Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1882-02-23
CORSE'S COURAGEOUS ANSWER.
Inc True History Of the Phrase :. Hold the Fort"
Now Made Famous Through Song.

The True History Of the Phrase s'Hold the Fort
Now Made Famous Through Song.
! notice number of newspapers CIV
ing, or attempting to give, a correct
statement of the circumstances under
which our lamented friend and brother,
Judge J. w. Mckenzie, performed the
signal act of heroism at Altoona, none
OF which exactly coincide with detail
ed statement Of the case, as given to me
by the hero himself, | had been es-
peelally intimate with him for many
years. Not one word had ever fallen
from his lips relative to this matter. to
my knowledge. One day, learning in
cidently from another, of his connec-
ton with Hold the Fort, for Am
Coming | took occasion soon to ask
him about it. He seemed at first re-
luctant to tell me, but | pressed him,
and this is substal tially his own account
of it. After describing the situation of
the armies at Altoona ami Kenesaw, he
said
General Sherman's signal corps had
been trying to send dispatches from
kenesaw to General Corse. We could
read the dispatches with our telescopes,
but could not receive or answer them
back, because the rebel shots were so
thick. The rebels had also lot of
sharp-shooters posted watching our
squad, and every time man would
show himself they would pick him off.
At this time General Corse came up,
and said, addressing the signal corps:
''Who is in command here?' Our Cap
tain was absent, and was in charge of
the squad, and | replied, i am, sir
The General then asked if a message
could be sent to General Sherman in
| answer to his To hold the fort, for he
was coming just read. / replied that
it could be if it was absolutely necessary
General Corse then wrote out the mes
sage and handed it to me. 1t read as
follows
To GENERAL SHERMAN am short a
cheek-bone and one ear, but can whip
hell out of them yet.
GENERAL CoRsE.
Itook it and the signal flag and called
for volunteer from my little squad.
No man responded. | then offered the
| flagstaff to each man and asked him il
he would volunteer, and each declined.
then thought would detail one, but
my brother Tom was4n the squad, and
the thought struck me if | detailed
another but him they would say at once
| 'partiality.' If | detailed him and he
was shot | could never forgive myself,
and it seemed like certain death to any
one to undertake it. At this moment OF
hesitation the General, seeing no man
going forward, said to me, firmly;
Lieutenant, thought you said this mes
sage could be sent?' / replied, .Itcan,
and without further delay / mounted
the signal station and commenced send
ing the message expecting every mo-
ment to be shot. The flag was about
eighteen feet long, and the wind was
blowing some, and / found it very hard
work, and felt as though / must give
out before was done. At this moment,
when it seemed could stand it no long
er, stranger, not member of the sig
nal corps, came up behind me, put his
arms around me and along my arms,
took hold of the flagstaff, and, stand
ing behind me, helped me to wave
the answer back to Sherman / do not
think could have sent the whole mes
sage without help or rcst.,DeS Moine>
| Register.