American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1851-1863, 1863-01-30
Remarkable NarratIye-.-OrigiH OF "All
Quiet Along the Potomac Tonight"

Sometime ago, the Richmond correspond
ent of the Charleston Mercury, abiding TO
Bishop Elliotts proposition for monument
to the unknown dead, said .tthe topic of
Unknown Heroes was frequently introduced
liz conversation, and mentions number of
those heroes, among them cavalry
from Texas, who, unable to walk step, car
ries a pair of crutches on horseback, and
with them has continued to perform all the
arduous duties required of him." The corr
respondent of the Mercury, we dare say,
little dreamed that this unknown dragon
would prove to be not only the most heroic,
of all the heroes of the war, but poet of
iIgh order besides. The following letter,
addressed to the Mobile Register and Adver-
tiser reads like a romance, yet bears upon its
face the evidence of truth. We copy it
just tribute to gallant soldier, and of far
more interest than any number of extracts
from Yankee papers
This soldier is Lamar Fontaine, private
in the " Campbell Rangers" second regi-
ment Virginia cavalry. He is the eldest son
of the Rev. Edward Fontaine, an Episcopal
minister, residing near Jackson, Miss, who
commanded the Burt Rifles, of the eighteenth
re yiment Mississippi volunteers, in the first
battle of Manassas and who is honorably
mentioned in Gen. Bcauregard's report Of it.
lie was born in Washington county, Texas,
in 1s41, while his parents resided there, and
was named after his fathers intimate friend,
General Mirabeau Lamar Previous to the
present revolution Lamar Fontaine lived in
his native State, educated in Austin,
and at the Military Academy in Bastrop, and
learned practically the most essential duties
of soldier as Texas Ranger and hunter on
the frontiers of Western Texas, where he
was unsurpassed as Il dcxtcrous rider and
skillful marksman.
As soon as the war commenced he came to
Mississippi and enlisted as a private in the
first company organized for the defense of
the State, the Mississippi Rifles, of Jackson,
commanded by Capt. Robert Smith, the
heroic Colonel Smith, who fell at Mnmfords-
vile, Ky. Under this excellent officer he
served at Pensacola, infantry soldier,
and then as an artillerist, until he was trans
ferred to his fathers company, in the army of
the Potomac. At the battle of Manassas be
was severely wounded by a cannon shot,
which passed under his feet, bruising one of
them so badly that he was unfitted for fur
Their duty as an infantry soldier. Finding
that he was unwilling to be discharged, his
father procured him transfer to Capt. AL
cxarder's company ~, I'd regiment Virginia
cavalry. Under Generals Jackson and Ewell.
he distinguished himself in the battles of
Front Royal, Cross Keys, and all the actions
of the Valley.
Near Winchester, in company with a
young gentleman from Campbell county, Va,
private tOnu MOoEcs uc ptFfoIuicu lcdt
without parallel in the annals of war, and
which is mentioned, with the highest com
meadation, in Gen. Ewelrs official report.
These two vouug men, unassisted and alone,
charged piece of artillery planted on the
Winchester turnpike, manned by eight men,
killed aud wounded two of their number,
drove the rest from the gun, and brought it
of in triumph to their commander. Near
Strasburg shell exploded against bis
horses head, blowing it to atoms, aud break
ing Lamar's thigh. While his comrades
were carrying him from the field another
shell wounded him severely in the hip. Soon
after his wounds were dressed, while lying
under a tree, MIME ball penetrated the
back of his neck, passed down near the spine,
aud lodged where the surgeons have not
been able to find it. Since then his right
side and leg have remained paralyzed. He
recovered sufficiently to obtain leave of alb
sence from the hospital in Charlottesville for
several weeks, which he spent with his COM
pany in performing military duty with his
crutches tied to bis saddle In this conai-
ton he fought seven battles-Hazel River
Bridge, Warrenton Springs, the Rsppahan-
mock or Waterloo Bridge, the battles Of the
10Th, 30th aud 3lst Of Manassas, aud the
battle of Germantown.
While the enemy were sheliing Warrepton
Springs, Gen. r. H. Anderson wished TO as
certain what division of the army occupied
the north bank of the RappahanBock oppo-
site his position lie volunteered to bring
him the necessary information, swan the
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