1551 WFCHS

Scope and Content: This collection contains a photo of Tillie Russell and a lace-edged handkerchief with her name written in ink. The photo and handkerchief are housed together in a display box. The photo is from the C. Fred Barr Studio, Winchester, VA.
(1 box) Last updated 12/06.

Biographical/Historical: Miss Tillie Russell was a young woman of Winchester, VA, when she became the subject of a painting by Oregon Wilson called “Woman’s Devotion; or, a Night on the Battlefield.” In 1864, Miss Russell went to the aid of a young confederate soldier on the battlefield after a skirmish between Ramseur and Averell. Nearby many soldiers were dead or near death. She saved the soldier’s life by holding him in her arms all night as she sat on the battlefield. Miss Tillie Russell was the daughter of Isaac and Eliza Russell. She had two brothers and two sisters. She died on March 1, 1897.

Cite As: Tillie Russell Collection, 1551 WFCHS, Stewart Bell Jr. Archives, Handley Regional Library, Winchester, VA, USA.

Organization:

Box 1

Articles, Census Records, Obituary—unnumbered items, printed (photocopy)

Display box housing photo of Tillie Russell and lace edged handkerchief with her name written in ink.