Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1888-03-31
Romance and EE1story.

Romance and History.
The recent trip of Governor Fitzhugh Lee
to Florida, and from that point 20 Dungen.
ess IN order to view The last resting place Of
his grandfather, revives interest 10 the story
OF that historic spot.
AS one approaches Dungensss from the
landing, a grand avenue bordered and
arched over with heavy moss-draped live
oaks leads eastward across the estate.
About one third the distance to the beach
another avenue leads off to the right to the
ruins of the cid mansion. This old fash.
toned three story building, with its walls of
tabhy or coquina composed OF oyster shells
and line was erected nearly hundred
years ago, when the estate was first settled
by the widow Of General Nathaniel Greene,
of revolutionary fame. 1t was for nearly
three generations the home of wealth and
refinement The house was accidentally
burned in 1865 or 1866 by some negroes who
owners having abandoned it OF the break
ing out of the war. The south end of Cum
berland islant: was granted to General
Nathaniel Greene by the State Of Georgia
as a reward for his sacrifice and Gistin-
guished military services during the revolu-
tioD. He was wealthy when the war be-
gen but impoverished himselfin his efforts
10 feed and clothe the army when congress
failed to provide for it. & year after the
end of the var he removed from MS home in
Rhode Island to Mulberry Grove, q rice plan
taticn owned by him on the river q few miles
above Sayaunah While he was living there
in feeble health the Cumberland grant was
made. Il few months efter this he died (ln
1867 and it is is probable that he never saw
his new estate. He WAS buried in the old
cemetery at Savannah. Tho identity OF his
grave has long since been lost, though ira.
ditior says he was buried IN one OF the old
vaults near the western gate. Several years
ago an unsuccessful effort was made to find
his remains 1t is said that many of the
vaults in that portion of the cemetery had
been entered years ago by notorious negro
thief, and the silvei-name plates stolen from
the caskets, General Greene's being among
the vaults desecrated. Mrs. Greene was a
Miss Catherine Littefeld, Of Block Island,
and was woman ofremarlssble refinement.
business tact and intelligence. Several
years after General Greene's death she mar
ried Mr.. Miller, with whom, she lived hap.
PLY for many years at DuDgeness, and whose
mortal remains rest beside her own in the
little tabby walled burial ground some three
hundred yards east of the old mansion.
In this little plant is also the grave OF
General Henry lLight-horse Harry Lee,
one of the most brilliant of revolutionary
officers, and the father Of the great Confed-
crate leader, General Robert E. Lee. In
1914 General Lee was brutally manned by
mob in Baltimore, where he was visiting
friend, the editor Of the Republican Journal,
q newspaper which had incurred the vio
lent enmity Of the roughs of the city. The
residence of the editor was attacked by the
mob and General Lee assisted 10 al attempt
to defend il. The eGitor and his friends.
including Lee, were rescued by troops, and
placed in Jail for safety. The mob battered
down the door of the jail, killed some of the
inmates, and General Lee was so injured
that he never recovered. Three years later,
bv advice OF his physicians, be went to the
West Indies, but his health not improving
he returned to the United States and stop
ped ct Dungeness for rest. Here, on March
25 1918, he died and was buried tho next
day. The United States Flagship John
Adams. which had borne the old hero back
from Nassau to his own loved country, and
the brig Saranac lay in Dungeness harbor.
Commodore Henly performed the last rites.
Captains Elton, Finch and Madison and
Iieutenants Fuzhugh and Ritchie, OF
the navy, aud Lieutenant Lyman, of
the army, were the pall-bearers. The
procession moved out of the mansion, the
swords of the first two pall.bearers crossed
over the dead soldiers breast The weap-
ons we're sheathed, ''for his heart beat no
more . and they ssid "Rest in Peace"
CAPTAIN Payne, cf the army. and other offi.
GERS of the navy followed. The marines
formed the guard Of honor and au army
hand PLAYED a funeral march. The body
was committed 10 its last resting place be-
meath q m0ss.covered live oak. a Vo'ley
of nusketry burst out on the silent air, and
the solema booming Of the minute guns
from the john Adams was borne afar over
laud and sea. One of the last anc one OF
the most gallant OF the leaders IN the wa:
for independence was at rest. Inc grave
is marked by plain stone with simple
inscription, while near by an ancient &C.
dsr tree struggles with the scraggy OAKS TO
maintain its evergreen watch Overtime nero's
head.
The funeral procession marched across
the site of the orange grove, which three
years before had been destroyed by British
trooJs, the minions of the same power that
"Lighthorse Harry" Lee had fought
so bravely in the prime of his life. On
the 18th of January, 1916, British fleet.
under Admiral Cockburne, bore down on
Cnmberland island. a division was sent
nm the sound in barges and landed at
Dnnpeness. while another landed at the
nlnr orchard. No attempt was made by
tbe , Americans to defend the island. Anne
l;a island was then Spanish territory, as we'll
as as all of Florida. The Americans had a
small battery at Point Petere, on the main
land, at the mouth of the ST. Mary's river.
Eif,nan hnndred invaders Camped IN The