Hold the Fort!

eDevotion

Encouragement for your daily walk with God

During the Civil War, a fierce battle took place in October, 1864, known as the Battle of Allatoona Pass. It was a key supply point for the Union Army, containing some 1,000,000 rations. A division of Confederate soldiers under Major General Samuel G. French, attacked a garrison of Union soldiers under Brigadier General John M. Corse. In the course of the battle, over 1,600 men [706 Union and 897 Confederates] were killed and it seemed only inevitable that the Union soldiers would be forced to surrender.  

A persistent story is told that General William Tecumseh Sherman signaled the post at Allatoona to “hold the fort; I’m coming.” Encouraged by the news, the Union soldiers continued to hold on, and when the Confederates heard of the report, they soon retreated.                                                                  

From this Civil War engagement, a famous hymn was written in 1870 by Philip P. Bliss titled Hold the Fort. The refrain draws from the legendary story of General Sherman’s signal and says:

“Hold the fort, for I am coming,” Jesus signals still;
Wave the answer back to Heaven, “By Thy grace we will.”

There are times when the battles of life seem overwhelming — surrender inevitable. Perhaps you are in a trial or time of discouragement. You feel besieged on every front. HOLD THE FORT! Don’t stop fighting. Keep on keeping on. The Savior is coming with assured victory in hand. 

He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return. And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come. Luke 19:12-13