Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1897-06-11
PIONEER SKETCHES
=, Bil,y Foster, A Hero Of the Ne'
1k S'',, ,s WAR; Told by Friend.

p;ly Foster D ,,.or
m,rsable heroes , Of the Ner WAS Washing.
He VIZ ,S5, His mother was a warm
s aai India" and his 81 i" Tine Hudson ~ds
while 'n ..ny His early boyhood
p D.. spen, i" The D"'les where ' ne I'VE, yea
, saI step father. He followed Inc
Sl'n ns.s II packing for several years
Ou,"' .';,ed all the principal trading
anu Vs. and mining camps in the
po'" .nuss, He was small III stature
wa dark and swarthy in appearance
a rni. fact seemed to impress him ana
III, ,.snk from all but his intimate
NC ' s with modest demeanor. There
'' .'s M sacrifice he would not make
s'' ,.snd He seemed from his early
)" .uhood to live for others almost for
s.tfu of self This was truly a )ewe'
= ronph setting, for no truer tr'ed
.,s,a oyer lived than Billy Foster,
- M man or BOY was ever more re-
.,.,g or less ostentatious.
Whom the war broke out BiiIv F'os-
.was living in Lewiston with the
smilv of w. T. Cox. He had no cause
ike the Indians. The motive
,ho, moved him was not revenge nor
a., tho love of strife. He had many
s,;oDas among the Nez Perces and
many Of them held Foster In high re-
.,d He entered the conflict to pro-
,.ot the white settlers The fact that
h. knew all the old settlers III the ex
,osed districts made him realize that
no could he of service to them. Nobody
,bought of Billy Foster as soldier on
oven scout while he was at home and
nprbars 30 one invited him I" <" aud
h,,tle against the race that he might
have regarded AS highly rs he did the
white race for half the blood in his
| veins was the blood of the native of
the western plains. Foster perhaps
wos the first to realize that he could do
noble deeds in the cause of right, aud
right with him was above race. When
the news of the outrages on Salmon
river and the slaughter on Can,as
prairie reached his ears Billy Foster
aid not hesitate to go into the war.
He told one friend that his heart was
filled with sorrow at the thought OF
going to war against even an Indian.
lie approached little child whom he
almost worshiped stopped and kissed
il, told it he was going to war and
that he would never return. The tears
rolled down his cheeks; he cried like a
tender hearted mother in the presence
of death. Then he went, for he be-
leved duty called, and never again
looked upon the friends he loved best.
He Joined General Towards command
asa scout rs soon as he could reach
headquarters. He WAS IL leader among
the daring riders from the time lie EN-.
tered the service till he rode to his
death. He was first in the Clearwater
fight and was tireless in his efforts to
save the lives of soldiers aud citizens.
Charley Bluet a daring young man
from Walla Walla was in the rvice
and Foster aud Bluet were detailed t.
scout the region of Craig's mountain
west of Cottonwood. They found ali
Indian camp and owing to their dar'
ing were almost surrounded. The two
scouts made desperate effort t,
escape to Cottonwood. When they
were nearly surrounded Bluet's horse
fell and threw his rider. The unfor
funate boy was surrounded by the
Indians while Foster was trying u
catch the frightened horse. BIuet es'
capped to clump of brush ard Foster
believing he might not be detected 81
at least that he might not he killed
determined to rescue him. He rode tt
Cottonwood fer assistance. Col. PER-,
was ia command but IA he had done
on another occasion did not RESPOND
to the plea Of Foster for a detail to y
To the aid of Blutt. II. the meantim'
Lieut.. Raines West Point boy, wh'
was impetuous as Custer and as deter
mined rs Grant, fastened to follow
foster with II men. They dashed III
the hill from Cottonwood hut betor
they had gone far they were amhushed
The brave lieutenant tell early in tn
conflict, While he lived he followed
roster and it is believed would hav
broken through the Indian lines o
battle But lie fell, his men hecam
confused without leader and the.
huddied together like frightened shee
70 await slaughter. Foster saw thei
peril. The mild, modest man becan'
brilliant soldier. He pleaded Will
haihes' men to follow him to safet
nut they were demoralized. Foste
rode through the Indian line of BATH
twice He held a revolver IN eac
hahd and blaze of fire marked til
ME lie wanted his friends to follow