The New York herald., 1873-11-26
OFF FOR CUBA.
The United States steamship P0whatan
and Monitor Manhattan Gone 10 Sea-
Sketch OF Captain Beaumont's Navy

Sketch OF Captain Bea umont's Navy
Record.
On BOARD UNITED STATES STEAMSHIP PowHATAN,l
OFF CAPE MAY, Nov. 20, 1873.
The Powhatan, Captain ]. G. Beaumont, ls now
under way for Cuban waters; the pilot VIII leave
us in few minutes and l take this opportunity OF
despatching few farewell words.
The monitor Manhattan was towed out from the
Navy Yard on Saturday evening amid the most
patriotic enthusiasm on the part OF large number
OF civilians who had assembled ON the South wharf,
The formidable little "raft and cheese-bOx," as the
officers OF the Merrimac are said TO have denom-
mated the first monitor, made her way slowly down
the river and anchored for the night near League
Island, where she was to take several tons OF
shot and she'll The final loading was prosecuted
throughout the night and in the morning was in
perfect readiness for sea.
The Powhatan left the yard on Sunday at one
O'Clock. The amount OF provisions and stores taken
board Indicated that the cruise was expected to
be lengthy one The Powhatan steamed on down
the Delaware and on passing the Manhattan,
dipped her cOlors The turrets OF 20 monitors
could be the island, indicating that the
government, even now, is not wholly unprepared
for naval warfare. signaling the Manhattan to follow
In the morning the Powhatan proceeded down over
the bar ana anchored heavy rain set in about
dusk and continued all night. About two O'Clock
on Monday, the POwhatan again started for the
ocean. The monitor Manhattan proceeded down
to the breakwater under steam, Commander Yates
deeming it prudent TO test the engines OF his yes.
sci before going to sea. The experiment was in
every way satisfactory, and to-day the Powhatan
took her in tow, and passing Cape May, with its
vast array Of unoccupied hotels, headed out to
sea. There is a strong wind blowing from the
northeast which betokens heavy weather outside.
very rough passage is anticipated. Should
the wind increase to gale we shall
run into Hampton Roads or Norfolk.
GOOD METAL ON BOARD.
Captain Beaumont is remarkable alike for his
utter fearlessness OF danger in rough weather as
weli as in the face OF the enemy The terrific
cyclone which the Powhatan encountered on the
trip from New York, and IN which the United States
ship supply was nearly lost, Is 9haraeterlzed by
Powhatan the barometer fell to 2s.75, and the
sci was compelled to go almost 100 miles to sea
after the Cape May light had been sighted.
A NAVAL OPFICER's RECORD.
] mus: say a lew words ABOUT Captain Beaumont.
He has reputation throughout the navy for the
most unnlnching courage during an engagement,
and it is intimated by the ward room offices that
waters the Powhatan will 'bear a handn If she
| possibly can. Captain Beaumont entered the navy
as midshipman IN 1888, and made the cruise OF the
West Indies In the frigae Constitution and sloops
| Erie and Ontario. He then sailed, in 1910,
on the Constitution for The East India
years. He was promoted to past mldshipman in
1874. He then joined the Gulf squadron, and
served curing portion OF tne MeAlcdn war IN tne
ohio. He acted as acting lieutenant on the Irgate
Columbia in 1S47. The following year found the
young officer attached to the coast survey. AS
master he served In the Mediterranean from 1s49
to 1852. The two years following his return were
passed in the Washington Observatory, during
which time he was commissioned lieutenant.
Lieutenant Beaumont then saw service in
the steamer san Jacinto, 1855; frigate Poto-
mac, 1856; steam frlgate Wabash 1857; re-
ceiving ship New York, 1859 and 1850, and
sloop John Adams, 1861. Receiving his CON-
mission as a commander in July, 1852, he was
placed in command of the gunboat Woodstock,
on the James River. He commanded the gunboat
Seoago, 1868; then the monitor Nantucket then the
gunboat Mackinaw, 1864 and 1865 the the monitor
Miantonomah, during her famous cruise along the
coast OF Europe in 1866 and 1867. AS commander
af the Woodstock Captain Beaumont was present
with the hotilla under Commodore James Rodgers
in the attacks upon the forts on the James River.
The Nantucket, under his command participated
In the bombardment OF Fort Wagner, Charleston
harbor. As commander OF the Mackinaw he was
present at all the engagements at Fort Fisher and
on the Cape Fear River. AS captain Of the Pow
hatan ne is now en- route for Cuban waters, and
under 1.-THE lighting Commodore" Rodgers the men
on board may look for lively times.
The pilot boat Is alongside. can write no more.