The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1891-08-13
HOLD THE FORT"
Ehe War Incident That Suggested the
Popular Hymn to p. p. Bliss.


Popular Hymn to p. p. Bliss.
Your letter of inquiry as to the origin
of the hymn Hold the Fort" was duly
received. The following newspaper
clipping contains the facts in regard to
the matter so far as have been able
to ascertain them:
when Sherman was holding At
lanta and stripping his army for his fa-
nous march to the sea, Hoods army
was suddenly thrown on Altoona pass,
which was defended by a fort com
manded by General Corse. The posi-
ton was nearly fifty miles from the
headquarters of Sherman, and its vital
importance was known in both armies
and to its gallant commander.
when the enemy General John
ston) approached, General Corse made
up his mind that the position must be
held at all costs and he told the men
that there would be no retreat nor sur
render. Kenesaw mountain overlooked
the pass, and on the summit was a sig
nal station, and after General Corse had
sent message informing Sherman OF
the attack and his purpose of making
q desperate defense, he addressed him
self to the work at hand with vigor
which will always be the theme of song
and story
1.-The attack began early in the
morning, and the heavy masses of the
Confederate troops were pushed with
great determination close up to the
works, and at one time entered small
redoubt, but were driven back at every
assault About 10 o'clock at night, as
one who was there well remembers,
the signal station flag gave a message
which was not clearly distinguished
because of the heavy smoke which
hung over oar lines, but in few mo-
ments the assault slackened little,
and as the smoke blew away the mes
sage was read, Hold the fort; we
are coming The message was re-
peated to all the regimental command
ers, and was read in every battery, and
1t was received everywhere with great
cheers
lit was the only message received
that day, but Sherman ordered it re-
peated from time to time during the
day, and whenever the immediate duty
would permit or the smoke would al
low the flag to be seen, every eye was
turned to the white flag, with its Grim.
son square standing out boldly in relief
against the clear sky, and it always
said, Hold the fort; we are coming
cit was from this event that the bur
den of Sankey's religious song was
taken, which has been sung in all
great religious meetings wherever the
English language is spoken. Genera
Corse got q severe wound, and the
losses in his command were heavy, but
In the afternoon the assault.was dis
continued"
Five years after the close of the wal
Major d. w. White made use of thi.
incident in an address delivered before
a Sunday school convention in Illinois
Bliss was leading the singing The re
lation of the story and the manner il
which it was used by the speaker made
deep impression upon Mr.. Bliss, whC
at once composed the words of thu
famous song, and on returning to hi
home in Chicago wrote out the music
and q short time afterward it was pub
lished and given to the world. Thi
was in May, 1870. A few weeks befor
the death Of Mr.. Bliss, in talking will
him about his popular songs, he re
marked to me that he hoped that h,
was not to be remembered in the futpr