Allatoona Pass Battlefield visit

[davepi2]

I actually learned this hymn first because it was included in the Reader's Digest collection "Family Songbook of Faith and Joy," one of the enormous catalogue of easy piano music songbooks they published from the 70s through the 90s. You won't find it in any modern hymnals, although you still see P.P.Bliss songs and tunes like "It is well with My Soul" and "Almost Persuaded." (He didn't write the words to "It is Well" but I think it's his best tune. There's a little museum in Rome, PA dedicated to Bliss. It's across from the cemetery with his marker. Most of his belongings were lost in the Great Chicago Fire, but the portable organ he used for composing and revival meetings is in the museum. I got to play it a few years ago, and chose "It is Well" as my choice.)

Thanks for the info. I didn't realize he had wrote the music for It Is Well, I guess that goes with hearing the Spafford story so much. I mentioned we never sang Hold the Fort in churches I grew up in, probably over doctrinal issues. The same issues I would think apply to hymns like It Is Well but it is sang quite often in more traditional Wesleyan/Armenian services. Anyway where I first heard of the song was Winston Groom's book "Shrouds of Glory" about the Atlanta - Nashville campaigns.

 

[7thWisconsin]

I believe Bliss had a conductor's baton that was made from wood from Allatoona that was given to him by a veteran. I don't think Sherman was all that fond of the hymn, and was a little embarrassed that it came from his (mis)quote.

 

[davepi2]

When Phillip P Bliss, the gospel songwriter, heard the story of the battle, he penned a little hymn (dated 1870).

1. Ho, my comrades, see the signal, waving in the sky!
   Reinforcements now appearing, victory is nigh.
   • Refrain:
     "Hold the fort, for I am coming," Jesus signals still;
     Wave the answer back to Heaven, "By Thy grace we will."
2. See the mighty host advancing, Satan leading on;
   Mighty ones around us falling, courage almost gone!
3. See the glorious banner waving! Hear the trumpet blow!
   In our Leader's Name we triumph over every foe.
4. Fierce and long the battle rages, but our help is near;
   Onward comes our great Commander, cheer, my comrades, cheer!

This tune has faded away, and is almost never found in hymnals anymore. When Bliss died, it was one of his most popular, and is mentioned on his monument in Rome PA.

Also, in my family of origin, if you needed someone to keep doing what they´re doing until you could help them, the common call was ¨Hold the fort!¨

I have watched a few videos now of congregational singing of this hymn. It seems that waving the Bible on at the proper moment is a tradition with the song. If so that is pretty darn cool. A shame I never heard it before.