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 Footer 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 country. One, Captain
Perrin [101]
Foster, also of the Third Regiment, was killed at Fredericksburg
leading his command. His other son, James Anthony Foster, gave up
his life in the front of his command during the frightful charge on
Maryland Heights. He was a member of Company K, of the Third
Regiment.
Colonel Foster was considered a wealthy man before the war, but
when it ended he was left penniless. At that time he lived near
Glenn Springs, Spartanburg County. In 1867 he moved to Union County
and merchandised until 1884. He was also County Treasurer for a long
time. He died on June 9th. 1897, at the residence of his daughter,
Mrs. Benjamin Kennedy, at Jonesville, Union County. In early life
Colonel Foster married Miss Mary Ann Perrin, a sister of Colonel
Thomas C. Perrin, of Abbeville. She died in 1886. Three daughters
survive Colonel Foster, Mrs. I.G. McKissick, Mrs. Benjamin Kennedy,
and Mrs. J.A. Thompson. Colonel Foster was one of God's noblemen. He
was true to his friends, his family, and his country. He never
flinched from danger nor from his duty. He was faithful at all times
and under all circumstances to the best principles of the
Anglo-Saxon race.
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