Delaware State journal and statesman., 1869-05-07
The Late Robert Beverly Randolph.

When the U. s. frigate President, com
msnded by Capt. Decatur, was captureu, VI
1914, by a British line-of.battle ship, ana
taken into Bermuda, she had among her
midshipmen Robert B. Randolph, OF Vir.
ginia, n young man oil small stature hhu
slender form, but with the courage OF lion
and spirit that could brook no indlgnliy;;
The officers of the President were admitted
to parole, and spent some weeks at the capl-
tai of the Bermudas. The Royal Gazette
came out one day with severe attack upon
America and her navy. This attack young
Randolph resented, and horsewhlpped MI
Ward, the editor, In the streets OF Hamilton.
The little town was full OF naval officers and
the excitement against Randolph intense:
To save him from violence, 1t was oeemeu
expedient by his friends to get him of from
the island. large trunk was procured, IN
which Randolph was esconced and secretly
conveyed by night on board n schooner, and
IN due time landed In Newport, where, IN
Townscnd's Coffee House, the trunk in
which he made his escape was for some days
an object of curiosity to many persons yet
living.
During the administration of Gen. Jack
son, Randolph, then q lieutenant, was Or
dered by his commanding officer to take
charge OF tho affairs of deceased purser.
| Being unfamiliar with the business Of dis
1 DuThilB OluCeIt ud HeRiSClGu w stboAS hAiA
| self by the requisite vouchers, and was con-
, sequeully reported to the Secretary OF the
Navy by the Treasury Department, rs de-
| faulter. His friends understood the case ex-
| actly-they knew lie was As honest as Deca-
tur himself or old Bainbridge, and made
great efforts to SHE'D him. But Jackson
was inexorable and ordered his name to be
stricken from the rolls Of the Navy. Then
Randolph bad recourse 10 the press and
scored the General numerically. bitter
feud ragged between them Tor come months
AT last Il was intimated to Randolph by
friend OF the Presidents that ii he would
apologize 10 the latter for his attack upon
him In the press, the President would re-
store him TO the Navy. Randolph refused
to apologize, and inlimated that the Presi-
dent having charged him with felony, did by
this proposition virtually propose TO COM
promise felony. He preferred not to be re-
stored to his rank and position in the Navy
in that way.
Time rolled on. One fine morning In sum-
mer, steamer lett Washington Tor Acquia
Creek with large party including the Pre-
Sident, his Secretaries, and many other dis
tlnguished persons, 10 assist in the ceremony
of laying the cornerstone of a monument at
fredericksburg, 10 tho memory OF Mary,
the mother Of Washington" Tbs boat
landed at Alexandria, where Randolph re-
Nded. Most of the passengers went on
shore. A citizen OF Alexandria thus relates
what followed
Having curiosity to see Gen. jackson, l
went on board the boat and descended to
the cabin. The General was seated behind
table reading newspaper. Very soon
Randolph entered the cabin. He approach
ed the General and accosted him. The Gen
eral, supposing him to be a citizen of Alex
andria who had called t0 pay his respects,
rose courteously TO receive him Then Ran
dolph announced himself by name, and de-
clAring that he had come to revenge himself
for the wrong he had received, seized the
General by the nose and wruug IL with great
determination. The General seized an UNI
brella made desperate effort to get at his
assailant, but the gentlemen present, while
attempting to restrain the General, at the
same time hustled Randolph up the compan.
ION way, and out of the boat, fearing, doubt
,ss, that In the melee the General might suf
Ter serioua injury.
Alexandria was Wing city. Randolph
was not molested He withdrew, however,
In the course oil the morning, to the house of
his friend Dulaney on shuter's Hill, about
mile and q halt west OF the city-a beautiful
eminence, commanding one oil the finest
landscapes in Virginia 10 this place he
was soon followed by the conatabularY with
rabble at their heels shouting for ven
| geRnce. They surrounded the house, Their
| hostile demonstrations became exceedingly
| unpleasant TO the inmates. Randolph did
mol desire to compromise his old friend, but
at the same time he refused to surrender.
| He asked Colonel Dulany il there were any
arms In the house. The Colonel replied
thSt there was an old sword d ane aoEsf lGl iaa pas
| dolph, land also horse and wagon. The
arms were brought down from the garret,
and Randolph girded the old sword of the
DulanYs about his loins. The pistol he held
in his hand. The wagon came round to the
front door. The lawn was filed with an
inlurIated mob. Randolph walked out on
the steps as cool as q cucumber, entered the
wagon and drove through the crowd unmo-
Tested. No man among them dared TO ar
rest him. Reaching the high road he drove
of leisurely 10 tie residence ol another
member oil The Dulauy family in the upper
part Of Fairfax, where, the next day, another
attempt was made to arrest HIM; but II was
baff1ed by Randolph's superior tactics, and
lie then proceeded by easy stages and by the
''interior line" TO Richmond.
Randolph married Miss Beverly, of AL
exandria, member OF u family long dlstin-
guished in the annals OF Virginia. This
want OF employment brought with 1t a want
of means, and In 1857, when nearly 10 years
old, be was very grateful tor the Office con-
ierred upon him by his relative, Secretary
Floyd, OF Superintendent OF the Washington
Armory. But when, soon after, Andrew
johnson arrived here, az Senator from
Tennessee, he procured his removal on thu
pretext that the people of Tennessee woulI
never tolerate such an insult TO the memory
OF Andrew Jackson. Randolph spent tn
remainder oil his days in poverty,
AS an officer, Randolph was one of th
+. most gallant and efficient of his contempora
Iies, and an especial iayoiile with his ship
Z mates. Had fortune permitted, he wou
G have gone down to history as one OF GU
d most renowned naval heroes--tor he had i
= him all the elements OF which such heroe
t are combined. lnsenslble 10 fear, cool an
Q impertul bable IN the hour Of danger,a o super
|. ailor, ard with science enough to ava
e himself oil any valuable improvement in ma
:, val warfare, he would, had the opportunlt
e been Afforded him, have achieved name NJ
d inferior to that OF The most brilliant officer
10 the American Davy.-00rTespondeacs Of q
y NJ Y. ESprsss.
AL. L..