Corse Statute Crapo Park

A bronze statue was erected for the 1896 sesquicentennial, in Crapo Park, to honor a Burlington civil war hero, Gen. John Corse. His distinguished war record included command of the 6th Iowa infantry and the second division of the 16th Corps. He participated in the battle of Shiloh and Corinth in the Tennessee and Atlanta campaigns. After the fall of Atlanta in 1864, he was ordered to defend a supply depot at Allatoona Pass, Georgia. When Gen. Sherman heard Corse was there he replied: “Hold the fort for I am coming”. Corse was wounded during the battle but his success became the subject of a general order from Gen. Sherman which emphasize the necessity to defend fortified posts “to the last”. The phrase “Hold the Fort” inspired a hymn and was placed on the base of his statue, which was the 1st equestrian statue erected in Iowa.