The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1890-05-22
THE FORLORN HOPE.
An Appeal for The Promised Medals.
HEADQUARTERS or roHT IiunsoN IAN
IonLoHS iiOPE STOHRIEo 'oLuMN.
IAmUEflGEFppT Ma Aataf ft9u /

IonLoHS ioPE SrOHatSo 'oLUMN. )
LAHBEfnGKroHT Mas. April. 1890
DIAN SIR: We would respectfully but earnestly
urge upon your attention the request Of tl.s sur.
yivors Of the Port Hudson (Louisslnn) Forlorn
Hope. June I5 1853;
HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT or TIE GUfp1
HIETTETsr1r ARMY CoHrs
" General Order No 40
The Commanding General conerniuintca the
troops before Port Hudson upon The steady adj.
vance made upon the cncpiy's works and is conf.
dent of an immediate aud triumphant issue Of the
contest We at oil points upon the tIresliltold
Of his fortiications. One more advance aud they
are ours.
For tho last duty that victory impose. The Com
innuding General summons the bold men of the
Corp~ 10 the organization Of storniing column of
"A thousand men To vindicate the flag of the Union
aud thc memory of its defenders who hnye itIlrp
Let them cone forwardi
Officers who lead the Column of Victory I'm this
last assault may be assured Of Just recognition Of
their services by promotion and every nfiIcrr AMI
soldier who shnfcs its pers and It's giorica shall
receive medal III to commemorate tlte first grand
snecs.. Of the eanpaign Of 1859 for the freedom Of
cTal Orders on the Roll Of Honor
Division Commanders will at once report the
names Of iie officers and men who may volunteer
Tor this service, ia order that the organization of
iIo Column uay be completed without lelay
"Ey command of MAI.-ttEg Banks
RICHARD IL. IHwIs. Asst AdpL-Gen"
In n lark hour during the siege Of Port Hud.nn
th"~e mc took their lives ia their hands aud uined
thiH si0rming column. II circumstances Ind re.
CURED that the assault should be made 1t would
have resulted Ia almost the entire loss Of the ns
hanltiug column. because the Notifications were
seven miles la extent, with u broad ditch in front
With six feet Of wafer, and behind these works
where the column was expected To make the attack
were cheyHuN -dc frisc. with its uoiuted s,tcks
threatening the traur non Of the wounded snldIrrs
who fell upon them. These works were def.ntl,d
by gallant force If Con fedeTate soldiers who mn
donl,tedy would have done their duty II occasion
required.
The petition for these Medals Of Honor has boe,
presented a tie present session of Congress i'm the
Scuuic by Hon. Eugene Hale, of Maine and in tbe
House Of Representatives by Hon Henry Cabot
Lodge, Of Massachusetts. IL has passed the Senate
aud lsas been referred by the House Of Icpresents
lives 10 the Military Committee
The call for volunteers for this ForIorn Hon.
was made by hhI-ticn. N. l.. Banks who was
acting the agent Of the Government (which was
bound by his nctiou) aud in command Of th,. tra,s
al HAT stronghold.
IL printed order. and no similar ono ,vns
ever issued during the whr, Isgl-ls85 Therefnra
there will be no precedent established by (,ongrcss
ia granting the Medals oi Honor 10 the s1rVivnrs
and ia OF their decense To the widow or oldest
heir.
Honor by amy similar organization, as none suci,
exist.
la asking for these medals IL must be horne T.,
mind That IL is only Justice to the soldier IL IL no
bounty, no pension, but simply the request that n
promise made by the commanding officer Of tbe
Department shall be fulfilled.
We performed our part Of the contract and we
only desire that the Government shaIi n, d. 80.
by granting these Medals of Honor.
printed official roll of the volunteers furnished
ns 10y Gen, Henry w, Birge. Of Connecticut (now
deeehsedl who was appointed to command tbe
column IL GA file at the office of the hendo,,ar,.'rs
Of the FoFlorn Hope, Cambridgeport Mas,
In behalf nf tiie survivors of the ForIorn Home
DAVID T.. MUzzEY, President. Ofiice Oyerseers of
the Poor, Ca'nbridgepot, Mass.
FRANZ N. SCOTT, Secretary, 10 Warren place
IOxbury Mass, ~