The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-03-04

The following graphic account of General
Fosters brilliant military record is given
by his brother. Wallace Foster:
AT the breaking out of the rebellion,
he was lieutenant of the City Grays, and
after the firing upon Fort Sumter lie
enlisted April H. 1861. as a private. and
recruiting company, he was unanimously
Governor o. p. Morton April IL. mustered
into the United States service April % 1861,
and assigned to Company A, Eleventh
Regiment Indiana Volunteers (Zouaves).
called for three months service under the
first call of President Lincoln.
Captain Foster received his first baptism
Romney, Va. June II. 1861. His company
was fired upon from a bridge. when he
charged through the bridge, routing the
enemy, who fled to the mountains. He re-
NAMED with his regiment until the latter
part of June, when he and other officers
were ordered home on recruiting service.
July 8. 1861, he was commissioned by
Regiment of Indiana Volunteer Infantry.
receiving marching orders on the same day
to go to the front He left July Tor serv
the 10th he joined General MeClellan's
forces at Roaring run. On the next day
he participated in the battle of Rich Noun
tain. West Va. under General Rosecrans.
Captain Foster, who commanded two COM
panies of his regiment, charged the rebel
infantry and artillery and captured two
forces. He participated with his regiment
in all the battles, skirmishes and marches
of that West Virginia campaign In Sep
TENDER. 1861, he was appointed captain in
the Nineteenth Regular Infantry, but he
declined the commission
PROMOTED AGAIN
"Oct %, 1861, he was commissioned lieu
tenant colonel. Colonel Foster commanded
his regiment during the campaign of Gen.
Shields in the Shenandoah valley. being en-
gagged in the battles of Winchester, Strauss
burg, Fishers Hill, Burnt Bridge and Sum-
merville. He was also in the memorable
campaign against Stonewall Jackson when
the latter was pursued by Generals Banks.
Fremont and Mcdowell down the Shenan-
doah and Rappahannock valleys to Port
Republic and Luray.
"It was March %, 1862, at the battle OF
winchester that General Foster displayed
his first great military ability in maneuver-
ing body of troops exposed TO an enfilad-
superb knowledge of military tactics in the
hour of extreme peril won for him the per-
petual confidence and admiration of every
officer and enlisted man in his regiment
and Shields's division. 1t was so well and
coolly done that he received cheer after
cheer from the troops engaged in the bat
tie. 1t was at the critical point In the bat
tie when Stonewall Jackson's forces were
driving the federal forces. General Sulli-
vans brigade of Shieldss division was sup
porting the left, and before he had received
orders from General kimball for reinforce
ments General Sullivan ordered Colonel
Foster and his regiment TO report to Kim
ball.
a long stone wall fence in which the enemy
were intrenched il was necessary to change
the position of the regiment at least six or
eight times TO protect the flank from the
enfilading fire of the enemy's artillery This
military maneuvering was consummated by
Colonel Foster without the least excitement
or difficulty. and with as much ease as
though he had the regiment on battalion
drill or dress parade The command was
given TO charge with fixed bayonets, and
the boys responded with a Hoosier yell
pouring forth terrible volley, followed by
a charge over the stone wall uDon the
swarming masses of rebels who broke and
fed into the woods, leaving the Thirteenth
victors on the field. Four times the colors
went down in the bloody charge. but only
for moment, to rise again more beautiful
| than ever as the old Guard ESQ christened
by Governor Morton after the battle)
| gained the crest of the hill in front of the
stone fence"
SIGNAL RECOGNITION.
General Sullivan, in letter to the writer
several years ago. said:
1T is an acknowledged fact expressed on
! all sides, and from both officers and en-
| listed men that Foster and the Thirteenth
| Regiment Were in the thickest of the fight
and had great deal TO do in routing the
| enemy from behind the stone fence and
| finishing up one OF the most important
had not defeated stonewaiI e Jackson l~'S at
! that time. or rather. II Shields's division
| had been defeated and Stonewan Jack
| SON had moved on TO Harper's Ferry and
| Washington, IL is fair To believe that GER
| tain political movements In agitation at
| that time might have resulted differently.
| have heard since the war that Jackson's
defeat was ereatax blow to Southern