Untitled - the Digital Library of Georgia

492 GEORGIA AND GEORGIANS
Leaving the old hero seated upon the log, young Phineas Nightin
gale—for this was the lad's name—hastened to the mansion, communi
cated the fact of General Lee's arrival and delivered his message to the
mistress of Dungeness. .The carriage was immediately sent to the land
ing and in it General Lee and his little friend rode leisurely up together.
When they arrived at the house, the old soldier was so weak that he
had to be assisted both in getting out of the carriage and in ascending
the steps. Having received a most cordial welcome from the Shaws he
excused himself at once and retired to his room. Such was his extreme
feebleness that he remained a recluse, emerging but once a day, and
then only for a short walk in the garden. On these outdoor excursions
he always sent for young Nightingale to accompany him. It was seldom
that he dined with the family, his meals as a rule being served in his
room. At last he was unable to partake of his customary stroll in the
open air, and the painful- realization of the fact that he was a prisoner
told unhappily upon the sensitive nerves of the high strung old aristocrat.
There happened to be at this time in the harbor to the south of the
island—pending negotiations for the annexation of Florida—a number
of naval ships; while at Fernandina, on the Florida coast, there was
stationed a land force. The officers in both departments of the service
called in a body upon the distinguished guest. But as a rule, General
Lee wished no one to enter his room. At times he suffered paroxysms
of extreme agony and when these occurred at short intervals his exhi
bitions of mingled rage and anguish were often something fearful to
behold. To quote Colonel Jones, "it was the strong man wrestling with
the frailties of the falling tabernacle—the brave heart chafing under
the decadence of physical powers—the caged and wounded eagle beating
against the prison bars and longing for the sunlight and free air, the
lordly plumage and sturdy pinions of former days.'' At such times his
groans would fill the house and wring the hearts of the anxious friends
who watched at the bedside of the sufferer. Many of the important
remedies which modern ingenuity and professional skill have since con
trived were then unknown and the patient languished amid physical
tortures which medical science, at a later period, might have materially
mitigated.
During his illness, the old hero was constantly attended by two
of the best surgeons of the fleet.
Some of the incidents which occurred at this time would be really
amusing if they were not at the same time deeply pathetic. In moments
of supreme agony, losing his self-control, General Lee would some
times drive the servants from his presence and never afterward permit
them to enter his room. At length an old domestic, formerly Mrs.
Greene's favorite maid, was selected to wait upon General Lee. She
was an esteemed and privileged family servant. But the first thing the
old soldier did when she entered the apartment was to hurl his boot
at her head and to order her out instanter. Entirely unused to such
treatment, the negress, without saying a word, deliberately picked up the
boot and threw it back at General Lee. The effect produced by this
strange and unexpected retort was instantaneous. The features of the