Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1891-04-20
"HoLD THE FORT.
The Origin of One OF the Most Ramou,
OfPopular Hymns.

OF FOpuIar Hymns.
[Ira D. Sankey in Christian Union.l
Your letter of inquiry as to the origin Of
the hymn ''Hold the Fort" was duly re-
ceived. The following newspaper clip
ping contains the facts in regard to the
matter so far as have been able to ascer-
tain them:
when Sherman was holding Atlanta,
and stripping his army for his famous
march to the sea, Hoods army was sud
denly thrown on Altoona pass, which was
defended by a fort commanded by General
Corse. The position was nearly, or quite,
90 miles from the headquarters of Sherman,
and its vital Importance was known in
both armies and to its gallant commander.
When the enemy General Johnston) ap-
preached General Corse made up his mind
that the position must be held at all costs,
and he told the men there would be no re-
treat nor surrender. Kenesaw mountain
overlooked the pass, and on the summit
was signal station, and after General
Corse had sent a message informing Sher-
man of the attack, and his purpose of max
ing desperate defense, he addressed him
self to the work at hand with a vigor
which will always be the theme of song
and story. The attack began early in the
morning, and the heavy masses of confed-
crate troops We're pushed with great de-
termination close up to the works, and at
one time entered small redoubt, but were
driven back at every assault. About ten
O'Clock at night, one who was there
well remembers, the signal station flag
gave a message which was not clearly dis
tinguished because of the heavy smoke
which hung over our lines, but in few
moments the assault slackened little. and
as the smoke blew away the message was
read, Hold the fort; we are coming The
message was repeated to all the regimental
commanders, and was read in every battery,
cheers. 1t was the only message received
that day, but Sherman ordered it repeated
from time to time during the day, and
when the immediate duty would permit
| or the smoke would allow the flag to b
seen, every eye was turned to the whit,
flag, with its crimson square standing ou
boldly in relief against the clear sky, and
| it always said, Hold the fort: we are com
| ing 1t was from this event that the bur
den of Sankey's religious song was taken
which has been sung in all the great rsli
gious meetings wherever the English Ian
| guage is spoken. General Corse got a Sc
we're wound ana the losses IN his command
were heavy, but in the afternoon the losses
of the enemy were SO great that the assault
was discontinued"
Five years after the close of the war Ma
| jor d. w. Whittle made use of this Incl
dent in an address delivered before a Sun,
day school convention in Illinois. Bis
was leading the singing. The relation Of
the story and the manner in which it wa,
used by the speaker made a deep impression
upon MIR. Bliss, who at once composed the
words of the famous song and on returning
to his home in Chicago he wrote out the
music and short time sfterward it was
| published and given to the world. This
was in May, 1870, Twenty years ago" A
few weeks before the death of Mr.. Bliss, in
talking with him about his popular songs
he remarked TO me that he hoped that b,
was not TO be remembered in the futur,
only as the author of "Hold the Fort" a
he thought that he had written many song
much better than that one; but befor
many months had rolled away, on a monu
ment at Rome, Penn, erected by some o
his friends, were cut these words, anon
others.