The Camden confederate. (Camden, S.C.) 1861-1865, January 23, 1863, Image 1
f (t <C??i|r|Cnffifratt,
At TWO DOM.AB8 A YKAS,
PAYABLX INVAUIABLY HALT-YEAHLY IN ADVANCK.
*:i-w?erms for ^dtvefrtising:
Jfrfftae S<<We?iburteyp lines or less?ONE DOLJCSHggrD
JpnCWTY-WVE CENTS for the flint,
?a uMji itcmf ?ri mt uan iu ior eacti subsequent
Jjfcreicx*, exceeding one Squww, charged
iSvertisemenii and Job Wora MUST BB
' 0* ADVANCE.
jjMkitiluctioti made, exe6)rt to our regular advertising
[trom our occasional corrkspondknt.]
r > S^llaBoma, Tenv., January 12, 1863.
- 'Being at leisure this raori.-ing, for tbo first
19 V
time since the great struggle near Muifresboio,
give you a short sketch of the . eventful
vveaic just passed, which, I trust, will not be
whcAIy uniuterestiug. Our Regiment left TriQhs
on thn 27th Tio^mUr on/1 mouAl?t?i/? I
. ^. ^Ty.| . ? ? * ?* 41^ w w*>* vv? f nnvi iJidl VIII
throogh a drenching rain all the day, reached
Mnrfroaboro on the 28th. The vast camp
aroimd the city appeared deserted, for the troops
were all out on the front in line of battle,
awaiting the approach of the Abolitionists.
Our position was soon assigned us, and we
-stood there for two days, shivering in the cold
rain that was falling. On Wednesday the 31st*
the Brisrade was ordered to the Wt. where the
-conflict of the previous day had laged. Crossing
Stone's River, Gen. Poik rode up and told
usthattho enemy was being driven back.
This information fell gratefully upon our hearts,
And we pushed forward. A few minutes afterwards
Gen. Bragg and staff can.e up. Three
-deafening -cheers greeted iho veteran soldier.
Acknowledging the compliment, he spoke a
few word.. of cheer ..to us and moved to the
head of the column. Could we have gone into
the fight at that moment, we would have car
rieci any position. A never saw soldiers so enthused
before, but our time bad not yet come.
Forming in line of battle we bad to raarcb a
mile through an open field under tbo raking
fir* of the enemy's guns. Shell and shot flew
thick and fas^over our heads?these we heeded
not, but inarched in solid line still towards
them?"That battery must be taken," was the
order. Throe brigades had already tried it,
and oqra was the fourth that was to seek its
reputation e'en at tbo "cannon's mouth." On
reaching the Nashville Pike we formed in col
umn of companies across it I was trnly ner
vons for the safety of the Regiment while in
this position. Awwnd shot would liavo gone
through every company. Luckily the enemy
did not take advantage of the occasion, and
very soon wo deployed. When within good
rango wo gave the enemy a volley, and then a
charge. The first lino of the Abolitionists gave
way and left two pieces of their artillery in our
possession, but the second line stood the shock
valiently. I could see the Yankee officers riding
up and down their line, encouraging their
men.4 Their aHillery had limbered up and was
moving off, but at this moment the regiment
on our rigljft gave way, and soon our regiment,
with thinned ranks, was subjected to a murderous
enfilading fire. We could not stand it
longer. Our Brigadier seeing our condtion,
ordered a retreat. Had the rest of ^ brigade
etood up to us, we would have taken that formidable
battery and carried it safely to the
rear. After being shelled for some time we
took another position, and rested from the weary
labors of the day. I was glad to get a place
where I could breathe freely again, for I was
well nigh exhausted. We lost many brave
men in killed And wounded in this charge,
among whom was our Colonel?than w}i6a)
none was braycr. J escaped unhurt?thanks
unto Almighty God?but ray clothes vjere
shot in several places. We slept npon our
resting npoh ttaft pallid ehneks fiJlsd nae Mtfth
the most painful emotions. Never more do I
wish to behold a spectacle so heart rending.
The enemy's.right bad been driven huat *nm<?
four or five miles during the day, and all of
t**r d#ad and wounded were left Mour
bauds- Ambulance* were running ail nigbt,
HfehwitaK . w? >#
hauling away the spoils, whicih were considerable,
in the, way cf small arms aud knapsucks.
Thus encled the old year with nic. I trust
that yours was more agreeable and pleasant,
and for a New Year's Gift, let me wish that
you received other than bombs and bullets.
No fighting was done on the first day of the
year. Wo occupied the well .fought field, and
eyed tho Yankees all the day. Each party
seemcdloath to com men co the strife again.
Our lines w?re concealed in a dense cedar
grove, and the enemy were jnst beyond us, in
an open corn field. I presume they had a
frarv loul f/\i? no f 1*ntt /l/\ 1 ? * - ?
v? imy ivi no ivi vuoj UU liyt 11IW13 W.? SUOW
themselves?preferring always to crpuch behind
something for protection. Wo did no
fighting on the second until nearly sundown,
when we were ordered to support a charge of
the Kentucky brigade, commanded by Gen.
Harrison. The enemy vfere pcstCv, ^/n en is i
side of Stone's River, upon a hill side; Our
Kentucky boys run up to thorn ere they fired
a gun, the enemy, however, firing all the while.
When within a few yards cf the Yankees our
men gave them a broadside, and tho fight bocamo
in somo instances hand to hand. The
enemy could not stand it. They took to their
heels?our men pursuing, until they had been
driven acrocs the river. A large number of
them were killed, and some three hundred taken
prisoners. I never saw anything equal to that
charge?it was truly magnificent, and I was
heartily amused at the quick time the Yankees
made across that stream. The brave. General
Harrison was mortally wounded,, to the regret
of every true son of Kentucky. The next day,
Saturday, the cold rain fell pitilessly upon us. .
Drawn up in line, wc waited for the enemy to
show themselves. Tbey came not. Fatigued
oeyona endurance, some of our men would
sleep, despite the falling weather. At "one
o'clock a. m., on Sunday, January 4, we moved
quietly aWay from Murfresboro. I regretted
to leave a field so gloriously won, but our troops
were exhausted and needed rest and recuperation.
'Twas wise and humane therefore to
draw off and obtain the necessary recreation.
I wish it could have been otherwise, but under
the circumstances it could not be avoided.
We arc once again in camp. I enjoy the
rest it gives, and am ready to n\cct the foe
when duty calls. Tullahoma is about forty
miles south of Murfresboro?immediately on
the railroad?the village is a small one. and
when once seen, one never wishes to see it
again. I have no news from the front to-day
I guess the enemy will follow us very slowly, if
at all. I suppose they will use the spade and
shovel pretty lively around Mnrfresboro, before
they advance.
Nothing more at present
Yours, Arc.
Capt A. Hamilton Boykin, of Kershaw, says
.1 ~ "
me ?.;narieston Mercury, bas declined the appointment
of Judge Advocate for the Military
Department now commanded by Gen. Beauregard.
He places this decision, we believe, on
want of legal practice and status. We regret
the decision and, we dissent from the opinion
it implies concerning his qualification, but we
cannot withold an expression of approval for
the precedent and the modesty exhibited.
Many citizens less qualified than Capt. Boykin
would gladly accept such an offer.
i ii<Vj ?? . M cr - }
The Springfield Republican expresses the
opinion that the country is getting tirod of unsaocessfal
war, Of blunders in the field, of doubt
and hesitation and confusion in council, of fraud
and rascality everywhere.
ir MflnriO 1
It is beTicved at Washington that Secretary I
Cha^e wHl soon lead to the hyroeniai altar the
accomplished widow of the Late Senator Dong
!## ' f I
7:W? ft *
%
x ? <,' m 1 " 1 "" ' - r- -?
, * *>. >v A Her? . I
. Some weeks ago the Richmond correspon
dent ?of this paper, alluding to Bishop Elliott's
proposition for a monument to the. unknown
dead, said, "the topic of unknown heroes was
frequenter in trod need in conversation, and
mentioned a number of these heroes, among
them a cavalry man from Texas, who, unable
to walk a step carries a pair of cratches on
Horseback,, and with t&ein has continued to
perform alt the arduous duties required of him."
Our correspondent, wo dare say, little dreamed
that this unknown dragoon would prove to be
not only the most heroic of all the heroes of
the war, but a poet of a high order besides.
The following letter, addressed to the Mobile
Register and Advertiser, reads like a romance*
yet bears upon its face the evidence of truth*
We copy it as a just tribute to a gallant soldier,
and as of far more interest than any number
of extraots from Yankee papers:? Mereuty
This soldier iR Lamar Fontaine, a private in
the "Campbell Rangers," 2d Regiment Virginia
Cavalry. He is the eldest Ron of the Rev. Edward
Fontaine, an Episcopal Minister, residing
near Jackson, Miss., who commanded the Burt
Rifles, of the 18th Regiment Mississippi Volunteers
in the first battle of Manassas, and who
in honorably mentioned in Gen. Ucauregard's
report of it. Jlo was born in Washington
county, Texas, in 1841, while his parents re
sided there; and was named aft.er his father's
intimate friend, Gen. Mirabcau Lamar. Previous
to the present revolution Lamar Fontaine
lived in his native State, was educated in Austin,
and at the military Academy in Bastrop,
and learned, practicaljy, the most essential
duties of a soldier a9 a Texas Hanger and hunter
on the frontiers of Western Texas, where
he was unsurpassed as a dexterious rider and
skillful marksman. As soon as the war commenced,
he came to Mississippi and enlis&d as
.. .i._ ? . ; 1 .?
i\ puttttv 111 tuu iii?b company organized xor lite
defence of the State, the Mississippi Rifles,
Jackson, commanded by Capt. Robert Smith,
the heroic Col. Smith, who fell* at Murofordsville,
Ky. Under this excellent officer be
served at Fensacola, as an infantry 6oldier, and
then as an artillerist nntil he was transferred
to his father's company in tho Army of the
Potomac. At tho battle of Manassas he was
severely wounded by a cannon shot, which
passed under his feet, bruising one of them so
badly that he was unfitted for further duty as
an infantry soldier. Finding that he was unwilling
to be discharged, his father procured
hiin a transfer to Capt. Alexander's Company
(I), 2d Regiment Virginia Cavalry. Under
Generals Jackson and Ewell he distinguished
himself in the battles of Front Royal, Cross
Keys, and all the actions of the Valley. Near
Winchester, in company with a young gentleman
from Campbell county, Va., (private John
Moore,) he performed a feat without a~parallel
in the annals of war, and which is mentioned
with the highest commendation in General
Swell's official report. These two young men^
unassisted and alone, charged a piece of artillery
planted on the Winchester Turnpike, manned
by eight of the enemy, killed and wounded
4 (1TA tltAir *>*"? ikft ?
tn v vi ujvh i*iiuivv , vivto ujo IVOli irVIU Ult)
gun and brought it off in triumph to their commander.
Near Straaburg a sbeil exploded
against his horse's head, blowing it to atoms
and breaking Lamar's thigh. Whilo his comrades
were carrying him from tbefiold, another
sbeil wounded him severely in thb hip. Soon
after His wounds were dressed, while lying under
a tree, a minie ball penetrated tbo back of
his neck, passed down near his spine and lodged
where the surgeons have not been able ho ffnd
it - oifioe tnen ma ngn* leg and aide have remained
paralized. Be recovered sufficiently
to obtain leave of absence from the.hospital in
CharSottsville for several weeks, Which beapeut
with hit company in performing military duty
. m a i. a m ? mi . lraB:i< 1. -
22SEEB283J33S22EH
Bridge, Warrento? ft|Xittgt,lh? SUpp*****
or Wit^We BrWgiswUie battleo of tfeo **h
*4t triM#**'fcMi
*
30th and 31st at Manassas, and df
Germantown. ^ ( ?>
While the enemy w*w &<#sg W^na^on
Springs, Gen. R. H. Anderson w-Wtojwetr
tain what division of the army secuyild the
nnrt.h Vianlr tit a Rannaa?nnmji nnnmutii Ua
position. Ho volunteered to bring; b?tt the
necessary information, swam the Rappahannock*
surprised three of the enemy's aiaifdbysofcsts,
and brought them serosa the river to >tba General,
who gave the crutched hero a certlficste
complimenting his skill and gallantry. * At the
battle of Hazel River a snitiie ball of
his crutches, and one of tho enemy's horses
without a rider ran against him and-broke the
other. In the second day's fight at Manassas
he had a horse killed under him, aftianothcr
the day after at the battle of Oermantown.
While pursuing the enemy's cavalry, a putol
shot penetrated his hat, grazed his temple, and
knocked liim from his horse. Sinco he bee
been pronounced incompetent to perform mil
nary auty on account olhia wound?, an*l while
acting as a volunteer on hospital furlough, ho
has captured six prisoners without any* assistance,
and killed many of the enelny. a lai different
battles he has had six horses killed under
him, and I have no doubt has killed more
of thcenemy than any soldier in out army. /''
If skill, courage and hazardous and useful
service on the battle field deserve promotion,
he has nobly earned it Just before the resignation
of the Hon. G. W. Randolph ha was
recommended for promotion by Gen. Stall;
but so far his merits has been "overlooked, mud
an unnknown hero," capable of drilling and
leading an army to victory, is a mutilated private,
while scores of "cross road" politicians,
unscathed bv ball or sabre, and atmn<r*mt*> th?
# 7 -9 ~~ T O' "
roar of battle, are commanding companies and
regiment*. - . jf P*#' " "
It will gratify the friends of oar "unknown
heroes" to learn that Lamar Fontaine is the
author of the beantifhl lines which have recently
been published in all oar papery commencing
"All quiet along the Potomac to-nigbt/*a copy
of which, corrected by tlie author, w herewith
enclosed: \
''ALL QUIET ALONG THE POTOMAe 5t>3MGHT.,r
By Lamar Fontaine, Company J, fifesand dfefgnmt'
Virginia Cavalry. Written while on picketon Ike bank
of the Potomac, 1861. r .,t
- m+.y
"All quiet along the Potomac to-night," . '
Except here and there a stray picket
Is shot as be walks on his beat ofhnd fro
By a Rifleman hid in the thicket
Tis nothing?a private or twe now and tfeew
Will not count in the news of tbe-battfef
Not an officer lost! only one of the men
Mourning out, all alone, the death rattfo;
"All quiet along the Potomac to-night,*
Where the soldiers lie peacefully dreaming,
And their tenta in the rays of the dear autumn moon,
And light of their camp finis am gleaming..
A tremulous aigh as a gentle night wind
Thro' the toreet leaves slowly is creeping,.
While the stars np above, with their glittering eyes,
Keep guard o'er the army while sleeping. ' '' ;'
There's only the sonud of the kme sentry's tread.
An hn hrmmiM frmn th<* wwJrt* friwjiAM ^
And thinks of the tw6 on the few trundle bed
Far away in the oot on the mountain.
His musket falls alack?his foes, daifc and grim,
Grows gentle with memories tender,
As he mutters a prayer for the childreiAaleep,
That night, when the lore yet unspoken
Leaped up to Me Hpe, end M .MWt nn
Were pledged to be ever unbroken.
Then drawing his sleeve foqgptoover his eyes.
He dashes off the tears that she welling;
And gathers his gwn ekwe vf In Mrfbfesi* - .
As if to keep down the taart'ft inning-.
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