William Foster (Medal of Honor)
Encyclopedia
Sergeant William Foster (1832 – July 16, 1880) was a British-born soldier in the U.S. Army
who served with the 4th U.S. Cavalry during the Texas–Indian Wars. He received the Medal of Honor
for gallantry against the Comanche Indians
at the Red River in Texas
on September 29, 1872.
for over 20 years becoming a veteran Indian fighter and may have had a rudimentary knowledge of Indian dialects. By the early 1870s, he was a sergeant in Company F of the 4th U.S. Cavalry then stationed in Texas
.
On September 28, 1872, he was part of Colonel Ranald S. Mackenzie
's expedition over the Staked Plains. Following a one-day march to the North Fork of the Red River, a lodge encampment of around 280 Mow-wi Comanche
warriors was discovered. Though vastly outnumbered, MacKenzie ordered an attack hoping to catch the Comanche by surprise. The soldiers approached, however, startled the Indian's ponies and started a stampede alerting the camp. In the ensuing battle, the cavalry troopers engaged in fierce fighting with the Comanche warriors. As a result of MacKenzie's victory, the Mow-wi formally surrendered at Fort Sill
ending 17 years of warfare. Foster was among those who distinguished themselves in the fight and, with eight other members of his regiment, received the Medal of Honor
for "gallantry in action". The other men awarded the MOH included Blacksmith James Pratt, Farrier David Larkin, Privates Edward Branagan and William Rankin, Corporals Henry McMasters and William O'Neill
, Sergeant William Wilson
and First Sergeant William McNamara. Foster eventually left the military and settled in San Francisco, California
where he died on July 16, 1880, at the age of 48. He is among the 35 MOH recipients interred at San Francisco National Cemetery
.
Citation:
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
who served with the 4th U.S. Cavalry during the Texas–Indian Wars. He received the Medal of Honor
Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
for gallantry against the Comanche Indians
Comanche
The Comanche are a Native American ethnic group whose historic range consisted of present-day eastern New Mexico, southern Colorado, northeastern Arizona, southern Kansas, all of Oklahoma, and most of northwest Texas. Historically, the Comanches were hunter-gatherers, with a typical Plains Indian...
at the Red River in Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
on September 29, 1872.
Biography
William Foster was born in Somerset, England in 1832. He emigrated to the United States and later enlisted in the U.S. Army in Bakersville, Maryland. Spending much of his military career on the frontier, Foster participated in campaigns against the Southern Plains IndiansPlains Indians
The Plains Indians are the Indigenous peoples who live on the plains and rolling hills of the Great Plains of North America. Their colorful equestrian culture and resistance to White domination have made the Plains Indians an archetype in literature and art for American Indians everywhere.Plains...
for over 20 years becoming a veteran Indian fighter and may have had a rudimentary knowledge of Indian dialects. By the early 1870s, he was a sergeant in Company F of the 4th U.S. Cavalry then stationed in Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
.
On September 28, 1872, he was part of Colonel Ranald S. Mackenzie
Ranald S. Mackenzie
Ranald Slidell Mackenzie was a career United States Army officer and general in the Union Army during the American Civil War, described by General Ulysses S. Grant as its most promising young officer...
's expedition over the Staked Plains. Following a one-day march to the North Fork of the Red River, a lodge encampment of around 280 Mow-wi Comanche
Comanche
The Comanche are a Native American ethnic group whose historic range consisted of present-day eastern New Mexico, southern Colorado, northeastern Arizona, southern Kansas, all of Oklahoma, and most of northwest Texas. Historically, the Comanches were hunter-gatherers, with a typical Plains Indian...
warriors was discovered. Though vastly outnumbered, MacKenzie ordered an attack hoping to catch the Comanche by surprise. The soldiers approached, however, startled the Indian's ponies and started a stampede alerting the camp. In the ensuing battle, the cavalry troopers engaged in fierce fighting with the Comanche warriors. As a result of MacKenzie's victory, the Mow-wi formally surrendered at Fort Sill
Fort Sill
Fort Sill is a United States Army post near Lawton, Oklahoma, about 85 miles southwest of Oklahoma City.Today, Fort Sill remains the only active Army installation of all the forts on the South Plains built during the Indian Wars...
ending 17 years of warfare. Foster was among those who distinguished themselves in the fight and, with eight other members of his regiment, received the Medal of Honor
Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
for "gallantry in action". The other men awarded the MOH included Blacksmith James Pratt, Farrier David Larkin, Privates Edward Branagan and William Rankin, Corporals Henry McMasters and William O'Neill
William O'Neill (Medal of Honor)
William O'Neill was an American soldier in the U.S. Army who served with the 4th U.S. Cavalry during the Indian Wars. He was one of several men who received the Medal of Honor for gallantry while fighting the Comanche at Red River, Texas on September 29, 1872.-Biography:William O'Neill was born in...
, Sergeant William Wilson
William Wilson (soldier)
William Wilson , a Sergeant in the United States Army's 4th Cavalry, is noted for being one of only nineteen individuals to receive the Medal of Honor twice.-Medal of Honor citation:...
and First Sergeant William McNamara. Foster eventually left the military and settled in San Francisco, California
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
where he died on July 16, 1880, at the age of 48. He is among the 35 MOH recipients interred at San Francisco National Cemetery
San Francisco National Cemetery
San Francisco National Cemetery is a U.S. National Cemetery, located in the Presidio of San Francisco, California. Because of the name and location, it is frequently confused with Golden Gate National Cemetery, a few miles south of the city....
.
Medal of Honor citation
Rank and organization: Sergeant, Company F, 4th U.S. Cavalry. Place and date: At Red River, Tex., 29 September 1872. Entered service at: ------. Birth: England, Date of issue: 19 November 1872.Citation:
Gallantry in action.
See also
- List of Medal of Honor recipients for the Indian Wars
Further reading
- Konstantin, Phil. This Day in North American Indian History: Important Dates in the History of North America's Native Peoples for Every Calendar Day. New York: Da Capo Press, 2002. ISBN 0-306-81170-7