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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Private · U.S. Army

Charles Franklin Rand

Private Charles Franklin Rand, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on July 18, 1861 at Blackburn's Ford, Virginia during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War July 18, 1861

Serving as a soldier in the U.S. Army, Private Charles Franklin Rand received the Medal of Honor for his actions on July 18, 1861 at Blackburn's Ford, Virginia during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company K, 12th New York Infantry. Rand was about 22 years old.

One other service member also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on October 23, 1897, 36 years after the action. He later rose to the rank of Captain.

Rand was born in 1839 in Batavia, Genesee County, New York. Rand died on October 13, 1908 in Washington, District of Columbia, at the age of about 69. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia. His medal is held by Holland Land Office Museum, Batavia, NY.

Rand is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 678 credited to New York.

Official Medal of Honor citation

Remained in action when a part of his regiment broke in disorder, joined another company, and fought with it through the remainder of the engagement.

Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.

Life beyond the battlefield

  • Occupations: physician

Source: Wikidata.

Places

  • Buried: Arlington National Cemetery — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in New York →

Timeline

  1. 1839
    Born in Batavia, Genesee County, New York
  2. July 18, 1861
    Act of valor — Blackburn's Ford, Virginia
    Age about 22. Company K, 12th New York Infantry
  3. October 23, 1897
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. October 13, 1908
    Died in Washington, District of Columbia
    Age about 69.
  5. Resting place
    Arlington National Cemetery
    Arlington, Virginia

Biography

Charles Franklin Rand (January 19, 1839 – October 13, 1908) was an American Civil War Medal of Honor recipient. He received the award for his actions at the Battle of Blackburn's Ford, Virginia, when he stayed in action when a part of his regiment broke in disorder; he then joined another company and fought with it through the remainder of the engagement. Following the war he earned a medical degree and worked as a physician in Batavia, New York. Rand is buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

From the Wikipedia article “Charles F. Rand”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

Further reading

Also honored for actions on July 18, 1861

JC James Edwin Cross Corporal · Army Civil War · 1861

More Civil War recipients from New York

JS James Sheridan Quartermaster · Navy Civil War · 1864 Charles B. Woram Seaman · Navy Civil War · 1864 FS Frank Shubert Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1865 James Quinlan Major · Army Civil War · 1862 MR Myron H. Ranney Private · Army Civil War · 1862 John Kiggins Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1863
Sources. Service and award details compiled from the recipient record of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, Wikidata and Wikipedia. The narrative summary is generated from these records. Spotted an error? Send a correction.