Jonathan Foster was born in Jackson Co, OH about 1840. He was the second child and second son of Thomas Foster and Mary "Polly" Trexler who had 12 children in all. the family moved to Jasper Co, IL in 1852. His mother's parents, and their children and grandchildren followed in 1853. Jonathan joined the 38th Illinois Volunteers early in the war. Several of his Civil War letters sent home still survive. In the Battle of Chickamauga that was fought in Georgia, Jonathan sustained a battlefield injury that nearly severed an artery in his upper arm. It was patched up by a doctor in a field hospital, then he was sent to a hospital in Nashville, TN to recover. Jonathan was well enough to walk from his bed in a ward to eat in the Mess in the hospital. On his way to dinner, he bumped his arm against a door frame, and the artery in his arm burst open. He bled to death on the floor of the corridor before he could receive aid. The following day his name appeared listed among the Union dead that was published in a local newspaper in Nashville. His first cousin Jonathan Trexler, also a soldier in Jonathan's unit from Jasper County, IL, wrote a letter to Jonathan's parents and enclosed the newspaper clipping regarding his cousin's death.
"Ligation of Anastomotica Magna. — Case 1143. — Corporal J. Foster, K, 38th Illinois; flesh wound of arm September 19, 1863; haemorrhage from anastomotica magna [artery] September 29th; wound enlarged and artery ligated same day; gangrene October 7th; death from exhaustion October 9, 1863." -- The Medical and Surgical History of the War of the Rebellion. Part III, Volume II. (3rd Surgical volume) by U. S. Army Surgeon General's Office, 1883.
Jonathan Foster was born in Jackson Co, OH about 1840. He was the second child and second son of Thomas Foster and Mary "Polly" Trexler who had 12 children in all. the family moved to Jasper Co, IL in 1852. His mother's parents, and their children and grandchildren followed in 1853. Jonathan joined the 38th Illinois Volunteers early in the war. Several of his Civil War letters sent home still survive. In the Battle of Chickamauga that was fought in Georgia, Jonathan sustained a battlefield injury that nearly severed an artery in his upper arm. It was patched up by a doctor in a field hospital, then he was sent to a hospital in Nashville, TN to recover. Jonathan was well enough to walk from his bed in a ward to eat in the Mess in the hospital. On his way to dinner, he bumped his arm against a door frame, and the artery in his arm burst open. He bled to death on the floor of the corridor before he could receive aid. The following day his name appeared listed among the Union dead that was published in a local newspaper in Nashville. His first cousin Jonathan Trexler, also a soldier in Jonathan's unit from Jasper County, IL, wrote a letter to Jonathan's parents and enclosed the newspaper clipping regarding his cousin's death.
"Ligation of Anastomotica Magna. — Case 1143. — Corporal J. Foster, K, 38th Illinois; flesh wound of arm September 19, 1863; haemorrhage from anastomotica magna [artery] September 29th; wound enlarged and artery ligated same day; gangrene October 7th; death from exhaustion October 9, 1863." -- The Medical and Surgical History of the War of the Rebellion. Part III, Volume II. (3rd Surgical volume) by U. S. Army Surgeon General's Office, 1883.
Gravesite Details
Union Civil War grave registration number is 5,325
Family Members
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Sgt William Foster
1838–1884
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Eliza Jane Foster Cowgill
1841 – unknown
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Evelline Foster
1843–1863
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Rachel Foster Burnsides
1846–1868
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Sarah Ann Foster Randolph
1847–1926
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Job Craycraft Foster
1847–1927
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John Vinton Foster
1851–1915
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Catherine E. Foster Reed
1853–1916
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Thomas Hartley Foster
1855–1926
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Francis Samuel "Frank" Foster
1857–1930
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Nancy Jane Foster Reed
1860–1881
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