Omaha daily bee., 1895-12-07
Spelling A ROMANCE.
The True story of .Hold the Fort"
Told by nm Army officer.

Nearly every person has read the story of
how the well known song Hold the Fort
for / Am Coming" came to be written and
upon what incidents it was founded. But
now comes a person who is in a position to
know the facts, writes correspondent of the
Globe Democrat and he says that these
stories are all fakes pure and simple. The
story has been published, and it even ap-
pears in some Of the song books as foot
note that the substance of the language
contained in this famous song was used in
signal communication between Generals Corse
and Sherman during the battle of Allatoona
Pass. There is no doubt but 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 j. w. Mckenzie who resided
for number of years at Hampton, Ia,
were members of the signal corps attached
former who waved the famous signals to
General Sherman. These brothers died
number of years ago from consumption and
after their death 1t was extensively published
that j. w. Mckenzie, who was judge Of the
district court at the time of his death, was
in command of the signal station, and that
during the thickest of the fight was called
upon to detail a person to signal General
Sherman on Kenesaw mountain, a number
of miles distant. 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
uron an exposed portion of the fort and sig
nailed Sherman, from whom he received the
answer: Hold the fort for 1 am coming"
This version of the part the signal corps
and the Mckenzie brothers played in the
battle has passed into story and song. and
Is almost as familiar to the people as Bar
bara Frietchie" or "Sheridan's Ride"
But now comes Captain John @. Adams of
the United States army, who is conducting
recruiting station at Des Moines, and says
there is absolutely nothing to these stories.
Louis, and meeting friend Of the Mckenzie
brothers. related the part the signal
corps took in the battle of Allatoona
Pass. Captain Adams has been stationed in
the west for number of years, and had not
until recently seen the statement that the
McKenZies had been personally connected
with the fiction Of the battle. He says that
they were members OF the signal corps, were
bright, intelligent young men, brave, as
daring as any who were in the service. Cap
tain Adams was in command of the signal
corps under General Corse. He relates that
on the day before the attack, the corps, con-
sisting Of fourteen persons, was stationed on
an eminenCe just outside of the Notifications
They observed the enemy making movements
which indicated that. an attack was likely
to be made, ana they so informed the sta
tion on Kenesaw mountain. He says that
during the day the members Of the signal
with each other much after the fashion that
operators do when the lines are not in use |
None OF these signals were made by order
of General Corse or any other officer. The
night before the attack was made the signal
corps went inside the works. The attack |
was made before daybreak, consequently |
there could have been no commulication with |
Sherman's army prior to the first assault |
Captain Adams says that the first three as
saults followed each other closely, and were |
OF such terrific nature that no person would |
have thought of attempting to signal any per- |
son beyond the walls of the fort: More than !
that, the sn2lSe gathered about In such guam !
titles that signals could not have been seen, |
even il displayed. When the battle began !
Captain Adams dismissed twelve of his men |
in order that they might serve with the SOL |
diers, retaining with him the two McKenzies. |
ANY one" says Captain Adams, who |
knows anything about the signal service or |
the conditions that exist during such a |
vigorous assault as was made upon General |
Corse's army at Allatoona would know that |
there would be no opportunity to transmit |
any communications, much less would there
be any language used as was given In the |
song and stories related OF this battle. The
trees and eminences about the fort were
filed with sharpshOoters, and the exposure
of person meant instant death" After the
third assault the enemy retired consider
able distance and Captain Adams directed |
one Of the McKenzies to signal Kenesaw
mountain tnat they stlll Neld the tort. This
was the only message sent upon which the |
song and the language could have been based.
During the battle General Corse received
wound in the face which tore away piece
Of his jaw and part OF an ear. The next
day the signal station was removed TO its old |
position outside of the fort and was again in
with Kenesaw mountain. II
was then that Sherman communicated per-
eonally with General Corse. He asked to
know how badly the general was wounded,
and also desired to know the particulars Of |
the battle. General Corse, with his head |
came out in person to the signal |
station. and, sitting down at q table, wrote |
his famous report. which contained the words:
II have lost part of my jawbone and an
ear. but can whip all hell yet" This was fol-
lowed by a detailed report Of the battle. |
which was transmitted by signal 20 General |
Sherman.
II do not expect" says Captain Adams, ito |
stop the circulation of the ridiculous story |
with the song, but | am sorry 10 |
see history filed with such Inaccuracies. II |
also does great injustice to Judge Mckenzie. /
or course. II the story had been published |
prior to his death. he would have promptly |
It,"
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