[New York Times, Sept. 3, 1874.]
MAJOR-GEN. JOHN G. FOSTER.
The death of this distinguished soldier and military engineer is announced. He died at his mother's residence at Nashua, N. H., at 1 o'clock yesterday morning, in the fifty-first year of his age. He graduated at West Point, July 1, 1846, being in the same class with Generals George B. McClellan and Stonewall Jackson. He served in the war with Mexico, 1847-48, attached to the Company of Sappers, Miners, and Pontoniers, and was engaged in the siege of Vera Cruz, battle of Cerro Gordo, and battles of Contreras and Churubusco, in which he distinguished himself. On the 20th of August, 1847, he was promoted Brevet First Lieutenant. He was severely wounded on the 8th of September, 1847, while leading the forlorn hope at the capture of Molino del Rey. For his gallant conduct on this occasion he was promoted Brevet Captain, and was placed, with full pay, for more than two years on the sick list of the army. When convalescent, he joined Gen. R. E. Lee at Baltimore as Assistant Engineer, and afterwards was on the Coast Survey. He was Assistant Professor of Engineering at West Point from January, 1855, to June, 1857, and Superintending Engineer of the survey of the site of the fort at Willett's Point, Long Island; of the preliminary operations for building a fort at Sandy Hook, N. J.; of building Fort Sumter, and repairs of Fort Moultrie, Charleston Harbor, South Carolina, from 1858 to 1861. On the 1st of July, 1860, he was promoted Captain, Corps of Engineers, for fourteen years' continuous service. During the rebellion of the seceding States he was Chief Engineer of the fortifications of Charleston Harbor, South Carolina. He was also engaged in defense of Fort Sumter from 27th of December, 1860, to April 14, 1861, when it was surrendered and evacuated. For the distinguished part taken by him in the transfer of the garrison of Fort Moultrie to Fort Sumter he was, on the 20th December, 1860, promoted Brevet Major. Soon after the surrender of Fort Sumter he was given the command of a brigade, as second to General Burnside on the North Carolina expedition, in which he again distinguished himself. He took by storm the central fortification on the Island of Roanoke, which soon led to the entire possession of the island. For these services he was promoted Brevet Lieutenant Colonel on the 8th February, 1862, and Brevet-Colonel on the 12th March, 1862, for gallant and meritorious services in the capture of New Berne, N. C. He was present at the bombardment of Fort Macon, which capitulated 26th April, 1862, and on July 1, 1862, when Gen. Burnside was ordered to join Gen. McClellan, he was left in command of the division, and subsequently of the whole department of Virginia and North Carolina, with his headquarters at Old Point Comfort. During this period he successfully conducted the expedition to burn the Goldsboro Railroad Bridge, (December, 1862), was engaged in the action of Southwest Creek, December 14, 1862; at the battle of Kinston the following day; two days afterward at the action of Whitehall, and on the 18th of December, 1862, at the action of Goldsboro Bridge. He repulsed the rebel attack on New Berne, March 14, 1863. At the time of the investment of Little Washington, on Tar River, he performed one of the most gallant deeds in the annals of the war, by running in a small steamer past the rebel batteries commanding the channel, for the purpose of hurrying forward reinforcements to relieve the little garrison. The daring act was not unobserved by the rebels, who sent a solid shot through the stateroom of the General, but as he happened to be on deck, he escaped harm, reached New Berne in safety, and accomplished his purpose.
On December 12, 1863, he relieved General Burnside and took command of the Army and Department of the Ohio, which he retained up to February 9, 1864, when he was obliged to relinquish the command in consequence of severe injuries from the fall of his horse. He was obliged to be removed to Baltimore for surgical assistance, and while yet on his crutches, he was, on the 26th of May, 1864, placed in command of the Department of the South, and met and aided General Sherman when he completed his march to the sea. He was in command of this department up to February 11, 1865, when he was again relieved for surgical treatment. He was promoted Brevet Brigadier-General on March 13, 1865, for gallant and meritorious services in the capture of Savannah, Ga., and on the same day Brevet Major-General for "meritorious services in the field during the Rebellion." He subsequently commanded the Department of Florida from August 7, 1865, to December 5, 1866, and was on temporary duty in the Engineer Bureau, Washington, from January to May, 1867. General Foster had been in ill-health for about a year, and his condition recently was such as to leave no hope of his recovery. He was a man of commanding presence, great executive ability, and undaunted courage, and was at all times very popular with those under his command. The funeral will take place at 10 o'clock, a. m., Saturday, with military honors. It is expected that a detachment of regulars from Fort Warren will attend the funeral.
At a meeting of the citizens of Nashua last night, to make arrangements for the funeral of General Foster on Saturday, a committee was appointed to co-operate with the City Government. The public buildings will be draped and business suspended. Invitations were sent to President Grant, the Secretary of War, Ex-Governor Allen, of New Hampshire, and other distinguished persons.