From the Richmond Dispatch, 9/1/1864, p.1, c. 6 and 7 

( Much of this article was blurred not able to be deciphered - *** indicates unreadable text)

Shot by a Detective. – A man named Joseph Foster, said to be a deserter from the Confederate navy, was shot about half past 11 o’clock Tuesday night by John B. Williams, a detective in the Provost-Marshal’s office. Williams discovered Foster walking down Main street with a female in the neighborhood of Hardgrove’s factory, and immediately laid hold of him and informed him that he was under arrest. Soon afterwards, Foster jerked away from the office and jumping down an embankment, started of in the direction of the Dock, but he had not gone far before he was *** to stop, was ***entering just under his *** The wounded man was *** removed to the North Carolina *** hospital, where he received medical attention. ***

It is stated that Foster was at the time a member of the Fifty-sixth Virginia regiment ***a native of one of the adjoining counties to the city.

Captain Carter, of the night *** before the Recorder yesterday *** but it appearing that both parties were soldiers, Foster being an alleged deserter and Williams a detailed conscript acting under military orders, the case was turned over to the military authorities.

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