The National tribune., 1894-12-20

, Of his old division 10 join Gen. Terry in his
| expedition against Fort Fisher. Foster was
; then assigned TO the command of the First
, Division, Twenty-fourth Corps, Terrys old
division.
THE LAST FIGHT BEFORE RICHMOND.
On the I'd day of April, during the general
assault on Lees army at Petersburg, nearly
all the outer line OF works were carried by
noon, except two strong red0ubis which oc-
cuped commanding position, Forts Gregg
and Whitworth. Gen. Grant decided that
these should be stormed, and about 10
o'clock Fosters Division, of the Twenty
fourth Corps, swept down upon Fort Gregg,
aud after most desperate hand tc-hand
fight carried it. When Mr.. Lincoln heard
OF the assault he telegraphed that the last
stronghold around Petersburg had been
carried by Fosters Division, of Ord's Corps,
after a most desperate struggle. The men
fought "a minutes after they reached the
parapet of the fort, all the sally ports being
securely locked and the garrison ordered by
Gen. Lee not to surrender under any cir
cumstances. Foster lost 164 men, killed and
| wounded. The assault was made under the
immediate eye of Gems Grant, Ord aud
| Gibbon, and for this great victory Foster
was hrevetted Mai General, his brigade
commanders promoted to Brigadier Generals,
| his staff were all hTeyetted, and his assault
| ing regiments were presented bronze eagles
10 suTInount their fiagstaffs, an honor rarely
granted 10 any troops and only for extreme
| bravery.
During the remaining days of the struggle
| Gen. Foster was in command of his old and
reliable division in the pursuit of Lee TO
Appomattox Courthouse.
The important part Gen. Foster took in
the last seven days of the waT is wildly de-
scribed by an old comrade who was a promi-
nent officer with Sheridan. Said he: "Tne
most active and efficient general officer in
command of a division in The two corps OF
The Army of the James then under Gen.
Ord, was Brevet Mai.-GeD. Robert S. Foster,
of Indiana, commanding the First Division,
Twenty Fourth Corps, commanded by Maj.-
Gen. Glbbon, OF the Regular Army"
1t WAS the memorable night when Sher:-
dan was in front of Lees army al Appomat-
tox and expected an attack from Lee cary
the next morning Gen. Sheridan was so
anxious 10 bag Lee that he sent an officer TO
find the Army Of the James, under Gen. Ord,
with the following dispatch: " If the Army
of the James can be here by daylight, we
will bag Lee"
AT APPoMATToX.
Foster was the first TO receive the dispatch
and forward it to Gen. Gbbon. in command
of the corps. We will resume the march,"
said Foster to his staff officer. The word
was rot long getting TO the rank and file,
and they were soon plodding along with re-
lie we'd energy in the hope of ending the
struggle. HIS division marched until II
O'Clock, when orders were received to lie
down and rest until O'Clock, and for divis-
ion commanders TO resume the march at
that hour without further notice.
Gen. Foster was in front; in five minutes
after halting the column was asleep. Fos-
ter anG two Of his aft did not sleep, but
remained awake preparing for the early
morning struggle. At 2 o'clock sharp the
First Division Of the Twenty-!ourth Corps
was in line, and the painful march was re-
sumed.
When the other divisions awoke it was 3
O'Clock having been overcome with sleep
and trusting to staff Office TO awaken them. |
Tie early dawn was just peepng over the |
hills in The east when Foster found himself |
in the vicinity OF Gen. Sheridan's Headquar- |
tiers. Il ding ahead nalf mile he with his |
staff reined up in front of the dashing lead
cr's headquarters and reported.
Sheridan WIS lying dow n, but the moment |
he heard Fosters voice and that par of The !
Army OF The James was with him, Sheridan |
jumped up and rushed out TO Foster, grasp |
ing his hand and expressing his great dc |
light, ezclaiming:
God bless you, Foster; you have saved |
my army.
While Sheridan was giving instructions |
Gen. GibbDn rode up. Approaching Gen. /
Foster be said:
Foster, am thankful that one of my |
division commanders did not sleep over, rs
all the rest Of us did,
The First Division was quickly put in po-
sition in the rear of Sheridan's cavalry. |
Long before The other divisions came up the
cavalry was attacked by Lees infantry aud
driven in, ieaying Fosl ler's forces TO with
stand an attack by all that remained Of Lees /
army.
The most that Fosters fo-ces could do was
to hold the enemy in check which was splen-
didly done, until the remaining divisions of
the Army OF the James could be hastened to
his support; but in holding the ground his
men had been roughly handled. When the
long line of infantry were developed by the
withdrawal of Sherdan's cavalry Lee was
astounded at the fact, and saw at once that
the end had come.
With Sheridan and the Army Of the James
in his lrInt, and the Amy of the Potomac
in his rear and right flank, there was no
other alternative but 10 surrender
A flag Of truce was displayed, and in the
gray dawn OF that beautiful Sabbath morn
ing, April 8, 1865. score of shots from a
battery with Fosters Division proclaimed
Glory TO God; peace on earth; good will
toward men" The dsa h kneil of tho South
ern Confederacy aud of the rebellion had ar
rived.
The great problem will never be answered
as to what might have been the result had
Foster slept and reported 10 Sheridan an
hour later, after the cavalry had been driven
in. In all probability The surrender Of Lee
might not have BEEN made at Appomattox,
and the Gate might not have been April 8,
1865
1t is significant fact shat during Gen.
Fosters army service he never lost battle
or skrmiSh, and was successful in all his
expedition Ina front OF Richmond and else
where. 1t seemed that he had charmed
life.
At the close Of the war Gen Foster was
ordered to Washington On duty as a MEM
Der Of the Military Commission convened for
the trial Of the conspirators and assassins of
President Lincoln. He resigned September,
1866, and returned TO his former home in
Indianapolis IBd. Soon after his return he
was appointed Lieulenant-Coloncl of the