Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1882-04-27
Hold the Fort"
The Story of That Famous Message as Told by the
Hero Himself

The Story of That Famous Message as Told BY the
Hero Himself
notice number of newspapers CIV
ing, or attempting to give, correct
statement of the circumstances under
which our lamented friend and brother,
Judge J. w. Mckenzie, performed the
signal act of heroism at Altoona, says
correspondent to the Des Moines Regis
ter, none of which exactly coincide with
detailed statement of the case, as CIV
en- to me by the 'hero" himself. had
been especially intimate with him for
many years. Not one word had ever
fallen from his lips relative to this mat
ter, to my knowledge. One day, learn
ing incidentally from another of his con-
nection with ''Hold the fort, for l 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 substantially his own account
of it. After describing the situation of
the armies at Altoona and Kenesaw, he
said:
"Gen. Sherman's signal corps had
been trying to send dispatches from
Kenesaw to Gen. Corse Wecould read
the dispatches with our telescopes, but
could not receive or answer them back,
because the Rebel shots we've so thick.
The Rebels had also a lot of sharpshoot-
ers posted watching our squad, and ev-
ery time a man would show himself they
would pick him off. At this time Gen.
Corse came up and said, addressing the
signal corps, 'Who is in command hereP
Our Captain was absent, and l was in
charge of the squad, and | replied, i
am sir The General then asked if
message could be sent to Gen. Sherman
in answer to his TO hold the fort, for he
was coming just read. replied that
it could be if it was absolutely neces-
sary.' Gen. Corse then wrote out the
message and handed it TO me. 1t read
as follows:
"s1o Gen. Sherman: | am short q
cheek-bone and one ear, but can whip
hell out of them yet.
"'GEN. CoRsE.'
II took it and the signal flag and
called for volunteer from my little
squad. No man responded. l then of
fered the flagstaff to each man and
asked him if he would volunteer, and
each declined. then thought I would
detail one, but my brother Tom was in
the squad, and the thought struck me if
I detailed another than him they would
say at once 'partiality.' If / detailed
him and he was shot could never for
give 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, l thought you
said this message could be sent?' re-
piled, 1T can, and without further de-
lay l mounted the signal-station and
commenced sending the message, ex-
pecting every moment 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 longer, stranger, not a
member of the signal corps, came up
behind me, put his arms around me and
along my arms, took hold of the flag
staff, and standing behind me, helped
me to wave the answer back to Sher-
man. I do not think cou4l have sent
the whole message without help or rest. "