Alanson Merwin Randol
Alanson Merwin Randol (October 23, 1837 – May 7, 1887) was a career United States Army artillery officer and graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point (Class of 1860) who served in the American Civil War. He was promoted multiple times for gallant and meritorious service in battle, rising during the course of the war from the rank of second lieutenant to brevet brigadier general of volunteers.
Alanson Merwin Randol | |
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| Born | October 23, 1837 Newburgh, New York, US |
| Died | May 7, 1887 (aged 49) New Almaden, California, US |
| Place of burial | San Francisco National Cemetery, San Francisco, California, US |
| Allegiance | United States |
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| Years of service | 1860–1887 |
| Rank | Colonel Brevet Brigadier General of Volunteers |
| Unit | 1st Missouri Light Artillery 1st U.S. Artillery 3rd U.S. Artillery 4th U.S. Artillery 2nd New York Cavalry Regiment |
| Commands held | Battery L, 1st Missouri Light Artillery Battery E & G, 1st U.S. Artillery Battery I, 1st U.S. Artillery Battery H, 1st U.S. Artillery 2nd New York Cavalry Regiment Battery K, 1st U.S. Artillery Battery L, 1st U.S. Artillery Fort Delaware Fort Winfield Scott Fort Alcatraz Fort Canby |
| Battles/wars | American Civil War
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| Alma mater | United States Military Academy |
| Spouse(s) | Elizabeth Beck Guion (m. 1869) |
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While Randol was a noted artillerist who served with the 1st U.S. Artillery in nearly every major land battle of the Eastern Theater of the Civil War, he also commanded the volunteer 2nd New York Cavalry Regiment in battle from December 1864 through April 1865, when he was present to witness General Robert E. Lee's surrender at Appomattox Court House.
At the end of the Civil War, Randol returned to the Regular Army artillery service; he commanded companies of the 1st U.S. Artillery in garrison duty across the United States from 1865 until his death from kidney disease at his brother's home at New Almaden, California in 1887.