Chatham-Screven-Glynn County GaArchives Biographies.....Foster, James Lachlison 1841 - living in 1913
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Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 October 30, 2004, 6:14 pm

Author: William Harden
p. 987-988

   CAPT. JAMES LACHLISON FOSTER. A distinguished soldier and officer of the
Confederate army during the Civil war, and for more than forty years prominent
in the Georgia lumber industry, Captain Foster is one of the best loved citizens
of Savannah.

   Captain Foster was born in the city of Philadelphia, June 2, 1841, and was
twelve years of age when brought to Savannah, Georgia, by his parents. After
securing his education at Chatham Academy, Savannah, and Paris Hill Academy in
Screven county, Georgia, he served an apprenticeship in the machine shop and
foundry of his uncles R. and J. Lachlison. He was twenty years of age when the
Civil war broke upon the country and, becoming a soldier, he attained
distinction both as a member of the land and the naval forces of the
Confederacy. In 1861, he answered his country's call for volunteers by enlisting
in Company B, Oglethorpe Light Infantry, under Capt. Fred Simms.

   He was captured in the fall of Fort Pulaski and was a prisoner at Governor's
Island, Fort Columbus, and Fort Delaware, and after his exchange was
commissioned in the Confederate navy in 1863. He was appointed to duty as third
assistant engineer No. 84 on board the ironclad "Isondiga," Captain Kennard, in
the fleet of Commodore Tatnall at Savannah, later becoming its chief engineer,
and in December, 1864, when the Confederate forces evacuated that city he took a
prominent part, his gunboat covering the retreat at the pontoon bridges on the
Savannah river. He directed the burning of the bridges immediately following,
thus preventing immediate pursuit by General Sherman's forces. He also burned
the gunboat before leaving for Charleston. For this and other distinguished
services he rose rapidly in the navy, being appointed chief engineer of the
ironclad "Palmetto State" and afterwards the "Chicora," two of the most
formidable gunboats in the Confederate navy. Early in 1865, he was placed in
charge of the ram "Jackson" at Columbus. Escaping capture when the latter city
fell, he reported for duty at Augusta a few days before the surrender at
Appomattox. Mr. Foster attained the rank of first assistant engineer in the navy
(assimilated rank of major in the army).

   In 1869, Captain Foster joined his cousins, Thomas and Joseph Hilton, and
formed the company of Hiltons and Foster to manufacture lumber at Union Island
near Darien, Georgia. He has been associated with this company and its
successors as superintendent, director and vice president in all its expansion
and various changes since that time. During this time he resided first in
McIntosh county, Georgia, and then on St. Simon's Island, Glynn county, Georgia.
While living in Glynn county he was one of the commissioners for that county.

   Captain Foster was for several years captain of the McIntosh Light Dragoons,
and served with distinction as senator for the second senatorial district in the
state legislature in 1904 and 1905. His geniality, sturdy Scotch determination,
English courage and Yankee industry, to which was added the southern pride of
the only home of his memory, were qualities which, when fused in the patriotic
crucible of a most devastating and levelling war and in the face of depressing
reconstruction demoralization, have redeemed the old South and brought this
beloved section forward with strides to the forefront. Captain Foster has earned
and honored his position as a prominent citizen of the rehabilitated south.

   Captain Foster was first married in 1867 to Miss Lettice Austin of Savannah.
She died in 1888, and he was subsequently married to Miss Elizabeth Lachlison.
Captain Foster has by his first marriage one daughter, Lettice Elizabeth, who is
married to Mauley B. Thariu. Captain Foster also had a sou, Robert Lachlison
Foster, who married Miss Emma L. Mitchelson. The son died in 1899, leaving one
daughter, Roberta Wymore Foster.


Additional Comments:
From:

A HISTORY OF SAVANNAH AND SOUTH GEORGIA
BY
WILLIAM HARDEN

VOLUME II
ILLUSTRATED
THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY
CHICAGO AND NEW YORK
1913

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