Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-04-03
GEN. JACKSON AND LIEUT. RANDOLPH
Inc story OF the Nose Pulling rs Told NV
Randolph's Daughter

~hooiph's Daughter.
In reference to the interview republished in
IHE STAR Of March % with the venerable
James Carrigan of Baltimore giving AN g.
count OF the pulling of Gen. Jackson's nose nv
Lieut. Randolph. Miss f. p. Randolph. dapcb-
ter Of the late Lieut. Randolph. writes 10 Tyv
STAR that Mr.. Carrigans statement Of tn. civ.
eumstances leading up to the nose pulling are
erroneous. She saws:
Lieut. randolph (who was the father Of von-
.toitespohueh') mad been twenty-three wears in
he u > navy, and his eariv history forms
par Oh the history of this country. From the
>hlS.ory OF the Alexandria Washington Iodoe
No. y, A. r. and A VI. of Alexandra Y, co2n.
phen DIV ex-Auditor Franklin l.. Brocke,t
,-,.i. ~ 'ne iolo"lng; During our second war
with England Lieut. Randolph served with dis
ungulfhed gallantry. He was on the Copsti
tuition with Hull. when the latter redeemed the
puslhanlmlty of mis- namesake from Detroit in
capturing the British frigate Guerrero. and WAS
WIN Deeatur on the United States when the
.iScedonlan struck her cOlors to the gallant
American tars. He was also with Decatur ON
lne PRESIDENT IN the autumn of 1914 when that
Inflated ship of war fell afoul of four British
aSs and was captured of the Bermu-
Lieut. Randolph. after the war of 1919 saiI.d
again with Decatur in the new frigate Guerrero
anu participated In our war with AIgiers and
was conspicuous for bravery in tine capture of
the AlSerlne ship MedOra-the finishing touch
10 the war between the two nations. For his
sPiendld acts of courage during the of II
Llent Randolph recipient of a vote of
thanks from the legislature of Virginia and
presented with sword by mis- state. and at the
age OF twenty-five he was promoted to a lieu
tenancy and assigned to the Constitution cold
Ironsides J. During her cruise the purser,
JOhn b. Undertake (the first husband of Mar
garet D Neal. who subsequently married John
II; Eaton. Jackson's Secretary of War. and
afterwards the Young Italian dancing master.
Bouchlgnani, and who died In this city a few
Years ago., committed suicide and Capt.
Patterson assigned Randolph to take
Charge of the money and all other
Pubhc property the ship until
their return to port. After paving off the ship
in Boston. states the record of Crockett. he
went to Washington and rendered his accounts
and on October -. 1923. received official notice
from Fourth AuC!itOr Watkins that his account
was closed. the second comptroller. Richard
Cults. on January 9. 1879. admitting the same
and certifying the closing of the account.
Few months subsequent to the death of Timber
lake his widow was married TO Gen. John III.
Eaton. and year or two after the return of
the Constitution II ascertained at the treas
ury that Undertake was defaulter. Gen.
Eaton (Jacksons Secretary of War was Pcrser
1imberlase's bondsman. and by resting the de-
faicatlon on Randolph would be relieved Of his
securltyship.
The report being circulated that Randolph
was the delinquent Randolph Immediately de-
handed an investigation by a court of inquiry
This was denied him by Secretary Branch of
the navy, bat nearly three years after Secretary
Woodbury. ordered a court of inquiry to look
into the affair, and its report. while exoner-
ating Randolph from al blame for official acts
found balance due OF S2.303. By the advice
of his counsel he refused to paw this amount
and demanded coUrt-martial President
jackson thereupon dismissed him from the SER
vice Of the United States navy. giving the
reason therefor that the facts of 1.-The investi-
CATION showed him (Eandolph) to be
unworthy the naval service of the re-
public and an unit associate for those
sons Of chivairy. integrity and honor who
adorn the navy" Randolph was sufficiently
angered by his persecution and dismissal but
the wording of Jackson's order cut him to the
quick and rendered him furious. But it was a
month and a half after its publication before
ne met the President in person Ii was on the
9th Of MAY. iity-three years ago, that Presi-
dent jackson and party of officials left this
city ON the steamboat Sidney for Potomac
creek en- route 20 Fredericksburg to take part
IN the ceremonies OF laying the corner stone to
the memory OF Mary. the mother of Washing
ton The sydney paused at Alexandria wharf
and President Jackson was for a time left al
most alone in the cabin. Randolph. learning
OF Jackson presence. Immediately determined
upon personal se.tiellsc.: with him. He n
tered tue cabin uEaecomranied By an acci-
dent which had Occur-e,! few DAYS before one
OF his hands injured and his arm in a sling.
The President was seated by table reading a
paper when EardoiI :, with whom he was per-
sonally unacquainted. approached him. As
Randolph was removing his glove jackson said.
"Never mind your gloves" supposing he
wished - shake hands with him
Randolph replied: This hand is injured; /
Cannot use it; che other / cannot offer You. /
am Robert B. Randolph. whom you have so
unjustly wronged and insulted."
With these words ne seized the President by
the nose and gave IL a severe wiring. Jackson
seized his cane and started FOR Randolph In
moment all was confusion, ard general
melee eusGed- Randolph was pretty roughly
handled ard hustled of the boat. He hired
horse at the old City Hotel and rode TO a
friends. Col ROzie- Dulaney. at Shooters
Hill. where he obtained a conveyance and drove
to Fairfax. where he was expected to act and
acted the next day as groomsman of Maj.
Spencer Ball. who married the daughter Of Mr..
Daniel Dulaney of Oak Mount.
4 bench warrant was issued for Randolph's
arrest In Alexandria-then portion of the Dis
trics of Columbia-and served upon him. but
being out " tine baiiwjck he declined TO recog-
nize the same He went at once to Richmond.
where ais relative and friend, the famous John
Randolph of Roanoke. was preparing to leave
for Philadelphia to take the packet for Liver
pool When hs told the latter of his brush
with President Jackson the cynical sage OF
Roanoke exclaimed: On him. / wish you
had knocked his head off, He then suggested
20 Lieut.. Randolph that he should accompany
aequlesced and was on mis- way to meet John
Randolph in Philadelphia, but by ill luck the
latter died suddenly in that city and the trip to
England was necessarily abandoned.
The following autumn Randolph was arrested
on a writ issued BY the United States district
attorney Of Washington. charging him with an
indebtedness to the United States government
In the sum OF $4,000. imprisonment under
the law Of May Is. 1870. allowed in all cases
where a distress warrant was issued against a |
oi-bursing officer who might become a defaulter |
TO the amount of $50. 600.
Randolph was arrested, refused TO offer bail |
under the advice OF his counsel. Watkins Leigh |
and remained in prison in Richmond for six |
weeks his case was brought to trial before |
the United States circuit court. Chief Justice
Marshall presiding. The court decided that the
law of Nav Is. $50. unconstitutional and
Randolph was discharged amid an ovation of
applause and congratulations
few years after Randolph was married at
the governor house in Richmond 10 his cousin
Miss byzantine Beverly. the daughter of Peter
Randolph Beverly Of Alexandra. a young lady
described .-o' great beauty ard intelligence,
combined with the most attractive manners"
These are the particulars OF the pulling of
JacksOns nose by Lieut.. Randolph. / remember
having heard Lieut.. Randolph say that Gen
jackson sent him word that if he would apollo
glze TO HIM he would reinsta:e him in the navy
but Of course there was no apology made