Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-07-03
SHOT A MAN A MINUTE
The Marvellous Experience Of Lamar
Pontaino, q Confederate Scout.
LEE HELD THE WATCH on HIM.
He Fired Shot After shot During
the Time, and Never Failed TO Hit
His Man-was wounded DER and
Der.


county, Miss. who In his day and gene
ration was perhaps the most destructive
and sanguInary warrior, single handed,
that the world ever saw. and who IA his
declining years devotes himself 10 the
muses. and from time to time contribu-
lions to the daily and periodical press
literary articles OF such merit as no one
would credit to man who carries the
scars OF xixty-seven bullets and nas
slam so many fellow-creatuges that he
cannot make even an approximate esti-
mate Of the number thereof.
The Marquis Of Lothian. In his his
tory OF the war OF secession, published
several years ago, being conversant
with many Incidents in the life OF Fon-
tame. says In effect that none Of the
historical or traditional heroes Of the
chivalrio Middle Ages, no soldier the
world has ever known whose deeds OK
valor have come down In story. song. or
fable, can hold a place alongside this
man In the qualities Of bravery, perse-
verance, or devotion TO duty; and the
Marquis laments that the Confederate
States produced no poet or biographer
capable OF embalmins the memory or
this nineteenth-century warrior.
WAS JACKsoN'S SCOUT.
Stated briefly Fontaine's war record
was this: He began as scout and courier
for General stonowall jackson. lie
served In the same capacity with Gene
rails Stuart and Johnson. and briefly with
Lee. lie took part in twenty-seyen
pitched battles, lfty-seyen skirmishes.
ard over a hundred individual skirmishes,
IA which blood was shed. Although he
was but a private In the ranks he was
once entrusted 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
marksman With rife or revolver in either
army He was wounded slxty-seven
times. and thirteen times his lungs were
pierced Five times In the course OF the
war he was reported In the dispatches o5
dead. On two occasions he was able, with
the aid Of mirrors, 20 look into apsrturss
In his flesh. and watch the beatings OF
his own heart These statements might
appear fabulous ana altogether incredi-
BILE but for the fact that the man IL well
known by all the veterans in these parts.
who fully vouch Tor all these details, and
aver, further that X Fontaine were not
so modest his own recital OF his career
would seem even more remarkable.
GOOD SOUTHERN STOCK
Lamar Fontaine is Of the same family
as Senator and Associate-Justice Lamar.
who died a few years ago. while occupy
ing a seat on the Supreme Bench. lie
IS also a Klnsman of Commodore Mathew
Fontaine Maury. who mapped the path
| ways OF the ocean, and gave the world
81. 81 ffIr n
| Physical Geography OF tho Sea-"
| He IS also one OF the nearest descend
| ants OF the immortal Patrick Henry now
| living, and also OF the Winstons. tho
! Dabneys, the LewIses. the Spotswoods,
| the Dandrldges, and many more OF the
best families OF Virginia, who have aided
In making her name great In the annals
| OF our country.
He is with us now attending the sixth
| annual reunion OF tho Confederate vets-
rams IN this city. and II wa. the fortune
OF Dispatch reporter 70 most him while
in our midst. He Is OF average stature,
wears a soft tslt white bat darn
gray Prince Albert coat and has gen
tie. kindly expression. and clear gray
| eye, under heavy overhanginS brow5.
RELATES HIS EXPERIENCE.
In a conversation with him, the re-
porter remarked chat have seen letter
I'm the Scimtar, Of Memphis Tenn, In
which It is said that you had killed sixty
men In an hour. WIN you relate TO me
something about this--how, when, and
where II ocoure4i
He good-humorecly replied: ut oc-
Cured at Waterloo Bridge, just above
! Warrenton Spr;hrs. In Virginia. In Au-
gust, 1872. Just IS Stonewall Jackson
was thanking Pope prior TO the second
| battle OF Manassas. l had been sent
across the river early IN tho morning 10
ascertain, II possible, what Yankee corps
was In front OF us, | captured mem
Der OF the lIlth Pennsylvania Regiment,
and a member Of Purnslrs Maryland
Legion. a part OF the Yankee Provost
! Guard, and released member or tho
| First Maryland Regiment. Confederate
| States army, who was a prisoner. /
recrossed the river with my prisoners,
| and delivered them 10 our Provost Guard,
and from tho prisoners General Jackson
got the desired information. quite heavy
firing was going on at the bridge.
There was a long frame house. with
a cellar under IT. and our sharp-shooters
| had possession OF It, and tho "Yanks''
were pouring heavy fire into II from
the opposite side OF the river. just below
| the bridge. While this fire was going on
| General Jackson sent me with dispatch
TO General A. p. Hill. When / returned
found the General sitting near large
fallen brick column OF an old residence
that had been destroyed by fire prior 70
the opening OF the war.
There were several columns still stand
ing and got down. and stood near one
While standing near this spot battery
on the opposite side OF the river opened
upon our men, who were In the valley
near the bridge.
IT watched several shots. and asked th'
General II l could try my hand at them
He said he had no objection. ] sho
from the column near where was stand
ing, resting my rife on the top OF ms
crutches, which l leaned against thu
column.
"Many OF the staff officers stood by. an(
watched the shots. l would call No.
at gun No. /, then No. a
gun no. 2, and so on, until l had fire.
about twenty rounds. hitting my maj
every time. When General Lee rode up
and quit shooting. General Jackson toi'
Lee that they were Just watching M
skill with the rife, and that I had ire
about twenty shots without miss
General Lee glanced at bis watch, an'
expressed q desire TO witness 1t himself
] was then introduced to him. and again
opened fire on the battery, and continued
to exhibit the same skill. After / hai
exhausted the last round OF sixty tina
began with I told them that i would
have to quit. a was out OF ammuni
ton. The General looked at his watch
and remarked that his vas wonderful.
Sixty shots without a miss. and not owe
an hour in doing II. He then asked m
IL my conscience did not trouble me.
asked, Tor what, Gsnerair He replied
For shooting 40 many OF those people.