By Evelyn Kelly, PhD
The Georgia coast boasts an array of barrier islands celebrated for their pristine beaches, world-class golf courses, charter fishing, luxurious spas, and vibrant dining scenes. Among these jewels, the Golden Isles – Sea, Jekyll, Little St. Simons, and St. Simons – stand out as a treasure trove of history and natural beauty.
St. Simons Island in particular charms visitors with its historic lighthouse and a profound story of love and friendship that continues to resonate through the years.
1831: St. Simons Island—A Place of Isolation
Anna King inherited the Retreat Plantation, one of Georgia’s prominent estates renowned for its cotton. Together with her husband, a congressman, she managed the plantation, which relied on the labor of enslaved individuals to cultivate its fields.
In such isolated places, children often had few playmates. We were told that it was customary to pair young plantation heirs with enslaved children as companions. Henry Lord Page King (“Lordy”) was matched with Neptune Small, an enslaved boy of similar age. Despite the constraints of their circumstances, the two became inseparable, exploring the swamps, fishing, and hunting together. Anna King even taught both boys to read and write, forging a bond that transcended the barriers of their era.
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1861: The Shadow of War
When the Civil War erupted in 1861, coastal Georgia was at the heart of the conflict. Lordy enlisted in the Confederate Army, and Neptune accompanied him, steadfastly by his side. Together, they endured the harsh realities of war, marching through battlefields and facing relentless challenges. Their journey took them to the Peninsula Campaign, Richmond, Sharpsburg in Maryland, and Harpers Ferry in West Virginia.
On December 13, 1862, during the Battle of Fredericksburg in Virginia, Lordy volunteered for a perilous mission and was fatally shot. Neptune, refusing to abandon his friend, searched the battlefield carnage until he found Lordy’s body. Determined to honor his companion, Neptune crafted a pine coffin and carried Lordy’s remains from Virginia to Savannah, Georgia, for a temporary burial.
A Free Man’s Choice
With the Emancipation Proclamation in 1862, Neptune was declared a free man. Despite his newfound freedom, he chose to return to the Confederate front, this time to care for Tip, the youngest King son. After the war ended, Neptune returned to Savannah to retrieve Lordy’s body, ensuring his final resting place would be the family plot at Christ Church on St. Simons Island.
As a tribute to Neptune’s unwavering loyalty, the King family granted Neptune a plot of land where he built a home. This land later became a park bearing his name. Neptune Small lived a long life, passing away in 1907 at age 75.
Today: Remembering Neptune’s Legacy
Neptune Small is buried in the enslaved persons’ cemetery on the Retreat Plantation grounds. Today, this graveyard lies beside the ninth hole of the prestigious Sea Island Golf Course, among some of the most valuable real estate in the United States.
The enduring tale of loyalty and friendship between Neptune and Lordy is immortalized in St. Simons Island’s history. A bronze statue of Neptune Small stands in Neptune Park, a poignant reminder of the love and devotion that united two individuals despite the vast divide of their circumstances.
