Hold the Fort

(P.P.Bliss)



Ho! My comrades, see the signal

Waving in the sky!

Reinforcements now appearing

Victory is nigh!



cho: "Hold the fort, for I am coming!"

Jesus signals still,

Wave the answer back to Heaven

"By Thy grace, we will!"



See the mighty host advancing,

Satan leading on;

Mighty men around us falling

Courage almost gone.



See the glorious banner waving

Hear the bugle blow!

In our Leader's name we'll triumph

Over ev'ry foe.



Fierce and long the battle rages,

But our Help is near;

Onward comes our great Commander

Cheer, my comrades, cheer!



From Singing Soldiers, Glass.

Note (ibid) :In the 1880 edition of this song, the incident upon

which is is based was recorded by Major Whittle. During October,

1864, a strategic position at Altoona Pass was being held by

General Corse of Illinois. The Union Garrison was outnumbered and

surrounded, and the Confederate General French summoned the

Yankees to surrender. When Corse refused, fierce fighting ensued,

and he was forced to the crest of the hill. The situation seemed

hopeless, until a Union officer caught sight of a signal flag

across the valley atop Kenesaw Mountain. The signal was answered,

and soon the message was waved from mountain to mountain: "Hold

the fort, for I am coming W.T. Sherman." Cheers went up and,

under murderous fire, the position was held. Within three hours,

Sherman's advance guard had forced the Confederates to retreat.



@war @Civil @America @hymn

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