Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-03-26
General George p. Foster.

II has rarely fallen to the lot OF any citizen Of
our state to enjoy larger circle Of acquaintance
or greater number Of warm personal friends
than General George p. Foster, Of Burlington.
Always fearless, free-hearted and large-souled
man, he extorted respect and esteem from all
with whom he came in contact, while his upright,
manly and straightforward course retained all
friendships once formed. Tho news, therefore,
Of his death, which occurred at his residence on
Wednesday Of last week, caused universal SEN
timent OF deep regret throughout the entire state,
and the sympathy for his widow and two or
phaned children is widespread and heartfelt.
The commencement Of the rebellion found Mr..
Foster law student in the office OF Hon. Charles
H. Heath, in Plainfeld. Promptly recognizing
his duty, he at once Joined company being
formed there, and on its organization was elected
captain of the company, which afterwards became
Company G, Fourth Vermont Regiment After
various usual army experiences, he was in July,
1862, promoted to be major OF the regiment. On
the 9th of November, 1862, Colonel L. II. Slough
ton, commanding the Fourth, having been made
a brgadier-general, and Lieutenant-C Colonel c. b.
stoughton having been appointed colonel in his
place, Major Foster was appointed lieutenant
colonel. February Sd, 1864, Colonel c. b. Slough
to be colonel OF the regiment and commanded it
thenceforth till he was mustered out Of the ser
vice July 18TH 1865, at the close OF the war Col
one Foster shared the arduous service and the
glory of the old First Vermont Brigade, of which
he was one Of the bravest and best officers, and
in which his regiment had n name second to no
other as lighting regiment. On the 9th OF May,
during the fearful fighting in the Wilderness in
which the Vermont Brigade was kept so con-
stauty at the front and lost fourteen hundred
officers and men killed and wounded, Colonel
Foster was severely wounded in the thigh. Gen. |
eral L. A. Grant in his official report alluding to
General Fosters wound, speaks of him as " an Of
f,er whom Vermont may well delight to honor"
Colonel Foster returned to the command of his |
regiment as soon as his wound permitted went |
with the brigade to the Shenandoah valley and |
distinguished himself at the battle of Cedar Creek
October 18th, 1864. "For gallant and meritorious |
service before Richmond and in the Shenandoah |
valley" Colonel Foster was brevetted as briga-
dier-general from August LIST, 1854
In 1870 General Foster was appointed United
States Marshal OF Vermont (succeeding Hon.
Hugh II. Henry, deceased), and held the office at
the time of his death, having been twice reap
pointed lie was a capable and efficient marshal,
and distinguished himself especially during the
Fenian invasion OF Canada from our northern bor-
der in 1870, when he arrested General O'Neill,
commanding the Fenian forces, in the midst OF his
army, and took him from the field in a carriage.
The universal regard in which he was held was
well attested by the numerous numbers from all
parts of the state who attended his funeral, and
the funeral procession, a mile in length, which
accompanied the remains of one of the bravest
yet kindest-hearted men we have ever known, to
their last resting place in the beautiful Lake View
Cemetery in Burlington. General Fosters age
was forty-three years