John M. Corse
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John Murray Corse (April 27, 1835 – April 27, 1893) was an American politician and soldier who served as a general in the Union Army in the American Civil War (1861-65).
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[edit] Early life and career
John M. Corse was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, but moved with his family at the age of seven to Burlington in the Iowa Territory. His father. John Lockwood Corse, served six terms of the mayor of that town and established a prosperous book and stationery business. Young Corse became a partner in the family business.
He was appointed to the United States Military Academy and studied there for two years. Leaving West Point in 1855, Corse chose not to stay in the military, but instead attended a law school in Albany, New York, and passed his bar exam. He later returned to Iowa and was nominated for as the new state's lieutenant governor by the local Democratic Party. In 1860, he unsuccessfully ran for secretary of state.
[edit] Civil War
Corse joined the 6th Iowa Infantry as its Major (United States) in 1861 and initially served under Maj. Gen. John C. Fremont. He then served on the staff of Maj. Gen. John Pope early the following year during the Battle of Island Number Ten and associated engagements. He returned to field duty with his regiment and fought in the Siege of Corinth, being promoted to lieutenant colonel. He was promoted to brigadier general of volunteers on August 11, 1863, in recognition of his service at the siege of Vicksburg. Assigned command of the 4th Brigade/4th Division/XV Corps in the Federal Army of the Tennessee, Corse participated in the Chattanooga Campaign. After recuperating from an injury suffered at Missionary Ridge, Corse returned to active duty as the inspector general on Maj. Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman's staff. In July 1864, he returned to field duty in command of a division in XVI Corps.
General Corse is perhaps best renowned for his role in the Battle of Allatoona in October 1864. On Sherman's orders, Corse went with 2,100 men to secure Allatoona Pass to prevent Confederate Gen. John Bell Hood in his attempt to sever Union communications. The small band of Union soldiers fought determinedly against the 7,000 troops under Hood's command. During the bloody battle, Corse "lost one third of his men and one third of his ear" but secured the pass on October 5, on which date he was brevetted a major general. In the midst of the fighting, General Corse received the famous message from General Sherman, "Hold the Fort, for I am coming!" Corse was badly wounded during the stubborn defense, losing a cheekbone and one ear, but recovered to resume his front-line combat duties.
Corse later participated in Sherman's March to the Sea and took part in the Siege of Savannah. In the final months of the Civil War, he led his division during the Carolinas Campaign. He was later brevetted as a major general dating from March 1865.
[edit] Postbellum career
Following the Civil War, Corse served in a variety of posts. He refused the offer of a commission as a lieutenant colonel in the Regular Army and instead mustered out of the volunteer army in April 1866. He soon returned to Iowa, where he built railroads and bridges. With the political patronage system of the period, he was named the regional Collector of Internal Revenue, with his office in Chicago. Corse later moved to Massachusetts and was chairman of the state's Democratic committee. He was then appointed Postmaster of Boston. He was married to the grand-niece of former U.S. President Franklin Pierce.
Corse died on his 58th birthday in Winchester, Massachusetts. His body was transported to Burlington, Iowa, and interred in Aspen Grove Cemetery.
A bronze equestrian statue of General Corse stands in Crapo Park in Burlington.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- Iowa State Historical Society. "The Annals of Iowa." (1964), Series 3, volume 2. pp 105-145 (1897). (Available on-line at Library of Congress)
- Salter, William, Major-General John M. Corse, Des Moines, Iowa: 1895.
- Warner, Ezra J., Generals in Blue: Lives of the Union Commanders, Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press, 1964, ISBN 0-8071-0822-7.
