Question: We so enjoy your column. Here's our question for you: Where does the expression "hold the fort" come from? Was it popularized by a Civil War general named Corse? My spouse and I have a bet awaiting your response.
Answer: Tell your spouse to get his wallet out. The origins of this familiar phrase are in fact traceable to messages sent between the Union's most feared general, William Tecumseh Sherman, and Brig. Gen. John M. Corse at the bloody Battle of Allatoona Pass on October 5, 1864. The historical information we found tells a dramatic story of war.
John Murray Corse was born in 1835 in Pittsburgh, Pa. As a young man he studied law and became involved in politics, but the outbreak of the war between the Union and the Confederacy interrupted his political career. He proved an able military officer and was appointed brigadier general of volunteers in August of 1863. He was Sherman's inspector general during the Atlanta campaign and was put in command of a division in July of 1864.
In October 1864, having just captured Atlanta, Sherman prepared for his "March to the Sea." Lt. Gen. John Bell Hood of the Confederacy, Sherman's adversary in the battle for Atlanta, decided to cut off Sherman's supplies and communications coming in by rail. Sherman believed Hood was moving his army to Rome, Ga., and sent Corse there to defend the city.
Hood's plan to attack the railroad pass at Allatoona soon became apparent, however, and Sherman ordered Corse to move his army to defend the pass. Corse's men had established three lines of entrenchments, two on an outer ridge and one at a fort at the top of the mountain overlooking the pass, in time for the arrival of the Confederates. Confederate Gen. Samuel French demanded that Corse surrender "to avoid a needless effusion of blood," to which Corse responded, "We are prepared for the needless effusion of blood whenever it is agreeable to you."
The fighting was extraordinarily fierce. The Confederates forced Corse's division to move from the outer entrenchments up to the fort. Corse himself was shot in the face, and he lay unconscious for a time. Upon regaining consciousness, he sent a message, "I am short a cheekbone and one ear, but am able to whip all hell yet." During the course of the battle, Sherman had signaled his intention to send relief with the message, "Hold the fort, for we are coming." Corse sent Sherman the message, "We hold out. Corse here." In reality, Sherman sent no reinforcements. French, however, was unable to take the fort despite repeated attacks, and, having already suffered the loss of nearly 800 of his men, he withdrew and moved north. Despite his injury and over 700 Union casualties, Corse had repelled the Confederate attack.
A popular hymn, "Hold the Fort" by Philip P. Bliss, was inspired by the battle, and it was this hymn that established "hold the fort" as a common phrase. Today, Allatoona is a site on the Blue and Gray Trail in Georgia.
Question: Recently I saw the old Marx Brothers classic "Duck Soup," and I got to wondering where that phrase ever came from. What can you tell me?
Answer: We do not know as much about "duck soup," used to mean "something easy to do," as we would like to. We do know that it is of American origin; the earliest written use that has come to our attention is dated 1902. The idea of the original metaphor is not known, however. It may have something to do with the phrase "a sitting duck," which has a somewhat similar meaning ("an easy target"). Perhaps the idea of soup was introduced as suggesting something easy to eat because it involves little or no chewing.