The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1896-03-26
Stories o1Me War.
LAMAR FONTAINE, THE SCOUT.
he SLEW THE ENEMY BY SCORES.
A Modeat Man With q Splendid Record
Tho Best Marksman in ethor army en-
oaoea in tho Late War.

Eollowing tho peaceful and mono
tonnus avocations of q planter and q
,nan of Letters in tho secluded hamlet
of J,von, in Coahoma County, Mlssls'
siDDi, not fur from Memphis, lives the
most destructive and sanguinary 'wer.
rior, single handed, that the world
ever saw, and who in his declining
DAYS, dovOtes himself to the muses. and
from time to time contributes to the
daily and periodical press literary
articles OF such fine merit as no ono
would credit to O man who carries the
sears of sixty-seven bullets and has
slain SO many fellow creatures that he
cannot make even an approximate es-
innate OF the number thereof.
The marquis Of Lothian, in his his
tory of tho war Of secession, published
several years ago, being conversant
with many Incidents in the lifo OF FOn-
tuinc, says in effect that none OF the
historical or traditional heroes OF the
chivalric ages, no soldier the world
has even known whose deeds OF valor
have come down in story, song or IA
BILE, can hold Il place alongside this
man in the qualities OF bravery, pcr-
seyerance or devotion to duty; and the
marquis laments that the Confederate
States produced no poet or biographer
capable of embalming the memory OF
this nineteenth century warrior.
Stated briefly, Fontaine's record was
this: He began as chief Of scouts and
courier for General Stonewall jackson.
He served in the same capacity with
Generals Stuart and johnson and
briefly with Lee. He took part in
twcnty-seven pitched battles, nifty,
seven skirmishes and over hundred
individual skirmishes in which blood
WIS shed. Although he was but u
private in tho ranks he was once Gu
trusted with a carte blanche order on
the treasury Of the Confederate States.
He was known in all branches OF the
Confederate service as the best marks-
man with rifle of revolver in either
army. lie was wounded siXty-seven
times, and thirteen times his lungs
were pierced. Five times in the course
OF the war he was reported in the dis
patches as dead. On two occasions he
was able, with the aid OF mirrors, to
look into apertuIes in his flesh and
watch the beatings Of his heart. These
statements might appear fabulous
and altogether increduious but for the
fact that the man is well known by
all the veterans in these parts, who
fully voucb for all these details and
aver further that il Fontaine were
not 50 modest his own recital Of his
career would seem even more remark
able
Lamar Fontaine bears in his veins
the best blood in the South. He is Of
the same family as Senator and Asso-
ciate Justice Lamar, who died cou-
pie OF years ago while occupying a
scat on the supreme bench.
The writer met Fontaine in Mem
phis this W =. He had como up to
attend ing of tho local Con
fcdt = post and to read q
papt Atory of the Southern
baltic ~u. ,ject. He is active and
sprightly anu seems good for another
standing his body IS 50 badly SCARED
that scarcely a patch Of tho origina
skin is visible. He is under thu
average stature, wears ~ jannty cos
tune, the most conspicuous features O
which arc broad brimmed hat and {
short jacket. He talks entertainingl,
and evincos unusual erudition on al
topics Of up-to-date interest, but is no
at all lOquuclOus concerning his per
sonal adventures. All efforts to draw
him out along that line were quito bar
rem of results. However, some extra.
ordinary admissions were made in tn,
course OF an extend conversation.
Have you any idea of the numbe
Of mon you have killed in the cours
ofyour war career?" he was asked.
cou d mako no estimate. But OF
one occasion | shot sixty men in sixt
minutes, and the record was kept an
is vouched for by General r. T.. lie
himself"
Fontaino was induced to narrate tn
circumstances OF this slaughter.
SIT occurred at Waterloo bridge
pahannock, in August, 1862" said he
"That was about the first time owe
met General Lee, though | had ofte
seen him before and knew him
sight. l was then acting as courie
for General Jackson, who, it seems
had been telling General Lee about m
skill with the rifle. On this day | Cal
ried dispatches to General Lee frol
General jackson. When l had pei
formed my duty General Lee expresse
q desire to see if what he had hear
about my ability as marksman wa
true. l told him | would do my bes
to demonstrate it. Over across tn
valley was q ridge upon which wa
stationed Federal battery that wa
pouring shot into the Confederatcs q
fast as the guns could be loaded an
discharged. Drawing forth and open
ing his watch General Lee ordere
me to proceed. began to shoot.
I" I would say, Now I'll shoot No.
on gun No. L. and the man would dro
at the crack Of my rifle; Now No.
on gun f. and that man would droI
And so the work continued. AS fas
rs q man on the battery fell another
would take his place. Finally Genera
Lee closed his watch. THAT will do
said he. Sixty men in sixty minute
is your record
"On later occasion when we me
General Lee asked me II my conscienc
did not trouble mo.
"'What for p said /.
"'Because Of the people you hav
killed.
General said I, does your con
science trouble you when you kill
rattlesnake ?"
"'Why do you ask that p he replied
with that peculiar smile everybod,
noticed about him.
"'Because,' I answered., when ] en-
listed for the war / made up my mint
that it was my duty to kill every Fed
eral soldier l could, and | kill Fedora
pOldicrs from the same sense of dut,