Horace Randal

Horace Randal (January 4, 1833 – May 2, 1864) was a Confederate States Army colonel during the American Civil War. Randal was mortally wounded while commanding a brigade at the Battle of Jenkins' Ferry, Arkansas, on April 30, 1864, dying two days later. Confederate President Jefferson Davis did not act upon a request made by General E. Kirby Smith on November 8, 1863, to promote Randal to brigadier general. After Randal's performance at the Battle of Mansfield, General Smith, as the Confederate commander of the Trans-Mississippi Department, assigned Randal to duty as a brigadier general on April 13, 1864. Randal was not officially promoted. Jefferson Davis subsequently revoked Smith's appointment of Randal as a brigadier general.

Randal graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1854 and was serving as a second lieutenant and brevet first lieutenant in the U.S. Army when the Deep South states seceded from the Union. Randal resigned from the U.S. Army on February 27, 1861, and was promptly appointed colonel of the 28th Texas Cavalry Regiment.

Early life Horace Randal was born in McNairy County, Tennessee, on January 4, 1833. His parents, John Leonard Randal and Sarah Kyle Randal, moved the family to Texas in 1838.

After five years in attendance, Horace Randal graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1854, ranking 45th out of 46 in the class. Originally assigned to the infantry, Randal transferred to the 1st U.S. Dragoons in 1855.

Randal was in Washington, DC, during the week before Abraham Lincoln was inaugurated as President of the United States.

Randal intended to return to Texas to raise a regiment for the Confederate Army. At the request of his brother-in-law, Major General Gustavus Woodson Smith, he remained in northern Virginia as a volunteer aide on Smith's staff.

Randal's brigade was held in reserve at the Battle of Milliken's Bend during the Siege of Vicksburg.

General E. Kirby Smith recommended that Randal be promoted to brigadier general on November 8, 1863. Randal and his brigade also performed with distinction at the Battle of Pleasant Hill on April 9, 1864.

Aftermath and legacy At a later date, Horace Randal's remains were removed to Old Marshall Cemetery in Marshall, Texas. Despite the misspelling, Randall County, Texas, is named for Horace Randal.