Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-12-27
1H[ HERO Of ALTOONA.
J.W. Mckenzie, Veteran of Civil
War, Who Played Important
Part at Altoona
INSPIRED A FAMOUS SONG
He 10 Said to Have Furnished the
Theme For tho Famous Song of
.tioid the Fort For I Am Coming
Buried In Hillside Cemetery at
hampton-story Of His Brave Act.
special to Times-Republica,l

special to Times Republica'l
Hampton, Dec. 27.--In a simple
grave in Hillside cemetery, marked by
the plainest marble headst one, lies q
man known 70 his old soldier friends
az 1.-THE hero of Altoona" TO the
world he Is the man whose daring act
at Altoona on Oct. s, 1864. in signalling
that famous message to Sherman, in
spired the writer to the words Of the
famous old song Hold the Fort, For I
Am Coming ]. NJ. Mckenzie. SOL
der. school teacher, lawyer and finally
district Judge, played as heroic a part
In the civil. war perhaps as any man
who served. The following statement
Of facts are kept as a racord Of that
days events.
Altoona Pass, an insignificant sta
tion on the Chattanooga & Atlanta
railroad, Is located at the foot Of the
, mountains from which it derives its
name. A railroad pass has been cut
thru one of the foothills Of the noun
tains and is named after the station,
While General Sherman was investing
Atlanta, he established depot OF
supplies for his army at Altoona Pass
and on the 4th Of October, 1864, there
were about 100000 rations stored
/ there. The pass was guarded by the
Ninety-third Illinois regiment and de-
tachments from the Fourth Minnesota
and Eighteenth Wisconsin regiments
The two forts. one on either side OF
the railroad pass, were guarded by
the Twelfth Wisconsin battery, the
entire force being under the command
OF Lieutenant Colonel Tourtelotte, OF
the Ninety thru Illinois. At this time
Eherman's army was marching toward
the Pass, but was yet eighteen miles
from Altoona at Kenesaw. During the
night OF October 4, the forces at the
Pass were reinforced by the arrival OF
General Corse, with the Seventh llli-
nois ana another detachment OF the
Fourth Minnesota. The enemy was
advancing from the south, destroying
the telegraph lines ard railroads as
they came. The only means OF COM
munication left with General Sherman
was by the signal corps which was In
charge OF Lieutenant Allen. Upon the
arrival OF General Cor.'e he took COM
mand OF the forces at Altoona, num-
bering less than 1000 men all told. BY
/ daylight on the 9Th Of October, the little
harrison was completely invested by
French'c division Of the confederate
army numbering 5000 men. and large
force OF cavalry. AS soon as 1t was
Hight enough to enable, the gunners to
sight their guns, the confederates OPP
+ ened Are upon the forts. The fire was
Immediately answered and brisk can
i nonading was kept ZIP for the next
two hours. During this time Kenesaw
was envsloped in q mist so dense that
4 the signals could not be seen AT half
+ past eight the federals were summon
cd to surrender, upon their refusal the
confederates assaulted the fort with
greater fury, charging thru the town
and up the sides Of the hill near the
union lines.
n About 10 o'clock the mist cleared and
FOR the first time that day the signal
f,ags at KAnasaw could be seen. Sher-
man was calling to the invested forces.
AT first 1t was only necessary to sig
nal a recognition, which was done by
waving the flag above the parapet and
without exposure. Then came from
Kenesaw the famous message. Hold
The fort for I am coming. Where Is
Corse?" Signed, Sherman. When this
message was communicated to Cen
eral Corse, he said to ]. w. McKen-..
re. who was then In charge of the
signal squad: '.Tell Sherman that
am here, and that we can hold the
FORT" TO. send this message to Sher-
man. required that someone should
saount the parapet Of the fort, and in.
plain view OF the enemy, exposed to Al
merciless Are, signal letter by letter,
each word OF the message. Mr.. NC
Kenzie called for volunteers. One of
the men answered Il will go If / am
ordered but will not volunteer. And
then Mckenzie, with noble self-sacri-
1ice. seized the flag, stepped into the
einbrexure, and from there climbed to
the parapet, and with the shot and
bullets failing like leaden hail about
him waved the message back to Sher-
imam.
For bravery on this occasion Nc
9Senzie was mentioned in general order
NO. 46. Nov. 80, 1864, as follows:
For GOODNESS, bravery and good be-
havior under fire, during an attack of
u },
1854.
Mckenzie afterw,lrd studied law and
graduated from the law department of
Michisan university. He practiced in
Hampton for several years until his
election as district judge, July 10, 1873.
The G. A. r. Post at Hampton is
known as the NICK enzie post, being so
designated in honor Of "the hero of
Altoona" as he Is Familiarity spoken of
by his gray haired army comrades
Mckenzie was an early settler in
Franklin county, coming here in 1857
md living here. until his death which
occurred on January Is, 1882.
SIOUX CITY WILL REBUILD.
Plans Made for New Blocks in Burned
Di8triot.