François-Xavier Octavie Fountain , born the November 7th 1762 with Saint-Remy cheese (Haute-Saône), is a French general.

He engaged in 1778, and took share with the Guerre of America of 1779 with 1782, under the orders of Rochambeau, and was distinguished with the Siège from Pensacola in 1781.

Sergeant-furrier in the 32e division of gendarmerie the August 7th 1792, it left immediately for the Armée with North.

Wounded with the Head office of Menin of a blow of bayonet to the chest, it was named second lieutenant in the 19th regiment of hunters has horse on May 1st 1793, and made the wars of the Vendée to the various armies of the West, since year II until the year V.

Captain associated with the adjudant-generals the 28 brumaire year II, adjudant-general chief of brigade the 25 meadow year III, it belonged to the forwarding of Ireland.

See also: Forwarding of Ireland (1798)

He mainly pointed out himself the 20 fructidor, with the Bataille of Castlebar where, with the head of 40 hunters with horse of the 3rd regiment, he made low put the weapons at an English regiment and removed 4 parts of gun to him.

Its control in this day deserved to him the Brigadier general rank of , which was conferred to him by the general-in-chief on the battle field.

The Directoire did not confirm this nomination, though it had given capacities to the general Humbert to reward the men who would be distinguished.

Fact captive a few days after with the Combat of Connangen, where the general-in-chief not having more with him that 4.000 men approximately, was forced to capitulate, Fontaine returned in France the 11 nivôse to the VII, in consequence of exchange.

It was sent at once to the Armée with the Danube, under the orders of the general Jourdan.

The 30 ventôse, with the Battle of Ostrach, the general Lefebvre still counted, in addition to the troops that it had directly under its orders for the defense of its position, on a battalion of the 58e, 4 companies of the light 25e, 3 squadrons of the 5th hussards, one of 1st of hunters, and 2 of 17th of dragons; these troops, ordered by the adjudant-general Fountain, had been directed the day before on Hoskirch.

Fountain having received the order to fold up itself on Ostrach, but having been prevented by the enemy, it was at the entry of the village taken between two fires.

Not being able to try the passage without entirely being demolishes, it benefitted from a thick fog which concealed its column with the eyes of the enemy, and going up Ostrach by Right Bank of this brook, on which it did not find any exit practicable, it was forced to advance until Riedhausen where, after having supported a combat with a strong Austrian column, it managed to operate his junction with the 2nd division.

This retirement, at the same time dangerous and difficult, and which required a great coolness and much of courage, infinitely made honor with the Fontaine adjudant-general, who accepted in this respect the most flattering praises on behalf of the general-in-chief.

Passed with Armed with the Rhine, it found with Blockade of Philisbourg, when, the 10 fructidor of the same year, the enemy made an exit with the intention to destroy the works which were with Klein-Holland, on left bank of the the Rhine.

The general Laborde sent to his meeting the Fontaine adjudant-general, with 125 men of infantry and 22 riders, to push back this attempt.

After a two hour old combat, in which it showed much zeal and talent, this officer forced the enemy to return in the place with a loss of 25 killed men and 30 captive facts. With the businesses of Bruchshall and Dourlacu, it was wounded several blows of saber.

Being with Paris, the 18 brumaire year VIII, the services which it rendered in the course of this day were worth him a saber of the Manufacture of Versailles, whose First Consul made him present like a testimony of its recognition and its satisfaction.

Employee the 20 pluviôse according to with the 26e military division, ordered by the general Laval, who was charged, during this countryside, of the higher direction of the defense of the places of Ehrenbreitstein, of Cassel, Mainz, Dusseldorf, Fontaine was several important times operations manager which were crowned with a full success.

The 1st vendémiaire year X, it accepted notifications of command as chief of staff of the 24e military division, and it exerted the functions until the 5 of them brumaire year XII, time to which it was employed with the Camp of Saint-Omer, from where it passed to that of Brest the 5 frimaire according to.

Member of the Legion of honor the 23 vendémiaire, it passed as chief of staff of the 2nd division of large cavalry of the Large army, the third day complementary to year XII, and made in this quality the partners of Austria, Prussia and Poland, of year XIV with 1807.

He was distinguished with Austerlitz and was named, in reward, Officer of the Legion of Honor the 4 nivôse year XIV.

Employed to the division of reserve of cavalry the March 10th 1808, it was sent in Spain the October 17th according to, and the March 11th 1809, having been attached to the staff of the Prince de Neufchâtel (Alexandre Berthier), general major of the Large army, it took share with the operations of the Armée with Germany during the war of 1809.

Baron of the Empire and directed on Spain the May 19th 1810, it returned in France some time to afterwards look after there its health, dilapidated in consequence of tirednesses of the war and was employed near the general Bailly de Monthion, assistant medical officer general.

He died in Paris the May 17th 1812.

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