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John Gray Foster
Birth: 5-27-1823
Death: 9-22-1874
Biography
John Gray Foster was born in Whitefield, New Hampshire, to Perley Foster and Mary (Gray) Foster. He attended West Point Academy from 1842-1846 and graduated fourth in his class. After graduation, he was commissioned to the Army Corps of Engineers and then served during the Mexican-American War with General Scott. After the war, he continued to serve with the Corps of Engineers and with the U.S. Coast Survey. In 1858, Foster was engaged to help in the construction of Fort Sumter in South Carolina. In October 1861, he was appointed Brigadier General of U.S. Volunteers and in 1862 he took command of the Department of North Carolina. He replaced General Burnside in December 1863 as commander of the Department of the Ohio. He relinquished command of the department in February 1864. He served the remainder of the war in various positions. He is likely referenced in a letter written by Henry Onderdonk Chesebro to then-acting Secretary of State, William H. Seward, dated March 30, 1864.
Citations
John Gray Foster was born in Whitefield, New Hampshire, to Perley Foster and Mary (Gray) Foster. He attended West Point Academy from 1842-1846 and graduated fourth in his class. After graduation, he was commissioned to the Army Corps of Engineers and then served during the Mexican-American War with General Scott. After the war, he continued to serve with the Corps of Engineers and with the U.S. Coast Survey. In 1858, Foster was engaged to help in the construction of Fort Sumter in South Carolina. In October 1861, he was appointed Brigadier General of U.S. Volunteers and in 1862 he took command of the Department of North Carolina. He replaced General Burnside in December 1863 as commander of the Department of the Ohio. He relinquished command of the department in February 1864. He served the remainder of the war in various positions. He is likely referenced in a letter written by Henry Onderdonk Chesebro to then-acting Secretary of State, William H. Seward, dated March 30, 1864.