“ | State your side, Sir? North or South? | „ |
—Hayden Russell to the player when approached |
Hayden Russell is a minor character featured in Red Dead Redemption 2.
History[]
Background[]
Hayden Russell was a U.S. Volunteer captain in the 29th Ambarino Volunteer Infantry Regiment. He is a veteran soldier who believes the civil war is still going on and that the current date is April 14th, 1862.
Events of Red Dead Redemption 2[]
The player can come across his base in Roanoke Ridge. If they do, Russell will point his rifle at the player and ask them which side they are on; North or South (as Arthur), or whether they are with the Union Army (as John). The player can antagonize or defuse the situation; if the player chooses to defuse, he is relieved that the player is not southern and asks the player if they have any news from his commanding officer, named General Scollick. Russell claims that he is awaiting orders to advance into Lemoyne and take Saint Denis from the rebels.
His base is in the Roanoke Ridge region near the western border with The Heartlands. Once found, the base is labeled on the map as "Clingman".
Character[]
Personality[]
Hayden appears to either be suffering from PTSD or dementia, resulting in some form of anterograde amnesia, leading him to be unable to process new information. He stands ready with a carbine repeater at Clingman waiting for orders from General Scollick to advance into Lemoyne and take Saint Denis from the Confederacy. Despite the fact the war has been over for 34 years by the time of Red Dead Redemption 2, and 42 by the Epilogue, Cpt. Russell still stays loyal and won't dare move until Scollick gives him his final order.
Appearance[]
Hayden has a thick, bushy mustache and a thick head of white hair. He is seen wearing his military uniform, consisting of a dark blue jacket with buttons and rank markings. Atop his head, he wears a brimmed, grey hat.
Trivia[]
- If the player does not answer Russell's initial question, he will open fire on them. If the player points a weapon at him, then he will also begin shooting at the player. Unlike most NPCs, he may drop his weapon during an altercation, after which he'll rely on his fists.
- Russell's belief that the current date is 14th April, 1862 and that he will soon march into Saint Denis to capture it from the rebels may be a reference to the real Battle of Forts Jackson and St. Philip, in which Union forces captured New Orleans from the Confederates, having took place only four days later.
- Russell seems to have memory problems, and does not remember meeting the player from previous encounters. This may be a form of anterograde amnesia, where he cannot form new memories, leading his mind to be "stuck" in the past.
- In the credits at the end of the game, one of the testers shares the same name as Hayden Russell, this might have been a tribute such as John O’Creagh, the first voice actor for Uncle in the game and O’Creagh’s Run.
- He appears to be a Corporal or Private despite claiming to be a Captain.
- The Carbine Repeater he carries is based off the 1860 Spencer Carbine Repeating Rifle which was actually used by the cavalry and not infantry, though it was used by infantry in its longer form, or dismounted cavalry in the carbine, or skirmishers who used both.