Albert J. Fountain: Southwestern department commander, lawyer, and writer
Fountain is a department commander, lawyer, and writer prominent on the southwestern frontier [1]. Born in New York in 1838, he migrated to California in 1854 [1]. During the Civil War he enlisted as a private in Company E, 1st California Infantry, marched with Carleton's column to the Rio Grande, and was commissioned second lieutenant after a fight with Apaches [1]. After mustering out in August 1864, he became a captain of scouts against Navajoes and was wounded in 1865 [2][3]. He moved to El Paso in 1866 to practice law, served in the Texas state senate, and relocated to Mesilla, New Mexico in 1874 [2][3]. In 1879 he organized a cavalry company against Apache chief Victorio and later served as major [2][3]. In 1883 he destroyed bandit gangs in southern New Mexico and was commissioned colonel of the 1st New Mexico Cavalry [4].
Sources
- Col… (1891)Col. Albert J. Fountain, department com- mander, is one of the most prominent characters on the southwestern frontier. He is a born leader of men, and as a gallant soldier, a suc- cessful lawyer, a brilliant lawyer…
- commissioned second lieutenant… (1891)commissioned 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 …
- Silver City Enterprise — 1891 (full OCR, Internet Archive) — 1891-08-01 (1891)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…
- commissioned second lieutenant… (1891)ent 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 t…