144 CORCORAN. CORSE. New York City, and the Boston Univer- sity law school. He began the practice of law in Clinton, June, 1875, and later on formed a co-part- nership with Herbert Parker. He was also a member of the law firm of Corcoran & Walsh from 1882 until the death of Mr. Walsh, in August, 1S87. He is still in practice in Clinton, and associated with Mr. Parker. Mr. Corcoran was married in Boston April 28, i88i,to Margaret J., daughter of Patrick and Mary McDonald. Of this union are two daughters and one son : Mary Certrude, Alice, and John Corco- ran. JOHN W. CORCORAN. Mr. Corcoran was a member of the school committee of Clinton for thirteen years, and is now its chairman. He has been a member of the board of water com- missioners since its organization, 1881. He has been town solicitor of Clinton since the creation of the office, in 1883. He was delegate to the national Democratic con- ventions in 1884 and in 1888, and in the latter year acted as chairman of the dele- gation, and has been a member of the Democratic state committee since 1883, which position he still holds, being vice- chairman of that body. He was president of the Clinton board of trade i886-'S7. Mr. Corcoran was candidate for senator in 1880, for district-attorney of Worcester county 1883 and '84, for attorney-general of Massachusetts in i886-'S7,and for lieu- tenant-governor in i888-'S9 — all on the Democratic ticket. He was appointed receiver of the Lancaster National Bank of Clinton, January 20, 1886, by the comptrol- ler of the currency of the United States, and still holds that position. CORSE, JOHN MURRAY, son of John L. and Sarah (Murray) Corse, was born in Pittsburg, Allegheny county, Pa., April 27, 1835. His ancestors, of Huguenot lineage, came to Virginia about a hundred years be- fore his birth. He was educated in the public schools of St. Louis, Mo., and Burlington, la., and entered West Point in 1S53. On graduating, he resigned, and took a course in the Albany law school. In 1861 he was appointed major of the 6th Iowa infantry. He afterwards joined the staff of General John Pope, with the rank of judge-advocate-general, and later that of inspector-general. In this capacity he went through the New Madrid anil Island No. 10 campaigns, and the battle of Shiloh. Having been promoted to lieu- tenant-colonel of the 6th Iowa infantry, he joined Sherman, with his regiment, and participated in the sieges of Corinth and Memphis, and the Mississippi campaign. for gallantry in the assault on Jackson, as colonel of his regiment, he was com- missioned brigadier-general. His next promotion was to the command of the 4th division, 15th army corps, which body he took to Chattanooga, via Memphis. While leading an assaulting column of Sherman's men at Mission Ridge, he had his leg broken by a shell, and was carried from the field. After recovery from his wound, he joined General Sherman, became a member of his staff, and with him marched "from Atlanta to the sea." For his notable bravery at Allatoona Pass, General Corse was made major-gen- eral, a promotion well merited and nobly earned. With comparatively a handful of men within the works, he repelled for hours the fiercest assaults of overwhelming num- bers, and sustained one of the hottest, most deadly artillery fires experienced dur- ing the war. Expecting relief, he doggedly- refused to surrender. Wounded, worn down by fatigue, and in the centre of that murderous fire, he eagerly watched for the signal " Hold the Fort " 'from the tardily approaching relief column that came at last, and with it the inspiration that has since been caught up in song by millions
