Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-05-04
"REMINISCENCES OF OLD
HICKORY.
N. w. WILBUR,
OF the Chattanooga Polio
The Late Robert beverly RandoIph.

4
The Late Robert Beverly Randolph
Correspondence of the New York Express.
| WASHINGTON, April 27.-When tn
United States frigate President, com
manded by Capt. Decatur, was captures
in 1914, by British ine-of>battle ship
and taken into Bermuda, she had among
her midshipmen Robert B. Randolph, o
Virginia, a young man Of small stature
and slender form, but with the courage
Of a lion and spirit that could brook Lo
indignity. The officers Of President were
admitted to parole, and spent some
weeks at the capital OF the Bermudas
The Royal Gazette came out one day
with severe attack on America and her
navy. This attack young Randolph re-
scented, and horsewhipped Mr.. Ward
the editor, in the streets of Hamilton
The little town was full of British naval
officers, and the excitement against Ram
dolph intense. To save him from yio-
ience, it was deemed expedient by his
friends to get him off from the island A
large trunk was procured, in which RAN
dolph was ensconced and secretly con-
veyed by night on board schooner, and
in due time landed at Newport, where, in
| ToWnsend's cofiee>house, the trunk in
which he made his escape was for some
days an object Of curiosity to many per-
sons yet living. ..r...I
During the administration of Gen.
jackson, Randolph, then lieutenant,
was ordered by his commanding officer
to take charge of the affairs of deceased
purser. Being unfamiliar with the busi>
ness Of discussing officer, he neglected
to secure himself by the requisite Vouch>
ers, and was consequently reported to
the Secretary of the Navy by the TreasS
ury Department, as a delaulter. His
friends understood the case exactly
they knew he was as honest as Decatur
himself, or old cambridge, and made
great efforts to shield him. But Jackson
was memorable, and ordered his mama to
be stricken from the rolls Of the Navy.
Then Randolph had recourse to the press
and scored the General numerically. A
bitter feud ragged between them for some
months AT last it was intimated TO
Randolph by friend of the Presidents
that if he would apologize to the latter
for his attack upon him in the press, the
President would restore him to the Navy.
Randolph refused to apologize, and init
mated that the President having charged
him with felony, did by this proposition
virtually propose to compromise felony.
He preferred not to be restored to his
rank and position in the Navy in that
way.
Time rolled on. One fine morning in
summer, a steamer left Washington for
Aqua creek, with large party, in
Guiding the President, his Secretaries,
and many other distinguished persons,
to assist in the ceremony of laying the
corner stone of monument ut Freder-
icksburg, to the memory of Mary, the
mother Of Wa hington." The boat landed
at Alexandria, where Randolph resided.
Most Of the passengers went on shore.
A citizen of Alexandria thus relates
what followed:
Having a curiosity to see Gen. Jacks
son, went on board the boat snd de-
scended to the cabin. The General was
seated behind table reading news
paper. Very soon Randolph entered the
cabin. He approached the General and
accOsted him. The General, supposing
him to be a citizen of Alexandra who
had called to pay his respects, rose
courteOusly to receive him. Then Ran
dolph announced himself by name, and
declaring that he had GENE to revenge
himself for the wrong he had received,
seized the General by the nose and
wrung it with great determination. The
General seized an umbrella and made
desperate effort to get at his assailant,
but the gentlemen present, while at
tempting to restrain the General, at the
same time hustled Randolph up the com
panion way, and out Of the boat, fearing,
doubtless, that in the melee the General
might suffer serious injury. .--.
Alexandra was Wing city. Ran
dolph was not molested. He withdrew,
however, in the course of the morning,
to the house of his friend Dulsny on
Shutters Hill, about a mile and half
west ofthe city,a beautiful eminence CON-
handing one of the finest landscapes in
Virginia. To this place he was soon fol-
lowed by the constabulary with rabble
at their heels shouting for vengeance.
They surrounded the house. Their hos
tile demonstrations became exceedingly
unpleasant to the inmates. Randolph
did not desire to compromise his old
friend, but at the same time he refused
to surrender. He asked Col. Dulany if
there were any arms in the house. The
HnInr1al raslia1 hat thara old
sword and horse pistol up
stairs. Send them to me, said
Randolph, and also horse and
wagon. The arms were brought down
from the garrett, and Randolph girded the
old sword of the Dulanys about his loins.
The pistol he held in his hand. The
lawn was filled with an Infatuated mob.
Randolph walked out on the steps, as
cool as a cucumber, entered the wagt
and drove through the crowd unmolested.
No man among them dared to arrest
him. Reaching the high road he drove
off leisurely to the residence of another
member of the Dulany family in the
upper part of Fairfax, whore, the next
day, another attempt was made to arrest
him; but it was baftled by RandOlph's
superior tactics, and he then proceeded
by easy stages and by the interior line"
to Richmond.
Randolph married Miss Beverley, Of
Alexandria, a member Of family long
distinguished in the annals Of Virginia.
This want Of employment brought with
it q want of means, and in 1857, when
nearly 20 years old, be was very grateful
for the office conferred upon him by his
| relative, Secretary Floyd, of Superin-
tendent of the Washington Armory.
But when, soon after, Andrew Johns n
arrived here, as Senator from Tennes-
see, he procured his removal, on the pre-
| text that the people of Tennessee would
never tolerate such an insult to the
memory of Andrew Jackson. Randolph
spent the remainder of his days in poVs
| erty.
: As an officer, Randolph was one of the
most gallant and efficient Of his contem>
poraries, and an especial favorite with
his shipmates. Had fortune permitted,
he would have gone down to history as
one of our most renowned naval heroes
for he had in him all the elements Of
which such heroes are combined. In
sensible to fear, cool and imperturbable
in the hour Of danger, superb sailor,
and with science enough to avail himself
of any valuable improvements in naval
warfare, he would, and had the opportu-
nifty been afforded him, have achieved o
name not inferior to that Of the most