John Gray Foster (1823-1874) - Find a Grave Memorial

Civil War Union Major General. He graduated from West Point 1846 and served as an officer in the Engineer Corps during the Mexican War. When the Civil War broke out, he was a Major in command at Fort Moultrie and succeeded in transferring his garrison to Fort Sumter to support in defenses against the Confederates. In October 1861, he was commissioned Brigadier General and commanding a brigade at the Battle of Roanoke Island and the Battle of New Berne, North Carolina. He was promoted Major General in July 1862, held various administrative positions and was commander of the Army of the Ohio at the Siege of Knoxville in 1863. In May of 1864, he was appointed head of the Department of the South, leading troops in the Siege of Savannah and the Siege of Charleston. At the end of the war, he was the commanding General for the Union forces in Florida. After the war, he was construction surveyor in New England and published works on military topics.

Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith