American Historical Ephemera & Early Photography Online

Archive associated with Patrick Henry "P.H." Fontaine (1841-1915), a descendant of Virginia Governor and Revolutionary War patriot Patrick Henry (1736-1799). Fontaine served for two years as a 1st Lieut. with Carter's Battery of the King William Artillery, and then as a Chaplain of the 53rd Virginia Infantry Regiment of Pickett's Division. The 53rd Virginia Infantry was engaged at Gettysburg and in Pickett's Charge. Majority of archive constituted by post-war ephemera and letters, though some items appear to be war-date. Ca 1850s-early 1900s. Various places, incl. Virginia and Texas.

Highlights include: Small box with adhered manuscript notation at top in unknown hand "P.H. Fontaines lot of needles pins & buttons he had in the Civil War 1862 to 1865." Box holds small piece of fabric with needles, small spool of thread, and a bag with buttons. -- Notebook with paper wraps, 3 1/2 x 5 1/2 in., identified on front cover "P.H. Fontaine / Chaplain 53rd Va / Barton's Brigade," containing bible verses and what appear to be sermons or notes for sermons, ca 1865. -- 3 calling cards, for "Rev. P.H. Fontaine, Captain Fontaine, and Mr. Fontaine. -- Bunyan, John. The Holy War, Made by Shaddai Upon Diabolus...." London: The Religious Tract Society, [n.d.]. Inscribed by Fontaine at front and rear boards, "P.H. Fontaine / Chaplain 53rd Va."

[With:] Thucydidis De bello Peloponnesiaco.... (1844). With interior pencil inscription "P.H. Fontaine / King Wm / Va / P.H. Fontaine / Univ of Va / Jan 24th - 60." -- Small box containing approx. 22 1/2 x 11 in. light green silk fabric fabric remnant, with interior note pasted to box lid "a piece of Mama's Wedding dress (Feb 23rd 1865)." -- Miscellaneous correspondence and documents associated with P.H. Fontaine or his family members, constituting 12 covers, and approx. 12 letters/documents. -- Tintype of an unidentified sitter. -- 2 printed copies of "Mr. Fontaine's Sermon On Woman Preaching. / [From Diary of Reidsville Times.]." -- Ephemera associated with Fontaine's scientific endeavors, incl. patents, printed advertisements, and a small cotton bag with an illustrated description for "Piedmont Plant Protector...Prepared by P.H. Fontaine, Reidsville, N.C." -- Newspaper clippings, and more.

HDS indicates that Patrick Henry Fontaine enlisted on 6/1/1861 at Bond's Store, VA as a 1st Lieut. On 7/2/1861, he was commissioned into Virginia King William Light Artillery. He was discharged for promotion on 8/2/1863 and was commissioned into Virginia 53rd Infantry. Listed as: Detailed 2/7/1865 Greensboro, NC (Chaplain of post). Promotions: Chaplain & Captain 8/2/1863 (as of 53rd VA Infantry). Both the King William Artillery and the 53rd Virginia were regularly engaged throughout the war, including at Antietam, Fredericksburg, Gettysburg, and Cold Harbor.

Born at "Fontainbleau" in King William County, Virginia, Patrick Henry Fontaine served as a Baptist pastor and a "circuit rider" who regularly attended multiple congregations. In addition to his religious vocation, he dabbled as an inventor. "A History of Virgilinia [sic], Virginia, and the Surrounding Areas in Halifax and Mecklenburg Counties in Virginia...." (1964) indicates that Fontaine attended Rumford Military Academy in Virginia for eight years and then the University of Virginia until the outbreak of the Civil War. Fontaine was ordained in September 1863 and commenced serving as a chaplain. After the war, he settled in Greensboro, N.C. where his father's family has removed the year before as "refugees" from the war. He preached at various houses of worship in that region until settling into a permanent role at Reidsville Church for twelve years. At one time he accepted the role of president of the King's Mountain Female College. He was an early North Carolina advocate for prohibition. Later years saw Fontaine continue his ministry, and temperance efforts, in North Carolina and Virginia. His final position was as pastor of Bethel Hill Church in Bethel Hill, Person County, North Carolina. He died there in 1915 and is buried at the Amis Chapel Baptist Church cemetery.