Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1861-08-12
roR TIE wHIG.

EUhUNU fONlAANHt "N-
Now that the ire and fury Of the battlefield nave
p,ssed away let US pause moment and pay tribute 70
the memory of one Of the brave heroes that feu In The
battle Of Manassas The Presdeuts brief telegram had
told us on Sunday that we had won "a brilliant ous
dearly bought victory" but had not realised how
dearly bought until Monday, when the telegraph an
nouucsd to n, the death Of early schoomats aud
dearly -ioved friend. r..
Edmund Fontaine, Jr., was born In Hanover county,
in the year 1888, but moved to Richmond in 1883 to
complete his preparation for the University, under the
gallant Colonel George 8. Patton, now Of Kana~ha'
ia 1855 no entered the University, where he spent two
sessions and then returned TO Hanover where he was
settled on his farm from which he was summoned to
the bloody battlefield He had been member OF the
Hanover troop and was made Sergeant Major of the
regiment to which that company was attached. On the
2ls when the enemy commenced their retreat his reg
iment was ordered to make charge In pursuit. The
Sergeant Majors place in the rear but his impetu
Gus gaantry soon brought him to the front by the SIDE
of the Lieutenant who headed the charge. They had
ius, reached the enemy, who fred from behind the
fsnce yoley, one ball Of which passed through Sd
mund's sword-belt into his body. He was support
ed from the battle field by his cousin and another
member Of the Hanover troop both of whom he begged
10 leave him on the battlefield and go back in pursuit
Of the enemy. Soon afterwards he fell into deep
s,ssp from exhaustion When.he awoks he was told
bs was DIVING He was perfectly conscious to the last
aud sent his love to his family and friends. His dy
inc message to his mother was Tell mother have
.lH.vs tried to do my dnty" To his father he sent
word that he died heading charge. He then prayed
almost necessarily till he died, having survived bid
wound for twelve hours.
TIE writer, from an intimate acquaintance with the
deceased for the past ogh! years. enabled to say with
truth that no nan had or more devoted irlendf
and no man better deserved them. He possessed the
characteristics of h1 Hugacuot blood-he was warm in
his affections bravo and generous in his impulses, nm
in his friendships and convictions and yet possesss
tia. rarest Of virtues willingness to acknowledge an
error To the world he strictly yelled his inner feelings
but few we're admitted to his confidence, and it by
| that chosen lev that he WAS most beloved. humor
on, faculty, especially of the mock heroic, made him
choic, companion. His head Was not inferior to BID
heart His University career was successful enough &c
show what more energy could have accomplished 'lr
psr.oa he was small weormed ard active, and he pcs
ssssed tho usual manly accomplishments Of our tmef
In short he was the personifcaton OF tha. muchabused
t.rm-hs Old Prginia Gentleman.
When be formed hs political views he became warn
stes Rights man. and was ready 10 defend his opinions
with honor or sword In matters of religion he was ie
served ard spoke but rarely Of his views but he ht
thought much on the subj o., especially snce the CON
Increment Of the war When he went to Manassas DO
he and many OF his friends had mysterious forebodrl
that he would never return alive and this thought kin
died BY the remembrance of his early religious education
at his mothers knee, bad great Influence on his mind
\ H. died mot as one without hope"
Such IN bis life and in his death vas Edmund Foe
tsiue Jr, one of the heroes Of Manassas, for whom
those lines OF Collins seem to have been intended:
How sleep the brave, who sink to rest,
by all their counry's wishes blcstl
When Spring, with dewy fingers cold
Returns TO deck their. halowed mould,
She then shall fed a richer sod
Than Far cy's feet have ever trod.
By Fairy hands their kuel is rung
BY forms unseen their dirge is suag;
There HoLcr comes, pilgrim grey,
To dress the turf that wraps their clay,
And Freedom shall awhile repair,
| To dwell a weeping Hermit there.
When We think Of ogr friend We can, from an iden
y of circumstance realize the sentiment Of the Laure
| ate
| This truth came borne with bier and pail
felt II, whom / sorrowed most
'Tis bitter to have loved and lost,
Than never 70 hsye loved at all.