188o.]
. D UNGENESS.
249
Near the tomb of Mrs. Miller is another: I ginia. Obiit 25 March, I8l8, aetat. 63." "Sacred to pure affection. This simple In 1814, General Lee was injured by a stone covers the remains of James Shaw. mob in Baltimore, and never recover His virtues are not to be learned from ed. Early in 1818 he arrived at Dunge perishable marble; but when the records ness from Cuba, whither he had gone to of Heaven shall be unfolded it is believed regain his health. He landed from a schooner at the river landing, a weak, they will be found written there in cha decrepit old man, in whom it would have racters as durable as the volumes of eter nity. Died January 6th, I82o, aged 35 been difficult to recognize the dashing years." And by the side of this latter Light-Horse Harry of the Revolution. another marble slab, with this inscription, which explains itself: "Louisa C. Shaw,
relict of James Shaw, Esq., and youngest daughter of Major-General Nathaniel Greene of the Army of the Revolution. Died at Dungeness, Georgia, April 24th,
I83], aged 45 years." This ends the record of the residence of the family of General Greene at Dunge ness. That they made it their home for many years is evident—that they re moved here soon after the death of the general is probable. In the division of General Greene's possessions Dungeness became the property of Mrs. Shaw, his youngest daughter: she, dying childless, left it to her nephew, Phineas Miller
Nightingale. Mrs. Nightingale, wife of the grandson of General Greene, to whom this property was given, was daughter of Rufus King, governor of New York, and granddaughter of Rufus King, minister to Great Britain during the elderAdams‘s ad ministration. The Nightingales, descend ants of General Greene, remained in un
disturbed possession until the late war, dispensing unbounded hospitality at their princely mansion. During the war the house was occupied by Northern troops until its close, when, through the negli
gence of some negro refugees, it was burned. Its ruins alone testify to the wealth of former years which now is de parted, and the broad acreage of untilled fields and the ruined negro cabins cry out loudly for those who will never re turn to bless them. Let us turn once more to that cemetery in the olive-grove. Another stone claims our attention, a tablet to the memory of
him who pronounced those glowing words,
A grandson of General Greene's, Phineas
Miller Nightingale, was loitering near the landing. Calling him, General Lee learn ed who he was, and despatched him to his aunt, Mrs. Shaw, with the intelligence ofhis arrival. "Tell her," said he, "that
the old friend and companion of General Greene has come to die in the arms of his daughter." . A carriage was sent for him, and he was installed in the southern chamber above the drawing-room, and everything done to alleviate his pain that the kindest forethought could suggest. He lingered here some two months, and then pass
ed away, and was buried in the family burying-ground. His only baggage at the time of his arrival was an old hair covered trunk nailed round with brass headed nails. An anecdote is preserved in the family relating to the general's residence there. One of the servants, Sara by name
commonly called "the Duchess" from her stately demeanor—incurred his ill will. General Lee once threatened to throw his boot at her, and the Duchess
turned upon him and replied, " If you do I'll throw it back at you." This answer so pleased the old general that he would afterward permit no other servant to wait upon him. Some years after his death a stone was placed above his grave by his son, Gen eral Robert E. Lee, who a few months
prior to his death visited his father's grave in company with his daughter. These are some of the associations that cluster about the ruins of Dungeness, giv ing to those ivy-grown walls, to forest
"First in war, first in peace, first in the
and shore, an interest which mere attrac
hearts of his countrymen :" "Sacred to the memory of Gen. Henry Lee of Vir
tions of scenery and climate could not awaken. FREDERICK A. OBER.
VOL. XXVI.—i6
