The New York herald., 1874-09-03


General John g. Foster, United states
Army.
telegram from Nashua, N. H.. under date OF
the I'd inst, reports as follows :-"Brevet Major
General John G. Foster United States Army died
here at one O'Clock this morning. The funeral
will take place at ten O'Clock A. M. Saturday, with
military honOrs. 1t is expected that detachment
oil regulars from Fort Warren will attend the
funeral"
SKETCH OF HIS LIFE AND SERVICES.
Major General John G. Foster, of the volunteer
forces OF the United States Army and Major of the
United States Engineer corps was born in the
State OF New Hampshire during the year 1924.
During his boyhoOd he received fair eduction
and was admitted INTO the West Point Military
Academy a cadet during the year ls42 entering
the same class with General Mcclellan. During
the time he was passing through that institution
he maintained an honorable position in every
class and graduated on the 30th OF June 1885, with
honor, standing fourth in a class Of fifty nj ne
members, including several who have distin-
guished themselves during the war OF tue reOel-
lion. Immediately upon graduating he attached
himself TO the regular army and was assigned to
the Engineer Corps, with the brevet rank OF Sec
Ond lieutenant. to date from July l, lS46. He was
soon after ordered to Mexico and participated in
tHc CuulpdIBuS VI 0eucTal SCOLt, from vera
Cruz to the capital. During the battles OF
COntreras and Cherubusco he behaved with
great bravery, obtaining therefor a brevet Of first
lieutenant for gallant and meritorious conduct,
and bearing date from August 20, IS4,. he be :
ionged to the storming party which carried the
works at El Mollno del Rey, and was very severely
wounded during the attack. For mis- conduct on
this occasion he received another brevet dating
from September 8, 1s47, ana comforting ON him the
rank OF captain, even before he had received his
Aro OnYny TrvSnn hSa
States he was promoted to the full rank OF second
lieutenant to date from May "a. 1S4s and was then
employed upon the defences OF North Carolina until
the year 1854. when, on April 1, he was commits
stoned hrst lieutenant ofenRineers. and appointed
tary Academy at West Point, which position t nh ne
held until April 2s 1858. when he was ordered to
Charleston naroor portion Of the defensive works
OF which he had assisted to construct,
as wei as those on the coast OF North Carolina.
on the lst Of July, 1860, Lieutenant Foster
received his full commission as captain OF en-
glneers, ana while he was duty IN Charleston
haroor the State OF South Carolina declared h,r
severance from the Union. Under the command
OF Major Anderson he assisted in the evacuation
OF Fort MOultrie, and safely removed the garrison
TO Fort sumter between dusk and daylight OF De-
eember rs and 26 1860. SO ably did he conduct
this removal that he was breveted major for his
distinguished services on this occasion. He also
assisted In the gallant defence OF Fort sumter
against the troops OF South Carolina during the
bombardment of April IL and l3, 1861, aud came
month, arriving in the harbor of New York at the
time OF the great uprising OF the people Tor the
proteCJlOn OI tne natlOnal government ana the
union OF the States. For a short time Captain
Foster detailed on the works at sandy Hook;
but when the Burnside expedition was
Ina he was assigned to the command OF
the First brigade, with the rank OF origa-
der general OF volunteers, dating from October
23 1861. He sailed with tie expedition and took
part IN the capture of the enemy's works at
1857, obtaining therefor the nomination Tor q bre
vet Of lieutenant colonel from that date. He also
took very prominent partial Newbern, March IA,
IN fnI nf hot nnS
ton. The expeditonary forces were now in
creased in numbers and organized as the Ninth
the commander OF the First division on the "a OF
April 1862. He was then placed IN command OF
the 10Th OF April that work. winch he had assisted
to construct, was reduced by the troops under his
command and the passage OF Bogue inlet again
came under the ccntrol OF the United States
authorities The success OF this operation gained
Tor him the nomination for brevet OF colonel in
the United states Regular Army, to date from
April 25, 1862. Brigadier General Foster was
next promoted TO the rank OF major general
of volunteers, 70 date from July 49, 1862, and
when General Burnside was transferred TO the
Peninsula. was placed IN command OF the Depart
been organized therein as the Eighteenth Army
corps. During the operations OF the Army
OF the Potomac upon Fredericksburg, under
brilliant movement along the line OF the railroad
running from Ricnmond TO Wilmington, SO as 10
won the battle OF kinston and led the expedition
toward GOldsboro About the beginning OF 1868
Tenerh roster W3s assigned TO the command or
an expedition Intended to operate against Charles
ton; but IL consequence OF a dispute as TO the
right OF command between Generals Hunter and
Foster the expedition was abandoned, and the
troops Withdrawn after they had been transported
to Hilton Head. on the 3D. OF March, ls63, the
regular army rank OF General Foster was ad-
Vanced TO the grade OF MAJOR OF engineers-a
newly organized corps embracing both the original
engineers and Typographical engineers. and then
under the CHIEF direction Of Brigadier General
Totten. United states Army. General Foster was
IN personal command at Washington, n. c.. when
General Hill. with his rebel forces, besieged tn e
place, and only escaped being captured aud taken
prisoner to Richmond by running. on April Ia,
toned along the banks OF the river leading up TO
tnat town. Upon obtaining his freedom OF action
he soon raised the siege OF Washington, and drove
the rebels rom tue state. on July l6, 1868, he
Virginia and North Carolina, and removed his
headquarters to Fortress Monroe but when IL was
discovered that General Burnside was locked up in
Knoxville by the investing forces of General Long
street General Foster was sent to his relief, with
the intention OF attacking the Confederates In the
rear, via Tazewel The movement becoming
known TO General Longstreet, and he being fearful
for the safety OF his command, that oflcer raised
the siege OF Knoxville after his severe repulse at
Fort saunders, and began TO retreat IN an east.
ery direction. General Burnside requesting to be
relieved OF the command OF the Department OF
the ONO General Foster was assigned thcreto DUR
ing December, 1853, remaining In command until
the reorganization OF the armies under the dlrec-
the Department OF the South, with neadquarterS
AT Hilton Head. When IL became known tnat
General sherman had commenced hts grand march
through the centre OF Georgia General Foster was
way OF the Ossabaw and warsaw sounds, and also
to assist him Dy making demonstrations on Poca-
taligo and other points along the line OF railroad
RAINING from savannah TO Charleston. This part
nft tln % tlnna rail- rtaA ,xsxt