Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1885-03-13

tive OF l}ralntrpc, VT, the son of GurdOn
X. Randall, His father was millwright,
and a man of considerable reading, who
named three sons after the famous
French iniidcls and sccptics, Francois Vol
! talre, Jean Jacques Rousseau, and Con
stantine Francois Nolney. He had nine
children, three of whom are still living, j
j. IL. Randall, the architect, of Rutland ;
Mrs. Charles II. Joyce of Washington, D.
g., and Rev. Edward II. Randall, rector
of St Johns Episcopal church of Poult-
ney, VT Other sons were the late Gurdon
L. Randall, architect, of Chicago and the
late &. F.Nolney Randall train despatc her
on the Vermont Central railroad, of St
Adams. +. V. Randall was the second
son. HIS father moved to Mortified :,
during his bOyhoOd, and he was there edu-
Gated, studied law in the office of Hon
icman Carpenter, and was admitted to
the bar. Removing to RUXbury, Vt, he
represented that town in the legislatures
of ls51-5S-59, and was states attorney of
Washington county. In 1860 he moved to
Montpelier, and was in success
full practice of his profession, when
the war broke out. He recruited
IA company for the first three years regi-
ment raised in this State, the Second VT
Vols, was chosen its captain, and served
with the regiment till September. 1862,
when upon the organization of the Second
Vermont Brigade, of nine months troops,
he was appointed Colonel of the Thir-
teenth Vt. He was genial and popular
colonel; won high distinction at Gcttys-
burg; ana Tor few days commanded the
Second Vermont Brigade, after the
wounding of Gen. Stannard in that bat
tie. Col. Randall returned TO Vermont
with the Thirteenth at the expiration #
its term of service and after a short in
terval was, in February, 1861, appointed
colonel of the last infantry regiment
raised IN the State-the Seventeenth Vt.
Vols. This regiment filled slowly, and
first went into the service as Il battalion.
and it was not till October "a that COL
Randall could be mustered in, under the
rules, as its Colonel. During the first six
months of the bloody service of that rcgi-
ment, he consequently was not with it :;
and AS it happened did not command the
regiment in any battle. His fame as a
soldier rests mainly on his brilliant
service at Gettysburg. When the
Union lines had become broken, on
the left centre, during the afternoon Ofthe
second day, Col. Randall with five com
panles of his regiment was among the
| troops by which the line was re-established
under Gen. IIancock's personal supervl-
sion In the advance Col. Randall's gray
horse was shot under him Pushing on ON
foot with his men he rctook battery
winch had fallen into the enemy's hands,
capturing also number of prisoners, and
at the close of the day held II position ut
the extreme front. Next day he led with
his regiment the famous flank attack upon
pickett's division which decided the fate
Of the great rebel assault of the third day,
and is noticed IN all the histories of the
| great battle, as one of the most brilliant
| and effective charges made upon that field.
Returning To Vermont at the close of
| the war Col. Randall resumed the prac-
tlce of his profession ut Montpelier. In
| 1876 he retired to his farm in Brookiield,
| Wand resided there till the Spring of
1854, when he bought the hotel at North
| field Centre, and resided there until his
death Col. Randall was twice married
and his last wife (who was Miss Olive
| Colby survives him, together with several
children OF his five sons two We're soldiers
| in the war, one of Them Frank V. enlistlng
rs ii drummer boy when II years old, be
ing perhaps the youngest Nermonter in
| the Service. The yOungSter, with Il sabre
about rs long as he was, tied to his waist,
accompanied his father into the battle of
| Gettysburg, and was quite Il noticeable
| figure ON the field The other son by the
! first marriage, Charles w, was Il lieuten-
ant in the 18th Vermont and died in 1861
| from disease contracted in the service
Col. Randall himself held IL pension for n
physical disability incurred in the army
which was probably the primary cause OF
his death. He delivered his lecture ON the
battle of Gettysburg in NergenneS on
| Tuesday, Feb. 24th, and lectured again il
| Richmond on the following evening. lie
arrived at his home much exhausted on
| Thursday, and did not leave his bed there
after. ON Sunday morning, March LIST
| ne was found unconscious from stroke
l..E / 4
was buried, with military and Masonic
honorS, on Thursday last Col. Randall
was war Democrat, of genuine luyalt!
and patriotic purpose, and retained hi,
connection with the Democratic party
during his life. He was Il natural oratol
and an effective plcader before u jury;
man of warm feelings and generous i'm
pulses and he will long be held in kindly
remembrance by his comrades i'll the ser
vice and by all.who knew him.
The funeral OF the late Col. f. v Ran
dali was largely attended at Mortified OF
Thursday afternoon in the Universalis
church. People We're turned away by
scores from the doors. The cadets OF Nor
witch University and Co, +, of the Stat,
militia, together with Mortified Corne
band, escorted the remains from the resi-
dence to the church, where they We're me
by members of the Grand Army to tn,
number of 100, an equal number Of tn,
Masonic fraternity, a large delegation
from the Washington county bar, and /
large number of citizens.
At the church the services were con
Quoted by the Rev. +. G. Cowper rector
Of st, Mary's church at Northtield An
able and impressive address was delivered
by Chaplain y. +. Hill of the First Yer
mont, and the services of the &. \. X. ant
the Masonic fraternity We're impreSsivelN
rendered. Delegations were present from
many parts of the State.
Probate Court.
The following business for the tw,
weeks ending March 3, 1855, was transact