Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1890-04-19
Sketch Of Ills Cnreer.

Samuel j. Randall was bora in Phiade-
phii, OcIobe' 10, 1928. His education was
academic, and Il was lis fathers intention to
max him merchant. His school days were
passed At the Univers ty Academy.
From tue academy he passed at once to the
counting-room ot Norris l. Ilaliowell u Co.,
silk merchants, On NJ .rket street, and there
he remained cvcral Yeas. lie was also for Il
while i'll the iron business. being Il partner IN
the firm OF carp Il Ran Il !. They nad Il fine
warehouse, running tom Delaware avenue to
Water street, and did Il ar.c Wholesale trade.
Meanwhile he drank in political informal on
from his fl hers IS.
Wnen u vacancy in the S ate Senate, caused
by the deaf of S.na or Pcnrose, taiier of the
present Judge PcnroSc, beckon d him step
hi h r hoa ,ccptc tn, invitation wi hala rty.
As Don as the call for tro Fps WAS made by
the general government, Oh the 10th oi April,
1861. his company rendered it, services under
the call On ne 18th of May il WIS mustered
into III. service of he United States for ninety
days. The horses all bclo.i cd 10 the troop rs.
The company was attached 10 the Sec nj
INT ii States Cavity com andci by Coo
mel. afterwards the DISTINGUISHED General,
George II. Thomas. Il was while in the hel
that Randall wrote to Washington mgkin the
suggestion 10 the War Department which 'ed
to the adv;l cement of George III. Tnoma TO
the line of general officers. Thatlct:er called
the attention of the department to the ability
o General Thomas in such way as TO make
an impression AT headquarters, although 1t
came from a man in the ranks, and a yet IN
known TO fame. When the equestrian siirtuc
of Gen raj Thomas was unveiled Mt Washing
ton TN years ago, this fact was remembered,
and the then S: eaker Randall was given
special invitation 20 witness and participate III
the .rcmony.
l,orl- from, fbn Irnr
an orderly sergeant. Sergeant Randall was
in 1862 elected Il representative i'll Congress
from the First district, which embraced nearly
the same wards which now compose the Third
district From that day until his death, al
though often bitterly battlcd against, he was
never out of Congress for Il day, bong success
siyely reelected to every Congress- from the
Thrty-cight to the Fifty-irst. lie was very
ouiet member at first, and spent good while
in rcttinr accustomed To his surroundings.
During his first term hcwas amcmbcr OF only
one committee, that ut Pdbic Buildings and
Grounds. In lis second he served on three,
all important committees, viz: Banking and
Currency. Rctrcnchmcnt, and Expenditures
in the State Department, and III his third he
held his place in each of these three, and was
also honored as a representative OF ms party
on the special committee OH the ASSASSINATION
ofPreSideat Lincoln.
While member of Congress he was called
upon 10 don his uniform again On the 18th
O! MAY, 1862, Governor Curtin ordered Major
General Patterson to muster the military force
under his command to protect the capital OF
the country On the following morning Cor
net Randail--:or the Congressman had been
promoted to that rank-sent note to the gen.
cral commanding the division rendering the
service of the Troop. Early the next day, in
obedience to orders, he reported by letter to
al uopnral nd the first lnti-
marion Of the advance of the Southern army
north ip of the Potomac, he proceeded to Harris
Troops could 90 into service. lie went at once
with his troop 10 Harrisburgand on to Gcttys-
burg. and as cornct commanded the troop dur
mg the war and down to 1866. While at Col
uinbia he was appointed provost marshal and
: L77;;ler his orders strict military rule was es-
i93''roI,l and the sale of Intoxicating liquors