The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1877-06-21
Colonel TOurtelOtte.
THE HERO OF "HOLD THE FORT.

THE HERO OF "HOLD THE FORT"
A Washington letter to the Cincinnati
Commercial says:
On General Sherman's staff there is a
tall, stately man, with eyes so calm and
cold and blue that one can never fancy
their flashing, for they look as if they
would quench any spark that might leap
into them from his heart; with manner
SO quiet and voice so passionless and
even that he suggests his own native
mountains, with their caps Of snow, that
rear proudly above the hills and valleys
nesting below them in the warmth and
sunshine. But he is the hero of one of
the most magnificent fights that took
place during the march to the sea-
fight that put brilliant bloody period
to the one hundred and thirteen days
continuous fire under which Sherman's
army had struggled eastward, and finally
opened to them the door that led through
region of peace and plenty to the de-
sired goal. He was in the advance
guard, and with few hundred men had
reached AllatoOna Pass, the key to the
situation, when he received news that
the enemy were advancing in force.
Throwing up earthworks and construct
ing as solid a fort as circumstances
would permit, he waited the shock.
And it came before long, for over the
mountains, trailing their gray length
along, came the Confederate army, flags
flying, drums beating, and every heart
strung up to the highest chord of BRAY
cry and desperation, for they knew it was
more than Just battle to fight-they
knew it meant the sustaining or knocking
away of one of the few remaining props
that sustained the fabric reared a few
years before with such pomp, and now
lettering towards its fall. On they came
like tide, rising nearer and nearer to
the men waiting so anxiously behind the
earthworks, for they, too, felt the i'm
portance of the stakes for which they
were about to play so grim game,
knowing that, should Allatoona Pass be
closed, Sherman might knock in vain at
its portals, and that thousands Of lives
would be lost before it could be forced.
Presently the advancing ranks stood still,
received their orders, and with wild
cheer that made the mountains ring,
charged up the pass; the gray sea rolled
furiously against the walls of the fort i;
but what, at its flow, had been fierce
fighting men, at its ebb were shattered
beings, whose uniforms were stained with
that which changes blue and gray alike
into the livery of death. Still the fight
continued, and the ranks that in the
shock had fallen back reformed and charge
again, and so it went on until the little
force that held the pass were stained and
grimed with smoke and powder and
blood, burnt with the flames that leaped
from guns and muskets, reduced to less
than half their number, and almost dead
with thirst and exhaustion. High among
them stood the "cold colonel" his face
afame with the same spirit that made his
Huguenot ancestors do such brave battle
with Guise and Madame League" in the
days when Balafre and the Spaniard had
it all their own way in France, encour-
aging his men to hold out little longer,
animating them alike by word and ex-
ample, until into their midst rode a
courier, who tumbled from his saddle,
and saluting him, said: General says,
sir, tell Col. Tourtelotte to hold the fort,
for I'm coming, and that III be there in
about an hour" Then the men stood
and cheered, turning their hot blood
shot eyes up, and seeing that the sun
still shone and that life might still be
hoped for. Once more lit was rattle and
roar and powder STENCIL" and then came
the blessed sounds Of drum and fife.
telling in their strong and shrill voices
that help was ut hand, and General
Sherman marched up and through the
Pass, entering on what turned out to be
. delightful jsunt through Georgia.
Last year Colonel Tourtelotte was in New
York while Moody and Ssnkey we're
holding one Of their monster revivals,
ed peFsuaded by friends be went to it..
Imagine his amusement when Mr.. Moody,
il giving out the hymn to be sung, said !:
eve viii now give Hold the Fort,
which will b. psculiarly appropriate, =
- hsso Of that Aght in which our spirit