Daily Kennebec journal., 1898-09-01
..sronEwAllv IAcksom's COURIER.
Wounded Sixty seven Times and Decorated by
the Gar.
fFrom the New Haven Register.) )

(From the New Haven Register)
Major Lamar Fontaine. VINO arrived
in the city, yesterday morning, is prob
ably one of the most interesting vete-
rams of the Confesieracy. He is the
only representative of Camp Sam
Cammock Of Koohoma county Missis-
sippi, and during his stay in the city
will he the guest of Capt. John Mil
letlgeon Trinity avenue.
Major Fontaine has been a 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 Sebastopol was decorated by Gear
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
Major Fontaine was 16 miles away.
but couid hear the guns and see the
smoke of the 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 a private in the 10th
Mississippi Rifles. but was latter
transferred to Company X. 18th Miss
,ssippi Regiment. While a member of
this regiment, in August 1861. he wrote
the well-known poem "All Quiet Along
the Potomac which has since been
widely copied all over the world.
He began his war work with the
Confederate army as scout and courier
for Gen. Stonewall Jackson. He served
in the same capacity with Gems. Stuart
and johnson. and briefly with Gen.
Lee. He took part in % pitched bat
ties. 81 skirmishes and over a hundred
individual skirmishes in which blood
was shed. Although he was but pri-
vate in the ranks, he was at one time
intrusted 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 rifle or revolver in
either army. He was wounded 67
times, and 13 times his lungs were
pierced. Five times in the course of
the war he was reported as dead. On
two occasions he was able, with the
aid of mirrors, to look into apertures
in his flesh and watch the beating OF
his own heart.
Major Fontaine has kept a complete
diary for nearly 10 years. anti this in it
self is an unusually interesting work.
comprising a number of volumes and con-
atining much valuable Information. He
also has many documents signed by
prominent officers of the Confederate
army bearing testimony to his remark
able craftsmanship.
Yes. said Major Fontaine. last night.
'it would seem as though had spent the
most of my life on the battlefield NY life
has been rather eventful in IA way, and
think that | have had few interesting
experiences.
These documents I have saved all
through the war. and while they may be
Interesting and valua BILE, l care for them
only for the sake of my children. It will
be something to leave them when / am
gone. and ! have managed to preserve
them In good condition for the last 30
years"
Major Fontaine is man of distin-
guished appearance, and wears a COM
pete UNIFORM. which was made especially
for him to be worn at the reunion of vet
Grams. He is civil engineer by profes.
SION ana is engaged in business with his
Two sons at LVon. Miss