The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1898-09-07
SOLDIERS BUDGET.
"St0newall" JacksOn's Courier.

Major Lamar Fontaine, who arrived
in the city yesterday morning, is prob
ably one of the most interesting veter-
ans of the Confederscy, He is the only
representative of Camp Sam Cammack
of Koohoma county, Mississippi, and
during his stay in the city will be the
guest of Capt, John Milledge on Trim
ity 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 Gar
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 Ma
jor Fontaine was sixteen miles away,
but could hear the guns and see the
smoke of the famous battle.
After leaving the Russian army he
travelled about the world in company of
an uncle, but was living in the south
at the opening of the civil war, and en-
listed as q private in the Tenth Missis-
sippi Rifles, but was later transferred
to Company X, Eighteenth Mississippi
regiment. While a member of this
regiment, in August, 1861 he wrote the
we'll known poem "All quiet along the
Potomac" which has since been wide
ly copied all we the world.
He began his wal work with the
Confederate army as scout and courier
for Gen. Stonewall Jackson. He serv-
ed in the same capacity with Gems.
Stuart and johnson, and briefly with
Gen. Lee. He took part in twenty
seven pitched battles, fifty-seven skir-
mishes and over a hundred individual
skirmishes in which blood was shed.
Although he was but q private in the
ranks, he was at one time intrusted
with a carte.blauche order on the
Treasury of the Confederate States.
He was known in all branches of the
Confederate service as the best marks
man with rifle or revolver in either
army. He was wounded siXty-seven
times, and thirteen 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 forty years, and this in
itself is an unusually interesting work,
comprising a number of volumes and
containing much valuable information.
He also has many documents signed by
prominent officers of the Confederate
army bearing testimony to his remark
able Workmanship.
eyes," said Major Fontaine last
night, sit would seem as though / had
spent the most of my life on the battle
field. My life has been rather event.
full in a way, and l think that L have
had a few interesting experiences.
"These documents I 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.
1t will be something TO leave them
when / am gone, and 1 have managed
to preserve them in good condition for
the last thirty years."
Major Fontaine is a man of distin-
guished appearance, and wears a com.
plete uniform, which was made especi-
ally for him to be worn at the reunion
of veterans. He is a civil engineer by
profession, and is engaged in business
with his two sons at Lyon, Miss
Chicago Times-Herald.