Pgs 100-101
LIEUTENANT COLONEL FOSTER, OF THE THIRD SOUTH CAROLINA
VOLUNTEERS.
Lieutenant Colonel C. B. Foster, of the Third South Carolina
Regiment, was born in Spartanburg County, South Carolina, at the old
Foster homestead, near Cedar Springs, in 1817. His father was
Anthony Foster, a native of Virginia. Colonel Foster was a member of the
Legislature before the war, and represented Spartanburg County in the
Secession Convention, along with Simpson Bobo, Dr. J. H. Carlisle, and
others. After the Convention adjourned he returned to his home in
Spartanburg and immediately began drilling a company for the
war.
He was elected Captain of the Blackstock Company, which was
Company K, in the Third Regiment of South Carolina Volunteers. The
Blackstock Company reported for duty as soon as volunteers were called
for, and went immediately to the camp of instruction at Lightwood Knot
Springs. Colonel Foster was elected Lieutenant Colonel of the regiment.
After spending about three months at the camp of instruction, the Third
Regiment was ordered to Virginia. Colonel Foster served until some time
after the battle of First Manassas, having participated in that campaign.
He remained in Virginia until the fall of 1861, when he was ordered to go
home by the surgeon, his health having completely given way. It took long
nursing to get him on his feet again. He was devoted to the Confederate
cause, and was always willing and ready to help in any way its
advancement. He gave two sons to his line assiduously, he no
doubt would have become the foremost scholar of the State, if not the
South. He was passionately fond of manly sports and out-door exercise. He
was a devotee of the turf, and this disposition led him early in life to
the development of fast horses and a breeder of blooded stock. He was a
turfman of the old school, and there were but few courses in the South
that had not tested the mettle of his stock. But like his brother in arms,
Colonel Cash, of the Eighth, and brother turfman, he became disgusted with
the thievery and trickery of later day sports and quit the turf, still
owning at his death some of the most noted racers of the times, Granger
Lynchburg, John Payne, Glengary, Father Ryan, Ned Brace, and others of
lesser note.
He paid much attention to military matters, and held
several offices in the State militia before the war. He,
with his friend and superior, General M. L. Bonham, enlisted in the
"Blues" and served in the Palmetto Regiment in the war with the Seminoles.
At the breaking out of the Civil War he, with Elbert Bland, afterwards
Colonel of the Seventh, organized the first company from Edgefield, and
was elected Captain. The companies assigned to the Seventh Regiment
unanimously elected him the Colonel, and in that capacity he led his
regiment to Virginia, being among the first regiments from the State to
reach the seat of war. He was at the battle of Manassas, and participated
in the Peninsular campaign. At the reorganization of the regiment at the
expiration of the term of enlistment, his failing health forced him to
decline a re-election as Colonel. Returning home, and the State needing
the services of trained soldiers to command the State troops,
notwithstanding his failing health, he cheerfully accepted the command of
the Seventh Regiment State troops.
In 1863 he was elected to the
State Senate. He died at his home, Pine Pond, in Edgefield County,
September 25th, 1876, leaving a widow, but no children.
Strong in
his friendship and earnest in his affection, but with a peaceable and
forgiving temperament, pure in his motives, charitable in all things,
generous to the needy, affectionate to his friends and relatives,
chivalric and honorable in every relation of life, brave in action, and
with that fortitude under adverse circumstances that makes heroes of men,
just and impartial to the officers and men under his command,pleasant and
sociable towards his equals in rank, obedient and courteous to his
superiors, few men lived or died with so much respect and admiration,
genuine friendship, and love from all as Colonel Thomas G. Bacon, of the
Seventh South Carolina
Volunteers.
