commissioned second lieutenant…
source date: 1891
availability: public-domain

paches Fountain wascommissioned second lieutenant. He served in New Mexico during the war. Upon his regiment being mustered out in August, 1864 he was commissioned as captain of cavalry, and assign- ed to the command of a company of scouts and guides against hostile Navajoes. In 1865, while on this service, he was severely wounded, and remained an invalid until the close of the war. In 1866 Fountain removed to El Paso, Texas, and commenced the practice of law. He took a prominent part in the reconstruction of Texas, was elected surveyor of the El Paso land district in 1866, and in 1868 was elected to represent the El Paso district in the state senate. He served in this capacity for four years with great dis- tinction. During this period he was appointed by Governor Davis a brigadier general of the Texas state guard. In 1874 he moved to Mesilla, New Mexico, and soon became one of the lead- ing lawyers and public men of the territory. In 1879 he organized a company of cavalry for service against hostile Indians, and took a prominent part in the campaign of 1879-80 against Victorio, the hostile Apache chief. When the campaign was brought to a close by the extermination of Victorio and his band, Capt. Fountain’s company was attached to the 2nd battalion N. M. Cavalry, of which he was com- missioned major.

art in the campaign of 1879-80 against Victorio, the hostile Apache chief. When the campaign was brought to a close by the extermination of Victorio and his band, Capt. Fountain’s company was attached to the 2nd battalion N. M. Cavalry, of which he was com- missioned major. In 1883 southern New Mexico was infested with organized bands of despera- does, who committed many murders and rob- beries, and successfully defied the civil authori- ties and the progess of the courts. Gen. Lionel A. Sheldon, then governor of New Mexico, or- dered Fountain to take his battalion of cavalry and destroy these bandits. Taking two troops of his battalion, Maj. Fountain swept down upon the bandits, followed them to their mountain fastnesses, and in six weeks succeeded in utterly destroying the lawless bands. The grateful citi- zens of southern New Mexico presented Maj. Fountain with a magnificent service of silver in recognition of his valuable services, and Gov. Sheldon commissioned him colonel of the 1st New Mexico cavalry. This commission he still holds. When Geronimo swept down upon the settlements of southern New Mexico in 1885, Col. Fountain, with a battalion of his regiment, promptly took the field against him and re- mained in service until the hostile chief was driven back into Mexico. Col. Fountain has held many positions of trust and honor in New Mexico. ( 63 )