MORE ABOUT MAJOR FOSTER
It will be of local interest to many to know Maj. Foster and his brother were by Cole Younger.
Maj. Foster himself, long after the war gave the facts to the Springfield Leader as follows.
Foster and his brother lay beside each other in a hut when a young Bushwacker, who had been
their enemy at Warrensburg before the war entered. He was half drunk, and had a pistol in each
hand. He was swearing that he was going to kill the Fosters. “He caught sight of us lying there,
and rushed over.” related Maj. Foster. “His eyes were fiendish, ‘Say your prayers–you’ he
shouted, ‘you die this minute!’
A young fellow suddenly rushed forward, “You d—-d coward” he said. In moment he had seized
the rowdy, disarmed him and knocked him headlong through a window. The he stood guard over
us. ‘My name is Cole Younger’ he said, ‘ and I pledge my name for your security.’
I thought I was mortally wounded and confided to Younger that I had some $700 and a watch
and chain and my brother a considerable amount of money which we would like sent to our
mother in Warrensburg. Cole Younger took the money and valuables and four days later my
mother received them.”
“Maj. Foster never forgot this act of honor and kindness.” The Springfield Leader continues.
“When they were imprisoned he zealously sought a pardon for them and when things looked
blackest, he at Cole’s request, sent them, his photograph. Cole framed it in his cell.
Maj. Foster died at Oakland, CA the day before Christmas [December 24, 1902]
Lee’s Summit Journal
January 9, 1903
Friday
MAJOR FOSTER DEAD
The hero of Lone Jack on the Federal side, was Maj. Emory S. Foster. That he was a hero and
gallant soldier is known to all. He died last week. He it was who was challenged by and fought a
duel with Maj. John Edwards, caused by an editorial controversy arising from an invitation to Jeff
Davis to deliver an address at the Winnebago, Illinois fair. This duel was bloodless but gave rise
to considerable fun for the newspaper brethren because of the origin of the “line shot”. Foster
and Edwards afterward became good friends.
Lee’s Summit Journal
January 2, 1903
Friday