La Junta tribune. (La Junta, Bent County, Colo.) 1881-1939, 1898-09-24
"ssone-.n- J.e1.on.. Courier.

FROM the New York Register:
Major Lamar Fontaine, who arrived
IN the city yesterday morning. is prob
ably one OF the most interesting vet
erans OF the Confederacy. He is the
only representative OF Camp Sam
Cammack OF Koohoma county. Missis-
sippi. and during his stay In the city
VIII be the guest Of Capt. John Milledge
on Trinity avenue
Major Fontalne has been soldier
nearly all his life. and the story OF his
adventures In all parts OF the world
sounds like fiction.
He served In the Russian army dur
Ing The Crimean war. and at the siege
OF Sebastopoi was decorated by Car
Nicholas with the iron cross OF honor
for daring bravery during the battle.
At the time OF the memorable charge
OF the Light Brigade at Balaklava MAI.
Fontaine was sixteen miles away. but
could hear the guns and see the smoke
of that famous battle.
After leaving the Russian army he
travelled about the world In company
with an uncle. but was living in the
South at the opening of the civil war.
and enlisted as private in the Tenth
Mississippi Rifles, but was later trans
ferred to Company X. Eighteenth Mis-
sissippi regiment While a member OF
this regiment. In August, 1861. he wrote
the weii-known poem, "Ail Quiet Along
the Potomac" which has since been
widely copied all over the world.
He began his war work with the Con-
federate army as scout and courier Cor
Gen. Stonewall Jackson. He served In
the same company with Gems. Stewart
and johnson and briefly with Gen. Lee.
He took part In twenty-seven pitched
battles. ffty-seven skirmishes and over
a hundred individual skirmishes in
which blood was shed. Although he
was but private in the ranks. he was
at one time 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 sixty-seven times, and thir-
teen times his lungs were pierced. Five
times in the course of the war he was
reported dead. On two occasions he
was able with the aid OF mirrors to
look into apertures in bis flesh and
watch the beating Of his own heart
MAI. Fontaine has kept complete
diary for nearly forty years. and this
in itself Is an unusually interesting
work. comprising number OF volumes
and containing much valuable informa
tion. He also has many documents
signed by prominent officers of the
Confederate army bearing testimony to
his remarkable Workmanship.
YES" said Maj. Fontaine last night.
"it would seem as though I had spent
the most of my life on the battlefield.
nv life has been rather eventful in a
way, and think have had few In
teresting experiences.
these documents have saved all
through the war. and while they may
be interesting and valuable. l care for
them only for the sake Of my children.
II will be something to leave them
when am gone. and l have managed
to preserve them in good condition
for the last thirty years"
Mai Fontaine Is man OF distin-
euished appearance. and wears COM
plete uniform, which was made espe-
c,aliy for him to be worn at the re-
union Of veterans. He Is civil en-
xineer by profession, and is engaged in
business with his two sons at Lyons.
Mics