Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-12-16
SPOILED A ROMANCE.
New Version of the Story of The ORR
gin of "HOld the Fsrt.''

From the Boston Traveller
Nearly every person has read the story of
how the well-known song, Hold the Fort,
for I am Coming" came to be written, and
upon what incidents it was founded. But
now comes a. person who is in position to
know the facts and who says these stories
are all fakes, pure and simple The story
has been published, and it even appears in
some of the song books footnote, that
the substance of the language contained in
this famous song was used in signal COM
munications between Gems. Corse and Sher-
man during the battle of AIlatoona Pass
There is no doubt but that the song was
inspired by the accounts of that battle as
published, but the denial that is now made
ContradictS these circumstances and proves
conclusively that they never could have
taken place. According to these stories
Charles and ]. w. Mckenzie, who resided
for a number of years at Hampton. Ia, We're
members of the signal corps attached to
Gen. Corse's army, and it was the former
who raised the famous signals to Gen. Sher-
man. These brothers died a number of
years ago from consumption. and after their
death it was extensively published that j.
w. Mckenzie, who was judge of the district
court at the time of his DEATH was in COM
mand of the signal station, and that during
the thickeSt of the fight he was called upon
to detail person to signal Gen. Sherman on
keneSaw mountain, number of miles dis
tant Fearing that he would be considered
partial, he detailed his own brother for this
dangerous task. The legend of the battle
is that Mr.. Mckenzie stepped upon an ex-
posed portion of the fort and Sgnaled Sher-
man. from whom he received the answer,
Hold the fort, for am coming" This YER
sion of the part the signal corps and the
Mckenzie brothers played in the battle has
passed into history and song, and is almost
as familiar to the people as Barbara FRET
chic or ''Sheridan's Ride
But now comes Cant. John Q. Adams of
States N q
recruiting station at Des Moines, and says
there is absolutely nothing to these stories
He was at the Loyal Legion meeting, Cedar
Rapids, Ia, and meeting a friend of the
Mckenzie brothers, related the part the sig
nal corps took in the battle of Allatoona
Pass. Capt. Adams wasrin command of the
signal corp under Gen. Corse, He relates that
on the day before the attack the corps, con-
slstng. of fourteen persons, was stationed on
an eminence just outside of the fortifica-
lions. They observed the enemy making
movements which indicated that an attack
was likely to be made, and they SO informed
the station on keneSaw mountain. He SAYS
that during the day the members of the two
stations communicated with each other much
after the fashion that opera tors do when the
lines are not in use None of those signals
We're made by order of Gen. Corse or any
other officer The night before the attack
was made the signal corps went inside the
works. The attack was made before day
break, consequently there could have been
prior to the first assault. Capt. Adams SAYS
the first three assaults followed each other
closely, and were of such a terrific nature
that no person would have thought of at
tempting to signal any person beyond the
walls of the fort. More than that the smoke
gathered about in such quantities that sig
nails could not have been seen, even if dis
played. When the battle began Capt Adams
dismissed twelve of his men, In order that
they might serve with the soldiers retaining
with him the two McKenzies.