The notion of a band of volunteers undertaking a near-suicidal mission to lead an advance or guard a retreat is possibly as old as warfare itself; the story of
Horatius at the bridge, in Roman times, is an early example. In the
New Model Army of the
English Civil War, the "forlorn hopes" could lead a storming attack, be positioned in advance of the
vanguard, or be left behind to protect the
rearguard. Men were assigned to these roles by the drawing of
lots, on the principle that
divine providence would intervene in the selection and also decide the fate of those selected. The
royalist forces also used the tactic. In the German
mercenary armies of the
Landsknecht, these troops were called the , and carried
long double-handed swords, with which they had to hew their way through the massive pike formations opposing them. Alternatively, a small force of could be used as "bait", to draw forward enemy formations and so expose them to the main force of
Landsknecht behind. They also had to withstand the first wave of attacks when defending a
breastwork. Members of the earned double pay, thus giving them the name of
Doppelsöldner ('Double-wagers'). Since there were not enough volunteers for this assignment, criminals who had been sentenced to death were taken into the ranks as well. As a field sign, the carried a red ('Blood Banner'). By extension, the term
forlorn hope became used for any body of troops placed in a hazardous position, e.g., an exposed outpost, or the defenders of an
outwork in advance of the main defensive position. A forlorn hope may have been composed of volunteers and conscripted criminals, and were frequently led by ambitious junior officers with hopes of personal advancement: if the volunteers survived, and performed courageously, they would be expected to benefit in the form of promotions, cash gifts, and added glory to their name (a military tradition at least as old as the Roman Republic). The commanding officer was virtually guaranteed both a promotion and a long-term boost to his career prospects if he survived. In consequence, despite the grave risks involved for all concerned, there was often serious competition for the opportunity to lead such an assault and to display conspicuous valor. The French equivalent of the forlorn hope, called ('The Lost Children'), were all guaranteed promotion should they survive. Both enlisted men and officers joined the dangerous mission as an opportunity to raise themselves in the army. ==See also==