Untitled - the Digital Library of Georgia

490 GEORGIA AND GEORGIANS
torians, comprised in two rich volumes. He also became governor of the
State of Virginia; and, on the death of Washington, pronounced upon
his silent commander-in-chief the famous eulogium: '' First in war, first
in peace, and first in the hearts of his countrymen." *
While taking the part of a friend, whom he was visiting at the time,
in Baltimore, General Lee received injuries from the effects of which
he never recovered. The circumstances which culminated in this tragic
affair were as follows: "In the stirring times of 18l2, Alexander Contee
Hanson, editor of the Federal Republican, strongly opposed the declara
tion of war against England. Feeling ran so high among the war party
that the newspaper office was attacked and the editors driven to George
town. Later Hanson determined to return, and was accompanied by
General Lee and other friends who volunteered to defend him. The
residence leased by him in Baltimore was attacked, and to save the occu
pants from murder the authorities placed them in the old city jail for
protection. But the rioters forced themselves into the jail, attacking
Hanson, General Lee, and seven others in the party. They were beaten,
mutilated, and according to an account in Scharf's history, were thrown
down the steps of the jail, where they lay in a heap for three hours.
General Lee's constitution was wrecked." In the hope of regaining his
health, the old soldier embarked for the West Indies, where he remained
for something over four years; and it was while en route back to his
home in Virginia that he was put ashore at Cumberland Island.
General Lee did not expect to find here his old comrade-in-arms. The
latter died at Mulberry Grove, near Savannah, more than thirty years
prior to the time of General Lee's visit. The widow Greene, who after
wards married Phineas Miller, was likewise in her grave. But there
was living at Dungeness a daughter, Mrs. Louisa Shaw, by whom the
old invalid was most graciously and gladly received; and here he re
mained until the death angel released him from his sufferings. For the
account which follows of the last moments of the old hero, we are
indebted in the main to Col. Charles C. Jones, Jr., of Augusta, who
obtained from an eye-witness, Mr. Phineas M. Nightingale, a recital of
the facts. Mr. Nightingale was a grandson of General Greene and a
member of the household at the time of General Lee's sojourn on the
island. The story, with additional particulars gathered from other
sources, is as follows:
When the second war with England began, "Light-Horse Harry"
Lee—the foremost survivor of the first struggle for independence—
found himself an invalid, nursing an old wound. Thus prevented by
physical disabilities from assuming an active command in the renewed
contest, his disappointment only served to aggravate his condition. He
chafed under this restraint; and, in the hope that a change of climate
might restore his failing health he sailed in 1813 for the West Indies.
It was the cherished ptirpose of the soldier, while in retirement, to
revise his "Memoirs of the War in the Southern Department" and to
prepare biographies of his two beloved commanders—Greene and Wash-
* " To the memory of the man, first in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts
of his countrymen.'' Eulogy on "Washington, December 26, 1799.