Lamar Fontaine facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Lamar Fontaine
Born	October 10, 1829 Washington County, Texas, U.S.
Died	October 1, 1921 Lyon, Mississippi, U.S.
Children	3 sons, 3 daughters
Military career
Allegiance	United States of America (1846–1848)  Confederate States of America (1861–1865)
Service/branch	United States Navy Confederate States Army
Years of service	1846–1848 1861–1865
Rank	Major (CSA)

Lamar Fontaine (born October 10, 1829 – died October 1, 1921) was an American military officer, a spy, and a surveyor. He was also a poet and an author. Fontaine served in two major conflicts: the Mexican–American War and the American Civil War. He also helped create maps of distant lands like Israel, Japan, and China.

Lamar Fontaine's Early Life

Lamar Fontaine was born on October 10, 1829. His birthplace was in Washington County, Texas, close to a place called Gay Hill. He had a half-brother named P. H. Fontaine, who later became a Methodist minister.

When he was just 10 years old, Fontaine ran away from school. This happened in Austin. He was captured by the Comanche people. He stayed with them for four years before he was released. After this adventure, he attended school in North Carolina.

Fontaine's Exciting Career

Lamar Fontaine had a very active and varied career. He traveled widely and took on many different roles.

Serving in the Military

Fontaine joined the United States Navy early in his life. He served during the Mexican–American War, which took place from 1846 to 1848. One important event he was part of was the Siege of Veracruz.

Later, Fontaine joined the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. This war lasted from 1861 to 1865. He served under famous generals like Stonewall Jackson and Robert E. Lee. On July 28, 1863, he was promoted to the rank of Major. He participated in battles such as the Battle of Mine Run and the Battle of Bloody Angle. He also carried important messages during the Siege of Vicksburg.

Fontaine claimed he was wounded 67 times during the Civil War. He also said he sank a famous cannon called "Whistling Dick." He did this in the Mississippi River to keep it from falling into enemy hands. Some records suggest he was a spy for the Mississippi infantry.

Exploring and Mapping the World

Before the Civil War, Fontaine worked as a surveyor. He helped map land for the Yazoo and Mississippi Valley Railroad. He also went on an expedition to explore the Amazon River with William Lewis Herndon.

Fontaine traveled to many parts of the world. He visited Israel, which was known as Palestine at the time. There, he helped create maps of the region. He also drew maps of Russia and made sketches of the Great Wall of China. He even traveled to Japan with Matthew C. Perry, a well-known naval officer. Fontaine also claimed he helped clear the seas of pirates in Southeast Asia. His autobiography also mentions that he took part in the Crimean War.

Joining a Post-War Group

After the Civil War, during a time called the Reconstruction era, Fontaine joined a group known as the Ku Klux Klan. He was part of chapters in Hinds County and Madison County. He wrote an essay about this group. This essay was published in a book titled The Ku Klux Klan or Invisible Empire.

Writing and Poetry

Lamar Fontaine was also a talented writer. He wrote several books during his lifetime. He composed many poems, including Oenore, Only a Soldier, and Dying Prisoner in Camp Chase. He also claimed to have written the famous poem "All Quiet Along the Potomac Tonight".

He published his own life story in a book called My Life and My Lectures. Another book he wrote was about the Ku Klux Klan. It was titled The Cause and the Effect of the Ku Klux Klan in the South.

Personal Life and Passing

Lamar Fontaine married a woman named Miss Brickell. Together, they had six children: three sons and three daughters. They lived in Lyon, Mississippi.

Fontaine passed away on October 1, 1921. He was 92 years old when he died in Lyon, Mississippi.

Works by Lamar Fontaine

• Lamar Fontaine (1908). My Life and My Lectures. Neale Publishing Company. https://archive.org/details/mylifeandmylect00fontgoog.