Wounded Confederate Soldiers
Confederate soldier Rev. Lucratus Hodges “Cratus” Foster, born in Cass County, Texas in 1842, is a soldier in the 9th Texas Cavalry. Having enlisted on February 14, 1862, the Baptist layman bears the physical and mental scars of war. His left hand is now mangled and essentially useless, and he has served time as a Union prisoner in Alton, Illinois. Since April, he has been ill most of the time. This month he is declared unfit for duty, and is traveling with the army’s wagon train. But yet Foster soldiers on, one of many soldiers in ill health or wounded — or both — who remains in uniform despite less than ideal personal circumstances. His dogged determination exhibited this day will characterize the rest of his life.
On September 11, 1863 Foster is assigned to quartermaster duty, later rising to the rank of quartermaster sergeant. He surrenders with the rest of his regiment at Citronelle, Alabama on May 4, 1865. Shortly thereafter on May 13, he is paroled at Jackson, Mississippi.
Moving back to Linden, Texas, Foster marries Fannie E. Fowler in 1866. His involvement with church grows, and in 1875 he is ordained to preach by the Lonesome Dove Baptist Church. Two years later, he serves as one of the organizing presbytery at the founding of Pleasant Run Baptist Church.
Upon his death in 1903, a fellow Baptist pastor, knowing Foster personally and having access to a diary that Foster had kept, noted that the Confederate veteran’s life and ministry had been characterized by faithfulness, suffering and hard work:
His diary shows that during his ministry he baptized over 800 happy converts, preached 4,000 times, visited 6,000 families and traveled 15,000 miles; assisted in ordaining a number of preachers and deacons (this writer being one), organized several Churches. While he was accomplishing this great work he was a constant sufferer nearly all the time from wounds he received in battle, Bright’s disease and from lung trouble, and in addition to all his troubles he was poor and had a large family to support. He would plow, teach school and sell fruit trees five days of each week, and preach Saturday and Sunday. I have plowed by his side when he would tie his wounded hand to the plow handle, and in this condition I have heard him praise God aloud. How he accomplished as much under such difficulties I do not understand. It makes me feel like hiding my face in shame when I remember my own opportunities. Bro. Foster never forgot a favor; he was among the few that were thankful for favors, and retained that gratitude to the end.
Foster’s wife Fannie also dies in 1903. Both are buried in Grapevine Cemetery. Seven children survive their passing.
Source: Rev. Lucratus Hodges ‘Cratus’ Foster biography and obituary (link)
