The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-04-28

IN ran In 1850 Tor lieutenant governor OF
Iowa on the Stephen A. Douglas ticket;
but after the firing on Fort Sumter he &C
cepted an appointments as major OF the
Sixth Iowa infantry, and took part in the
Fremont campaign In southwest Missouri.
He was then detached and appointed judge
advocate and inspector general on General
Pope's STAFF and served with that general
through the New Madrid and Island No.
10 campaigns He was next at Shiloh.
He was now promoted to a colonelcy,
and was present with his regiment through
the siege Of Vicksburg and also at the
siege of jackson, and for gallant and meri-
torious services at jackson he
Was Made Brigadier General
and given the command Of the fourth divis-
ion of tho Fifteenth Army corps. Corse
was one Of the youngest brigadier generals
in the service, but also one Of the most
trusted He took his command to Mem
phis and over to Missionary Ridge. He
led the assaulting army Of General Sher-
man, and had a leg broken by shell and
was carried OF the field. After three
months absence he returned and was given
position on General Sherman's staff as
inspector general.
General Corse is most widely known as
che hero Of Altoona. On the day that
Mcpherson was killed in front Of Atlanta,
July q, 1884, General Logan requested the
appointment Of General Corse to the CON-
mand Of a division, and he was assigned
TO the command of the second division of
the Sixteenth Army corps. It was while
Corso commanded this division that Hood
moved around In the rear Of Sherman's
army and attacked the supplies at Altoona.
Corse was detailed with 1900 men to look
after these supplies, and on arriving on
che soene he found himself face to face
with determined and desperate enemy,
outnumberihg his forces four to one. The
opposing columns met at Altoona Pass,
and
A Terrible Battle Was Fought
Eight hundred of the 1900 men under
General Corse were shot down, but the
survivors held their ground and never
showed their backs to the enemy, although
Immensely outnumbered. General Corse
sent to Sherman for assistance, and o
message came back saying that re-enforce-
ments were on the way, and asking IL he
could hold the fort until they arrived, late
In the afternoon.
It was then that General Corse wrote the
famous dispatch which so pleased Sherman
that II may be found printed in his story
of the "March to the Sea-" II have lost
cheek bone and an ear, but can lick h-ll
yet," was the way the dispatch read. 1t
was this stirring incident Of the war, it Is
said, that suggested the Moody and Sankey
hymn, "Hold the Fort" The bravery and
gallantry of General Corse in this engage
ment won for him promotion to the rank
Of major general.
General Corse was with Sherman on the
march to the sea. and subsequently
through the Carolinas, and was engaged
in all the affairs from Atlanta TO Benton
vile, N. G. At the close of the war he
was assigned to the command of the de-
partment Of the northwest, comprising
Minnesota, Wisconsin, Montana and Da-
kota, and
Conducted an Indian Campaign
TO q successful issue. In 1868 he was ap-
pointed lieutenant colonel of the Twenty
peventh United States infantry, but de-
slined TO accept the position and was mus
tered out. -
He removed TO Chicago, where be be-
came interested In railroad enterprises. In
1861 he was appointed by President John
SON collector Of internal revenue. In 1869,
at the close OF his term, he went 10 Europe,
where he remained for four or Eve years
His first wife, to whom he was greatly at
tached, died in 1872. and In 1882 be re-
married, his second wife being Miss Nc
Neil, n neice OF xPrcsident Pierce.
He was in Europe for a long time and
returned TO Winchester in the spring Of
1884 He took an active part In the presi-
Dental campaign. and after the with.
drawal OF the Butler leaders from the
state committee. was made chairman Of
the executive committee. lIe was ap-
pointed postmaster Of Boston by President
Cleveland, Oct ~. 1885. and held IL until
be was succpsi" - i,,a' master Hart.