The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1896-12-10

Oopts Wouo0o roster 10f KeoSson AGENT
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: There Is
no o6ice ct tho command Of tho incoming
Administration Of quite 30 much Importance
to the GAR. and the W.R.C. as the Com
missioner Of Pensions.
The next in point of interest 10 rs is the
Pension Agent. In addition to the business
qualifications necessary to the proper execu-
ton of the duties of this Office, the agent
should be one whose devotions to his holy
mission is born Of love for that mission,
rather than for the salary it carries with it.
While Indiana's eligibles on this basis are
legion but one can be chosen, and / think L
voice the preference of the W.R.C. Of this
State when / suggest fer Pension Agent
Capt. Wallace Foster, of indianapolis.
Capt. Wallace Foster was born in Vernon,
Jennings County, Ind, June %, 1887. His
parents were among the pioneers OF the
County. his father settling there in 1919,
emigrating from New York State. His
mother is q descendant Of Sir William Wal
lace, the Scotch patriot, and emigrated to
America in 1877. His parents were intensely
patriotic during the war of the rebellion,
giving four sons to the Union army, sup
porting the cause of the Union with all their
might and strength.
Capt. Foster attended the public schools Of
his native place and Indianapolis. Ind, until
he received liberal common school educa-
ton. At the age of Is he entered the Civil
Engineering Corps in which the late Gen.
Mitchell, of Ohio was Chief, in the construc-
tion of the Ohio and Mississippi Railroad
from Cincinnati to ST. Louis, Mo.
At the first call for three-months volun-
teers by President Lincoln, Capt. Foster en-
listed as q private, April 16, 1851, assisting
in recruiting . company for the service,
which was assigned to the 18th Ind. (Gen.
Lew Wallace Zouaves).
April 20 he was commissioned Lieuten-
ant of Co. II in said regiment by Gov. O. r.
Morton, and mustered into service Of the
the expiration of the term of service of the
regiment.
Soon after his muster-out from the three
months campaign he re-enlisted in the 18th
Ind. cold Guard ~, and was promoted,
Jan. 1, 1862, to Lieutenant Of Co. Fl, and
April 1, 1862, Captain of the same company.
While an officer in the 18th Regiment he
was appointed Aid-de-C Camp on the staff Of
Brig. Gen. Jerrie C. Sullivan and Maj Gen.
Robt. s. Foster. During his term of service
he served with Gen. Mcclellan in West Vir-
ginia and the Army of the Potomac; with
Gen. Lander at Bloomery Furnace; Gems.
Shields and Kimball in the battles and
skirmishes down the Shenandoah Valley !;
belonged to the brigade that won the first
battle of Winchester, Va, March %, 1862, in
which Stonewall Jackson met his first and
only defeat. The Captain was with Gen.
Sullivan at Columbian Bridge, and the CAM
paign down the Shenandoah and Rappahan-
mock Valley; with Gen. Foster at Summer
vile Nights; with Gen. Fremont at Port Re-
public Gen. Mcdowell at Fredericksburg,
Va. He participated in the siege of Suffolk,
Va, and the tri-weekly battles and Skin
mishes on the Blackwater; with Gen. Foster
at Deserted House and Joiner's Ford. He
was also in the siege and bombardment Of
Charleston and Fort Sumter, s. G.
His regiment participated in the first ex-
petition and assault on Fort Fisher, N. c.,
under the command of Benjamin F. Butler,
and was again in the second expedition and
assault, under command of Gems Terry and
Curtis; was with Gen. Butler again at Deep
Bottom, in the Army of the james; with
Gen. Banks in Florida, and with Gems
Devens, Meade, and Grant to Appomattox.
He had three brothers in the Union army !:
Mai.-G Gen. Robert s. Foster, and two younger
| Ind, and private, 1920 Ind.
At the close of the rebellion Capt. Foster
was connected with the United States Pay
Department at Columbus, O., and Indian
apolis, Ind. In the Fall of 1864 he was
commissioned by Gov. Morton on special
service at Cairo and Mound City, Ill, and
Memphis, Tenn.
After retiring from the service, in 1866,
he engaged in business again, locating at
| Indianapolis, and continued in business
until 1880, when he was compelled to retire
on account of suddenly losing his hearing in
both ears, . disability contracted while in
the army from exposure and hard service.
In 1882 he organized the Silent Army Of
Deaf Soldiers, Sailors, and Marines, and has
been its Secretary and Treasurer since the
organization.
In 1893 Capt Foster first introduced
Patriotic Teaching" in the Department of
Indiana, W.R.C., and the following Septem-
| Der assisted the Department Of Indiana,
W.R.C., in introducing the work in the nth
| National Convention, W.R.C., convened at
Indianapolis, Ind. during the 9th National
Encampment, GAR
1 He is Q charter member of George III.
Thomas Post, II, GAR, Of indianapolis;
| an honorary member Of the Patriotic
| League; a member of the Adeniram Grand
Lodge Of Perfection, Scottish Rite Mssons.
| He is Record Clerk Of The Consumers
Gas Trust Company of Indianapolis, and is
at his desk eight hours day six days OF
the week, being, aside from his affection OF
deafness, model Of manly strength and in
| telIectual vigor. This deafness would in no
way incapacitate him for the Office Of Pen
sion Agent, and sincerely hope that fol-
| the good Of the service" and in recognition
Of the "Silent Army" Capt Foster will be
rendered this position. Mrs. SAMANTHA
| WEST MILLER, Indianapolis.