Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1879-03-21
peath of Gen. George P. Foster.

We chronicle. with sincsrc sorrow, the
celth of our townsman. Gen. George p.
Foster, which took place Wednesday even
ing. at the age of 43 years.
Gen. Foster was born in Walden, Gale
eonia county, in 1896 He had an ACE
demic education, and while quite
young man taught district school in that
county. In September. 1861. being then at
the age of %. and residing ct Walden. in
Caledonia county, be enlisted in the Fourth
Vermont Regiment, which was thon being
organized, was elected captain OF company
G, was commissioned as such September
IIth, 1861, and was mustered in 10 the
United States service on the 2lst of the
Same month at Brat.leboro, with the regi-
ment, which left at once for the seat of
war. In July 1862, be was promoted to be
major of the regiment. Ga the 5;h of
November, 1862. Colonel E. II. Stoughton,
Commanding the 4tb, having been
made brigadier-goGeral. and 1t. Col.
c. B. stoughton having been appointed
colonel in his plaza, Major Foster
was appointed Lieutenant Colonel. Fobru-
airy 81, 1864, Col c. B. Stoughton having
resigned, Col. Foster was promoted to be
| Colonel of tho Regiment, and commanded it
| thenceiorth till it was mustered out of the
service, July 18th, 1865. at the close of the
war Col. Foster shared the arduous service
and the glory of the old First Vermont
Brigade, of which he was one of the bravost
and best officers, and 10 which his regiment
had name second to no other as fighting
regiment. On the 5tb of May, during the |
fearful fighting in the Wilderness. in which |
the Vermont Brigade was kept so constantly |
at the front and lost HOO officers and men
killed and wounded, Col. Foster was
severely wounded in the thigh. Gen. l..
A. Grant in his official report aliuding to
Col. Fosters wound, speaks of him ss San
officer whom Vermont may well delight to
honor"
Gel. Foster returned to tho Command Of
his regiment as soon as his wound per
mittei, went with the Brigade to the
Shenandoah Valley, and distinguished
himself at the battle Of Cedar Creek, Oct.
l9.h, 1864. At the opening of that momor-
able battle he was corps officer OF the day,
for the sixth corps, and had charge of the
picket line upon the right. At later
stage he commanded tho brigade and the
left OF the line, a, the last stand mad,
before Sheridan's arrival, when, as was said
10 one of the accounts of the battle,
huf al haii 10
wall ut adsmsnt by the Vermont
Brigade, saved the ARMY" For gallant
and merit0rious services before Richmond
and in the Shenandoah Valley CJi0uel
Foster was breyettei rs brigadieI-g general
from August LIST, 1864.
In 1870, General Foster was appointed
United States marshal of Vermont Succeed
ing Hon. Hugh ii. Henry, deceased), and
held the Office at the time of his death, hay
ing been twice re-appointed, Upon taking
this Office Gen. Foster oano bore to live,
and from that time on was valued citi-
zen of Burlington. lie was capable and
efficient marshal. and distinguished himself
especially during the Fenian invasion of
|
in 1870, when he arrested Gen. O'Nell,
com msndipg the Fcnian forces, in the
midst Of his army and took him from the
field in carriage. The only city Office held
by General Foster was that of Chief Ea-
gineer of oar Fire Department. which he
accepted and held for single year, in 1876.
in order to straighten out what threatened
to be q Troublesome muddie in the depart
meut. His position as United States Marshal,
OF course. gave him wide acquaintance.
His genial qualities made him general
iavoritc, and his loss will be mournei by a
large circle of friends and acquaintance
hcoushout cur STATE.
Gen. Foster had been for years q sufferer
his strong and muscular frame finally
yielded. The disorder in his blood showed
itself 6. last, among other forms, 10 car
buncles on tho neck. On Tuesday forenoon,
March llth, he WAS seen on the street for
the last time. and on the next day he took to
his bed, never to rise again. For many
hours be had been unconscious but at
about 3 o'clock Wednesday afternoon he
his senses for a short in
terval, and took an afectionate
farewell of his family and friends To the
care OF his old AID tried friend and COM
rade in the army. Gen. William W Henry, l
he commended bis wife and children. Ga
shaking hands with his longtime official
associate Bradley B. Snallev Ed he |