Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1863-08-13
Bold Scouting In the West.

I Bold Scouting In this West
On the oath of May General Johnston despatched
Lamar Fontaine, the " hero upon crutches, WI[p
verbal me ssage to General Penberton, IN Vcksourg
He carried forty pounds percussion caps. besides hIs
blanket ard cruches The narrative of the dangerous
adventure published 10 the Mobile Advertiser is very
interesting, and we give portion of it.
He crossed Big Black River that night, and the next
aav COZ beveeo their iines and the division in their
army which was at fredericksburg. He hid bis horse
n ravine and ensconced himself in fallen tree, over
locking the road during that day. From bis hid1pg
place be witnessed the retreat OF the 1ankeea VINO
nassed him in considerable haste and confusion After
their columns had gene by and the night had made It
sale for him to move he continued his route in the di-
rection Of Suyders Bluff As he entered the telegra
phic road from Yazoo City TO lex burg ne was na'
ed BY a picket but dashed by him. voley was lied
at hin, By tho Yankees He escaped unhars, but
Mine ball wounded bis horse MORALLY. The SPIRITED
animal however, carried him safely to the bank OF the
Yaz>o River, where b" died, 8nd lett him hioot. he
lost one of bis cruches in making bis escape inns was
ierked from him by the Limb of tree, and ne sad no
! time to pick 1t up
With the assistance OF cruch be carried bis bag
gage and grouped along the Yazoo until he pr0Vden'
tiay discovered small leg canoe titd by rope WIN
10 bis reach He pressed ths into bis service ard pad
died down the river until he met three apkee gunboas
coming up to Yaz7o city. He avoided them by run,
ming under some willows overhaDgog the water, ana
lying concealed until they passed Soon afterwards ne
fpated by Snyders Bluff, which was Illuminated, aud
alive vita Yankees and negroes participating 10 the
amuz ment of grand ball of mixed races He lay nat
! in his cauoe-wbich nothing but hollow leg ana
could hardly be distinguished from piece OF DRIFT
woodland gided safely through the gunbcats, trans
ports and barges CT the amalgamatlonsts lie reached
the backwater of the h ssisspp before day. and IN the
darkness missed the outlet Of the Iazoo and got INTO
what il called "Od river After searching in vain Tor
pass into the Mississippi, day dawned and he dscov
err d his nstak" He was forced to conceal his boat
aud himself and liz by for mother day. He had oten
TWO days end gifts with' TODD ard began to sater
the paogs OF hunger At night he padded oack III tce
YSz7o and Descended /, tie Mississippi passing for
" or fifty OF the Y.lkee Transports Oniy one man
hals d him from the rndoat. and asked
him where ne was going He replied that he was gong
to bis lisarg lines In tie bend above Vicksburg he
doated by the mortar feet, lying fat 10 bis caroe 'he
mortars we're ia tul blast bomoasdng the city. lhs
rext morning lie tied white handkerchief TO lis pad
de- raised himself up the midst OF picket boats al
Vicksburg, ard gave loud huzza for JET DAVIS and
te Southern Conederacy, amid the vapaS OF cuE sail
re, who gave him joyful reception, and assisted hI'
! 0 General PenhFrton's quarters
After resting day AMI u!gat ii The city he started
out vi b despatch from Genera peul5eE;o to Gen
erai Johnston. He embarked in his Ca1oe, and soon
reached tie eDemys feet below ;ho city tie avoided
their picket boats both Shores and ,aied rear clr
gun boats He passed OF THESE that through
an open portfolio be could see men playing cards and
hear them Converse at Diamsud Palace he landed
and haGe adeu to his faithful {" dug out" Alter bob
ling through tie bottom t. the bills be !eaeded the
residence ut tnau who had heen robbed bg the saw
ages Of all bis mules ard hor@s except an cd worth
less geklirg AID half broken colt. He gave him the
choice CT > n, add ne mounted the colt bat found
that he Travelled badly, Proyidcnol]y be came upon
very nua lpraa in the bottom, tied by blind bride,
without civ eddie. AS basket and an Old bag
were lying near him, he inferred that negro had lett
him rne,e, aud that Yankee camp was not Tar dis
tan, He exchanged brides, saddied the horse and
mopnt.aa nii,I, atter turning loose the colt
After rilug TO avoid the supposed position OF
the Yake<s, he encountered OF the thieves, who
rfurniog to it from successful plunderng excur
sion, He was losd;d with chickens and bucket OF
honey. He commenced catechzng Lamar IN true
Yankee stple who concluded it best 10 satisfy his
roty by sending him where he could kno" all the de-
zil could teach him. With pis,oLtullet through lis
forehead be left him. with bis honey and poultry lying
il the pa to ex lite the corectures of his fellow
THE veg
He approached with much caution the next settle
ment There he hired guide for $50 10 pilot hin to
! Ha,.i@rSon% Ferry, Big Black river, which he
wished TO zach near That point without following any
road The fellow he hired proved to be s traiter-
When be got the Jerry Lamar seat him ahead to
ascertain whether any Yankees were in TIE vicinity
be cOnyersatisl and Ct iiia ElaG he'd excited
his suspicious snd soon he lett him he concealed
himself but remained where be could watch his return
He remained much longer than he expected but re-
turned and reported that the way was open and that
no Yankees were near the ferry After paying him he
took the precauon 10 avoid the ferry, and to approach
the river above it, Instead of following the guides d.
Tections By this lie h2Dkcd force OF the enkees
posted to intercept him but as he entered the read
near the river bank OF them, who seemed to be On
tie right 2D OF long line o sentines suddenly rose
up within ten fee. OF him and ordered him 10 halt
lie replied with pistol saot, which killed the sentinel
dead and wheeling his horse galoped through the BOT
tom up the river but the Yankees sent shower OF balls
after hls, tTo Of which wounded bis right hand IN
juring four Of bis fingers. One graz his right
leg, cutting two holes through his pautloons. Seven
bullets struck the horse, which reeed under hira, but
Rad strength ard speed to bear him mile from big pur
suers before he fell and died Lamar then divided his
clothes and arms into packages and SWAN Big Black
safely. He did not walk fer before patriotic lady
supplied him with the only horse she had-a stray one
which came to her hous. after the Yankees bad carried
of all the animals belonging 10 the place On this be
reached Raymond at o'clock in the morning changed
bis horse for fresh one and carried bis despatch to
Jackson that morning.
Successful OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES Of Yankee
Barge and Crew.
| On Tuesday night detachment of some thirty men
Of the Twenty-ffh S. y. v, fEutaw Regiraent under
Capt. Sellers, aud detachments from gunboats Chcore