Military officer; born in
Pittsburg, Pa., April 27, 1835; graduated at the United States Military Academy in 1857; then studied law; and enlisted in the
Union army at the beginning of the
Civil War. In 1864 with about 1,000 troops he was ordered to
Allatoona, Ga., where were stored large commissary supplies.
The place was soon attacked by about 4,000 Confederates, but
Corse refused to surrender, and bravely repulsed every onslaught of the enemy till reinforcements arrived from
Sherman.
Sherman had signalled
Corse, “Hold the fort, for I am coming,” and this phrase was afterwards made the subject of an inspiring hymn by
Ira D. Sankey.
For this heroic defence
Corse was brevetted a brigadier-general.
He died in
Winchester, Mass., April 27, 1893.