The Portland daily press., 1896-03-20
THE WARS SURESr SHOT.
Lamar Fontaine's Career in the Con-
federate Army.

Killed So Many Men That He Can't Reckon
the Number-Shot Sixty for Gen. Lee
in sixty Minutes-Had Power to Draw
ON the Treasury-His Dash Into Vicks-
burg.
Memphis, March 14.-Following the
peaceful and monotonous avocation of
planter and man of letters in the Sc
oluded hamlet Of Lyon in Coahoma coun-
ty, Miss, not far from Memphis, lives
Lamar Fontaine, who was perhaps the
most sanguinary demanded fighter in
the civil war. He carries the scars of SIX
ty-seven bullets, and killed SO many
men that he cannot make even an ap-
proximate estimate of the num- Der.
The Marquis Of Lothian in his history
of the war of secession, published several
years ago, being coyersant with many
incidents in the life of Fontaine, says in
effect that none of the historical or ira
ditional heroes of the ohivalrio middle
ages, no soldier the world has ever
known whose deeds of valor have como
down in story, song OF fable, can hold
place alongside this man in the qualities
of bravery, perseverance or devotion to
duty, and the Marquis laments that the
Con federate States produced no poet or
biogrpaher capable of embalming the
memory of this nineteenth century.
Fontaine began military service as
chief OF scouts nd courier for Gen. Stone
wall Jackson He served in the same
capacity with Gems. Stuart and johnson,
and for short time with Lee. He took
part in twenty seven skirmishes in which
blood was shed. Although he has only a
private in the ranks he was once.lntru, tad
with carte blanche order on TIE Treasu
ry of the Confederate States. He was
known as the best marksman wish rife
or revolver in either army He was
wounded sixty-sevan times, and thirteen
times his lungs were grazed. Five times
during the war he was reported as dead.
Lamar I ontaine has in his veins the
best blood in the South. He is of the
same family as the late Justice Lamar of
the United States Supreme Court. Fon-
tnine came to Memphis this week TO at
tend gathering Of the local Confeder-
ate veterans post, and to read a paper
commendatory of the South Battle Abb
hey project. He is under the average in
stature, wears a jaunty costume, the
most conspicuous features of which are a
broad brimmed hat and short jacket.
"Have you any idea of the number of
men you killed in the course of your war
career?" he was asked.
II could make no estimate, but on one
occasion shot sixty men in sixty min
utes. and the record was kept and was
vouched for ty Gen. r. e. Leo himself
1t occurred at Waterloo Bridge, near
Warrenton Springs, on the Rappahan-
mock, in Auugst 1869. That was about
the first time I ever met Gen. Lee.
though I had often seen him before and
knew him by sight. I was then acting as
courier for Gen. jackson. who, it seems
had been telling Gen. Lee about my skill
with rifle On this day carried des-
patches to Gen. Lee from Gen. jackson.
When / had performed my duty Gen. Lee
expressed desire to sac if what he had
heard about my ability as a marksman
was true. / told him I would do my
best to demonstrate it. Over across the
valley was bridge upon which was sta
TONED Federal battery that was pouring
shot into the onfederates as fast as the
guns could be loaded and discharged
Drawing forth and opening his watch
Gen. Lee ordered me to proceed. I be-
gan to shoot
81 would say, Now I'll shoot No. s
on gun No. l, and the man would drop
at the crack of my rifle; Now No. l on
gun No. A. and that man would drop.
And so the work continued. AS fast as
man on the battery fell over another
would take his place. Finally Gen. Lee
closed his watch. "That will do said
he. Sixty men in sixty minutes is your
record
'On later occasion Gen. Lee asked
me if my conscience did not trouble me.
What forp said I.
Because Of the pepole you have
killed
General, said I, does your conscience
| ulOupAo you WHOA yOu Kill d fdbOloSllhho!
| Why do you ask thatr he replied.
! Because I answered, when / en-
listed for the war made up my mind
that it was my duty to kill every Federal
soldier could, and I kill Federal
soldiers from the same sense of duty that
you would kill rattlesnake. I"
Fontaine was asked how lie acquired
such fine skill in the use of firearms.
"A1nong the Indians in Texas he re.
piled. "When I was small boy 1 set
tied with my parents in that State.
Later went to live among the Conan
ohes. and for thirteen years never saw
the face of white man :"
The most remarkable feat accomplished
by Fontaine from the point of view O.
the historian was the carrying of de-
spatches and caps into the city of vicks
burg when that city was besieged by the
Federals. At that time Mem phis was il
the hands OF the enemy, and Fontaine
acting as spy and under disguise, hat
been in this city for month OF SO, pick
ing up what information he could for tn,