Copyright Historical Art Prints
On the fifth of October, 1864, Confederate forces under Gen. S.G. French assaulted a fortified Union garrison at the strategic post of Allatoona Pass, Georgia. With courage equaled only by the Northern defenders, Cockrell's Missourians poured over the earthworks of Rowett's Redoubt in on the most ferocious hand to hand struggles of the war. The defenders including the 39th Iowa and the 7th Illinois who were armed with Henry repeating rifles, fought practically to the last. Initially successful, the Confederates were ultimately unable to take the main Union expression and song "hold the fort" were gleaned from Sherman's message to beleaguered Union commander, Gen. John. M. Corse.