The Washington herald., 1909-08-15

stationed an understanding had
been reached between the two picket
lines that there should be no arins
at each other while on duty. Either
ignorance or dastardly treachery
violated this agreement one night
and aroused the poetic mind OF the
young Mississippian 20 give birth
20 the verses OF this beautiful song"
Years after, IN one OF his letters
70 Cen Mattocks, he graphically
described the event. and II IS from
that letter that the following auto
biographical account is taken:
we had 70 stand on duty six
hours at a time. That night I took
my stand at and Moore retired 70
rest. The nights were chilly. and
we usually kept some FIRE burning.
There was a small spring Of water
near by. and a large fallen pine tree
that 1 used 10 sit on and rest az
times. after walking my beat. and I
have frequently stopped at tho
spring and bathed my face when the
dreary mOnotony Of the still night
had tendency 10 lulI ne 10 sleep.
As soon as I found that midnight
had arrived stepped 10 the fire,
threw on some pine knots. and
reused Moore 10 take my place
He arose slowly. picked I'D his
gun. stepped TO the fire. and stretch
ed himself. as a sleepy soldier Will
and gaped and yawned. and while
his arms were extended. one hand
grasping the barrel OF his gun. there
was fash across the river. the
whizz Of a bullet. and he sank tC the
earth. with 2 hole Just above his left
eye. from which flowed a dark,
crimson tide.
Not word. not a groau ESCAPED
him. I removed his remains from
near the fire where he had fallen.
AS I did so my eyes fell on the
telegraphic column Of a newspaper,
and It was headed: All Quiet Along
the Potomac Tonight on how
truthful It was. 1t was certainly
all quiet with me, and with him,
whom I loved as a brother.
Il could not help shedding a tear
as my thoughts reverted to his
home. his wife. and HIS children.
When morning dawned the words IN
that newspaper were burned IN my
brain. I put my friends eHeots to-
Eether-his letters. sword. hat, all
and expressed them 10 hts wife.
with q true and perfect description
or his death.
After his remains and effects had
been removed penned the outlines
OF the poem. but not as they now ap-
pear. for the first were biting and
sarcastic. 7 read the crude copy TO
Orderly Sergt. W. W. Williamson.
who was a fine critic. and to Lieuts-
Graham and Depritt. OF my com
pany. Williamson suggested that
II would only make Il more poetic
instead Of sarcastic. II would take
better. I did so, and on the 9Th OF
August. 1851. had It completed
as II now stands. I read the poem
to my messmates. and Il received
their heartiest commentator.
7 gave out copies OF the original.
which were recopied and sent home.
and soon the whole regiment. brig
ade. division. and army were in pos
session OF It. Ny father. whom 7
met shortly after. suggested that IN
place OF stray picket I ought 70
say lone pickett but I did not alter
It. The ladies Of Leesburg. in Lou
doun County, Va. put the words to
music, and used TO sing them for
us long before they were printed.
1 gave one copy 10 a Miss Eva Lee
and one TO a Miss HemDstone. Also
a copy to John NJ. Orr. who at tho
time was mayor Of the town"
Fontaine was the hero OF TWENTY
seven battles, and when the war
ended was minus leg and had
scars all over HIS body 20 bear wit
ness TO HIS bravery. He returned to
his native state. Mississippi. and re-
sumed his profession Of surveyor
and civil engineer.
II VIII be seen that a plausible
case can be made out OF either side
OF this controversy. and perhaps
among the readers Of this article
there are those who can throw stflf
further light upon the subject.