His widow, Sarah A. Nelson Russell, applied for a pension in 1911. The pension file number is 4862.

Anthony Rushing, a noted Arkansas Civil War historian, has written a nice regimental history of the 11th Arkansas, "Ranks of Honor", which also includes a history of Poe's Cavalry Battalion. As far as I know it is currently out of print, but you might be able to find a used copy.

Bob, I can't tell you much about Dr. William B. Russell. He was appointed surgeon, with the rank of major, in the 14th (Powers') Arkansas Infantry, on September 26, 1862; age 26. He was appointed from Texas. I've been unable to find anything further about him, and he doesn't appear on my list of surgeons in the Army of Tennessee.

I hope this helps your research a little.