The Russellville Democrat., 1891-08-13
HOLD IRE foar.s
Tho War Tn idcnt That suegested tl,s
 Popular Hymn to P. F. Bliss


 Tho War rn isicnt That Suggested tl,s
 Popular Hymn to P. r. RiIss.
 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 Att lanta and stripping his army Tor lis fa- nous march to the sea-, Hoods army was suddenly thrown on Altoona pass, which was defended by fort com manded by General Corse. The posi- tion was nearly fifty miles from the headquarters of sherman and it's vital importance was known in both armies and to it's 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 sunnit was q sig nal stattss5a,l ..-.ss ,iiter General Corse had srnt message informing Sherman of the attack and his purpose of making desperate defense, he addressed him self to the work at hand with vigor which will always be the theme of song and story.
 tThe 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 a small redoubt. but were driven back at every assault. About 10 o'clock at night, as one who was there we'll remembers, the signal station flag gave message which was not clearly distinguished because of the heavy smoke which hung over our lines, but in few mo- ments the assault slackened a 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 CTS. and was read in every battery, and it was received everywhere with great cheers.
 1t 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 10 the white flag. with it's crim- son square standing out boldly in relief against the clear sky. and it always said, Hold the fort; we are coming.
 1t 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. General Corse got a 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 war Major D. w. Whittle made use of this incident in an address delivered before q Sunday school convention in Illinois. Bliss was leading the singing. The re- lation of the story and the manner in which it was 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 wrote out the music, and short time afterward it was pub lished and given to the world. This was in May, 1870. A few weeks before the death of Mir. Bliss, in talking with him about his popular songs he re- marked to me that he hoped that be was not to be remembered in the future only as the author of Hold the Fort" as he thought that he had written many songs much better than that one. Ira D. Sankey in Christian Union