Forlorn Hope

[KianGaf]

“The Forlorn Hope” - Emerging Civil War

by Andrew Miller As Memorial Day weekend approaches, I cannot help but reflect about the great sacrifices our men and women have made for our great country. Like many of the followers of Emerging Civil War, the great contest for our nation’s survival is always on my mind. This particular holiday...

emergingcivilwar.com

It's a term I've heard used about attacking forts for example in the Napoleonic era but wasn't aware it was used in the ACW era.

 

[KHyatt]

I don't know how many assaults were so named during the ACW, but my first post on CWT was about my ancestor, a survivor of the Forlorn Hope of May 22, 1863 at Vicksburg: https://civilwartalk.com/threads/forlorn-hope-vicksburg-may-22-1863.153960/.

I recall at least one other use of the term for another volunteer storming party during the war, but I don't recall where or when. Also look up Forlorn Hope in Wikipedia for a history of the term. I would be curious to know the last time it may have been used in any military engagement in the world. Maybe WWI? Anyone know?

 

[John Hartwell]

In December, 1895, the Senate Military Affairs Committee approved the following legislation:

The bill was never acted upon.
At each Congress from 1884 on, legislation was proposed to get the Port Hudson forlorn hope survivors their promised medals. The above was the first time it got out of committee. As late as 1911, there was a bill to prepare "a suitable bronze medal" for the purpose. It never passed.

Attached below is the story of the forlorn hope from the National Tribune, Feb. 27, 1896.
See also the 1907 report of the Military Affairs Committee, "The Port Hudson Forlorn Hope Storming Party."

 

[lupaglupa]

I've only ever seen the term "Forlorn Hope" used with British troops - interesting that it crossed the pond. Seems like it fell out of use though, as I've not seen it in accounts of more modern wars

 

[KHyatt]

It's merely coincidental of course, but the bastardized English expression "forlorn hope" has always made more sense to me than the original Dutch "verloren hoop" or "lost troop."

 

[63rd Indiana]

The "Forlorn Hope" I'm familiar with is the group of Donner Party men and women who attempted to navigate Truckee mountain pass to find help in that brutal winter of 1846-47.