Francis V. Randall (February 13, 1824 – March 1, 1885) was an attorney, farmer, college administrator, and military officer from Vermont. A Union Army veteran of the American Civil War, he was most notable for his service as commander of the 13th Vermont Infantry Regiment during the war and his post-war appointment as vice president of Norwich University.
A native of Braintree, Vermont, Randall was raised and educated in Braintree and Northfield, then studied law with a local attorney. Randall practiced in Northfield, Roxbury, Brookfield, and Montpelier while farming and becoming active in several business ventures. A Democrat, he served in local offices and represented Roxbury in the Vermont House of Representatives.
At the start of the American Civil War, he joined the Union Army and was commissioned captain and commander of Company F, 2nd Vermont Volunteer Infantry Regiment. Randall took part in several battles of the Peninsula campaign in 1861 and 1862, then returned to Vermont to raise the 13th Vermont Infantry Regiment, which he commanded with the rank of colonel. Randall led his regiment during several battles, and played an important role in the Union's success at the Battle of Gettysburg. After the 13th Vermont's enlistments expired, Randall raised the 17th Vermont Infantry Regiment, which he commanded as a colonel. He took part in the battles of the Siege of Petersburg, and remained in the service until the end of the war. Discharged in July 1865, he returned to Vermont, joined the Republican Party, and resumed his law practice and farming and business interests.
In 1883, Randall was appointed vice president of Norwich University. He died in Northfield on March 1, 1885, and was buried at Elmwood Cemetery in Northfield.
Early life
Francis Voltaire Randall was born in Braintree, Vermont on February 13, 1824, a son of Gurdon R. and Laura (Warner) Randall. His siblings included architects Gurdon P. Randall and J. J. R. Randall. Randall was raised and educated first in Braintree, and then in Northfield. He attended Chester Academy in Chester, Vermont and Norwich University.
After deciding on a legal career, he left Norwich without graduating and studied law with Northfield attorney Herman Carpenter. Randall attained admission to the bar in 1847, and began to practice in Northfield. Randall practiced initially with Albert V. H. Carpenter, and later with Charles Herbert Joyce, who was married to his sister Rouene. In 1848, Randall served as an assistant doorkeeper of the Vermont House of Representatives.
Start of career
Randall practiced law in Northfield until 1854, when he moved to Roxbury, where he farmed while continuing his law practice. In 1851 and 1852, Randall was elected moderator of Northfield's town meeting, and he also served on Northfield's school board. From 1853 to 1857, Randall served as Northfield's postmaster.
A Democrat in politics, in 1857 he appeared to have won the election to represent Roxbury in the Vermont House of Representatives, but an investigating committee determined that he did not meet the residency requirement and did not allow him to claim his seat. Randall did win election to the Vermont House the following year, and served from 1858 to 1859. In 1860, Randall moved to Montpelier, where he continued to expand his law practice.
Civil War
2nd Vermont Infantry
In 1860, Randall joined the Vermont Militia and was assigned to the staff of the 1st Brigade as judge advocate. In early 1861, he joined a Montpelier militia company, the Capital Guards, which he commanded with the rank of captain. At the start of the American Civil War in 1861, Randall enlisted in the Union Army and received his commission as captain and commander of Company F, 2nd Vermont Volunteer Infantry Regiment. He served from May 1861 to September 1862, and took part in the battles of First Bull Run, Second Bull Run, Lee's Mills, Williamsburg, Golding's Farm, Savage's Station, White Oak Swamp, and Crampton's Gap.
13th Vermont Infantry
In September 1862, Randall returned to Vermont to assist in raising the 13th Vermont Infantry Regiment, which he was appointed to command with the rank of colonel. Randall led the 13th Vermont throughout late 1862 and 1863, including the July 1863 Battle of Gettysburg. Randall was leading the 13th Vermont as part of the 2nd Vermont Brigade on July 2 when corps commander Winfield Scott Hancock asked Randall if he could recapture a Union artillery battery that had been captured by Confederate troops. Because of the extraordinary danger, Hancock would not order Randall to perform the task, but Randall volunteered.