The National tribune., 1907-07-25
:. - SINaI -. ~
HOLD THE FORT.
Origin of the Popular Hymn.

Hold the Fort, for Am Coming, -
did not have a pious setting.
Il am short a cheek boz and one
ear. but am able to whip all He'll yet
was the Signal Service message sent by
Gen. Corse. in response to which Gen.
Sherman signalled: Hold fast for /
am coming
These messages were exchanged on
the afternoon of Oct 4, 1854, during
the terrible battle at Allatooi,a Pass, a
critical period in the war of the rebel
lion
Robert ]. Walker, of Osceola Mills,
who is still living, and who served thru
the war in the Signal Service. received
Gen. Corse's message and handed it to
Gen. Sherman, who smiled and said: Il
knew Corse would hold Allatt ona."
A. ID. Frankenberry, a veteran, of
Fayette County, was the man who sig
nailed the beleaguered garrison at AL
latoona Pass to hold on until Gen. Sher-
man arrived. He recently presented
the flag to Gen. Stewart at Harrisburg
where it is now on exhibition.
The Signal Service was invaluable to
the army.
Comrade Walker has presented the
press with the run of kilograms used
at the battle of Allatoona Pass, which
will illustrate the nature and value of
the service. IheSe are now published
for the first time.
Comrade Walker says, referring to
the opening of the battle of Allatoona
Pass:
AT this time it happened that the
two officers in charge of the station at
Allatoona, Lieuts. w. w. Allen and l.
c. Worley, We're away, the former at
tending TO business at Chattanooga,
and the latter on a 80 days leave of
absence. Lieut.. j. Q. Adams was tenn
porarily in charge of the station. AL
lens fiagmen were ]. w. Mckenzie, +.
Ginity. B. F. Bretz, and L. H. Fulton.
Worley's men were A. ID. Perry, Enoch
Canell, ]. c. Fuller. ]. c. Bartlett, Chas.-
Gardner and w. F. Fay. The officers
on kenesaw were Lieut.: c. II. Fish.
with Lieut.. ]. H. Connolly, of the Army
of the Cumberland. These officers were
Joined. Oct. 6, by Lieut.. T. B. Kelly, as
the amount of work required was great
er than two men could perform.
'On the Sd the officers on Kenesaw
reported to the General in command
the movements of the enemy on the
railroad between Kenesaw and Big
Shanty. Kenesaw was the key-station
with and thru which all others COM
municated. AS early as Oct. l Lieut..
Fish had noticed campfres in the vi
cinity of Lost Mountain, and on the Sd
he discovered a large camp there. On
the afternoon of that day he saw a
column of the enemy's cavalry on the
railroad and at once reported this fact
to Gen. Macarthur at Marietta. That
officer was not at first convinced of the
identity of the force discovered, but af-
ter a visit to the station his doubts
were removed.
During the battle Gen. Sherman re-
mained in the station on Kenesaw. In
addition to the lines working to Ala
toona, Atlanta and Marietta, there was
established on the day of battle direct
communication with the headquarters
of Gems. Sherman, Howard, Stanley. |
and Cox, and also with Winnings Hill. |
The signalling at Allatoona was done
by Private ]. w. Mckenzie, of Lieut. |
Aliens detachment, and Frank A |
West, of the Army of the Cumberland, |
The latter was returning to Atlanta |
from a visit to Gainesville, and was
detained at Allatoona by the investment |
of that place. Both of these men were |
complimented for GOODNESS and good |
behavior under fire and were recon-
mended for promotion.
There has been much discussion as |
TO whether Lieut.. Shirfy was on Kene- |
saw or not during the battle of ALA |
toona Pass. The Lieutenant's report |
for the period covering the time of the