How interesting. I collect songs about the various Irish Brigades.

When I first saw the title, I though this might be a song about The Donnor Party because one of the teams they sent off from the main group to try and cross over the Pass to get help from Sutter's Mill was called "The Forlorn Hope" most likely after this song. Eventually, The fForlorn Hope did make it over the mountain for help but not before they themselves had to succomb to cannibalism in order to continue. The entire story is best told in the book ORDEAL BY HUNGER which was written while some of the survivors still lived. Recent editions are available for those who are interested. It does not dwell excessively on the macabre aspects of the story but rather the entire saga of the Donnor Party.