Alanson Merwin Randol

Alanson Merwin Randol
Born(1837-10-23)October 23, 1837
Newburgh, New York, US
DiedMay 7, 1887(1887-05-07) (aged 49)
New Almaden, California, US
Place of burial
San Francisco National Cemetery, San Francisco, California, US
Allegiance United States
Service / branch
Years of service1860–1887
Rank Colonel
Brevet Brigadier General of Volunteers
Unit1st Missouri Light Artillery
1st U.S. Artillery
3rd U.S. Artillery
4th U.S. Artillery
2nd New York Cavalry Regiment
CommandsBattery 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
Alma materUnited States Military Academy
Spouse(s)Elizabeth Beck Guion
(m. 1869)
Children
  • Mary
  • Clara
  • Emily
  • Clarence
  • Alanson
  • Isabella
  • Christiana
  • Marshall
  • Francis
Signature

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.

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.