The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1896-03-26

spy and under disguise, had been in
this city for q month or so, picking up
what information he could for the
benefit OF General Joseph T.. johnson,
who had his headquarters at jackson,
Miss. One day there came u summons
for him to report to General Johnston
at once. simultaneously the Federals
in this oity got knowledge of Fon-
taine's orders and of his presence hero.
The desire to capture such dangerous
spy and redoubtable Confederate
sharpsho0ter became SO intense that O.
reward OF $40, 900 was offered for him,
dead or alive, and troops wore dis
patched to cover all the roads leading
Southward, to intercept his progress.
But he avoided them and reported on
time to his General Mt Jackson for or
ders.
The orders were that he was to carry
dispatches and 100000 musket caps
through the Federal lines and into the
city of Vicksburg.
The appalling difficulty OF this un-
dertaking may be judged from tho
fact that Vicksburg was beleagued by
IS, 900 Federals under General Ulysses
S. Grant; all the approaches to- that
city wore controlled and guarded by
the Federals, and there was d reward
of 500, 900 for the head Of Fontaine.
But this courier understood the
uses of discretion as well as tho neces-
sity for valor. He set out on his
journey. He avoided all thorough
fares. In complete disguise and under
cover OF darkness he passed through
the federal lines, and was about to
make q run for the Confederate out
posts, when he found himself in a
pfl !,
half dozen soldiers, who appeared to
know who he was, for on sight they
opened fire on him. He rushed into
their midst, revolver in each hand,
and four Of the enemy fell dead before
his unerring aim. Tho other two fled
and the spy ran into the city. When
he presented himself before tho officer
in command, it was found that he had
on his body the marks OF seventeen
bullets. This adventure is we'll au-
thenticated.
AS to the numerous "fatalities " In
which Fontatne appeared as the CEN
trail figure, some of them had their
ludicrous side. John Esten Cooke,
the writer OF a very popular series Of
Confederate historical novels, was q
war and used him, under various
names, as q character in his novels.
In "Mohun Fontaine Is sketched in
tho character OF Night Hawk. In
"Surry OF Eagles Nest" he is given
tho name Of Farley. Curiously enough,
the novelist, in his last named work
states as @ historical fact that Fon-
taine was killed at Petersburg, which
proves only that Fontaine was such IL
skillful actor rs to deceive his closest
friends in his mortuary role.
I" 1t is true, though" explained he
to the writer, =" that at Petersburg l
was wounded in hot skirmish engage
mont, and being unable to run away
simulated q corpse when the Feder"ls
overran the ground on which l lay.
When it was learned in my company
that was dead, one of tho officers sent
Off at once for a coffin in which to bury
me-. About the time the cotfir arrived
in camp / showed up, too. That in
terfered materially with the funeral.
But next day, in the course Of general
engagement, the officer who had dis
played such friendliness for me re-
ceived fatal wound, And the remains
of the poor man were sent home in the
coffin he had ordered for mo-"
1t was in the course Of his mission
| to Vicksburg that FOntaine was hon
| ored with unlimited credit upon the
GIcdSufS Vi lU WdS
in the shape Of an order signed by II.
o. Minis. the chief quartermaster Of
the war department, and was worded
thus: '"Hhe Confederate States treas
urer will honor any draft presented
him signed by Lamar Fontaine." Per-
haps in all the history Of civilized war
fare no such credit and confidence was
ever before reposed in O private SOL
dier.
Unparalleled as has been this mans
accomplishments in deeds OF daring,
he has not failed to win laurels in the
fairer fields Of literature. He is q
regular and popular writer Of war
sketches, and a recent burlesque arti-
Gle on the Venezuelan controversy in
which he undertook to express the pa
triotism Of the Confederate veteran to,
ward the stars and stripes evoked q
half-colurln editorial from The London
Times. But as o writer bo is more
widely known by the poem, Quiet
Along the Potomac" While the
credit for his composition has been
claimed by several others and publicly
accorded to q few, those who are aware
OF Fontaine's claim and the indisput
able evidence upon which it rests nc
longer entertain any doubt about his
good title to the authorship. Ger
tainly, though, he is largely self
| educated, he is q master of graceful
English, and his ability to compose
such poem is unquestionable,