The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1897-07-02

he spent Sl50,O in bcautifying his
Texas plantation in like manner. But
the civil war came and the big planta-
tion passed out Of his hands. He is
now Mississippi planter, and is 63
years old. He is OF medium height
and build, with black hair and beard,
and a complexion OF sun-brown tone.
He is Il typical Southern gentleman OF
education and culture. lie hesitateS
to speak Of his many experiences, and
only talks about them in modest
way.
81 can only touch upon few OF the
incidents Of my army life during the
late war;" said Mr.. Fontalnc, when
urged to give an interview. "To be.
gin, can say that l bear sixty.seven
wounds that received while Con-
federate soldier, and that is a greater
number of wounds than any Federal
or Confederate soldier carries, so far
as ! can learn. l was shot thirteen
times through the lungs with minnie
balls My left leg was broken five
times by minnie balls, but | still have
that leg. My right leg did not fare
so well. 1t was taken of below the
knee by a grapcshot in the bloody
angle at Spottsylvania Court House,
Va, on May II. 1864. But | kept on
lighting on crutches until the close OF
the war. / made an artificial limb
myself in a blacksmith shop. The
foot is made OF rubber from Honduras.
Then, there is the usual leather belt,
and the artificial hinges to give me
knee action are made out OF two split
pieces OF a gun barrel, hammered fiat
They came from gun that | used as
a sharpshooter in the I'd Virginia
Cavalry, under Stoncwall Jackson, at
Warrcnton, Springs, Va, in August,
1867"
1t may be said that Mr. FOntainc's
artificial leg works SO perfectly that a
casual observer would never know
that lie was crippled in the least. lie
docs not walk with limp.
Il served as a sharpshootcr only
during the whole war; continued Mr..
Fontainc, "and WAS with Gen, Stone
wall Jackson until he was killed.
| [ haC the pleasure OF the reputation
Of being the best shot in the army.
The hottest fighting | ever engaged
in was Immediately after StoneWall
Jackson took Front Royal, Va, in
May, 1862, and he pursued the retreat
jnp forces Of Gen. \. p. Banks along
the pike from Front Royal to Win
chester. There were two prOngs OF
| the Shenandoah river at the spot.
The Yankees had crossed over and
made V-shape formation, with the
opening towards us. Gen. Stonewall
Jackson and sixty-cight men, all rid
ing good horses, dashed into this '
before they knew it, | was one Of the
sixty-cight. Fifteen hundred cavalry
men were expected to follow us up,
but they were detained by the bridges
catching fire. 1t was in the carly
morning, and through the dense
clouds OF dust we could sec the glis
tening wall OF Yankee bayonets on
the side of Il hill at the apex of the v
Gen. Jackson stopped in the shelter OF
"A stone carriage house, and gave the
command to charge The sixty-cight
men, led by Maj. Davis, plunged into
that valley OF death. At the first
vollcy from the two sides Of the Yam
kee V.shaped formation hirty-cight
of our men fell dead But the Others
never halted until they charged di'
rcctly into that wall OF bayonets on
the hill, and with drawn Sabcrs and
revOlverS we fought ike demons
Soon the 1900 cavalry came up to oul
support, and the Fcderals rctrcatcd
still further Out OF these sixty'eighl
men, hfty-cight were killed. or the
twelve living, ten were wounded, ant
another man and myself were the only
ones not injured. 1t was a mracu
lous escape for me. Gen. Jackson wa
only saved because OF that stone house
| think that charge Of those sixty
eight men equaed in bravery ant
courage the famous charge OF the 60
at Balaklava."
"Is it true that you claim the AL