The Lost Regiment
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The Lost Regiment is a series of science fiction novels written by William R. Forstchen.
The series is based around a Union Army regiment from the American Civil War which is transported to an alien world by unknown means. There are other humans on this world, transported from different eras, but the world is ruled by a tyrannical race of aliens known as the Horde. There are several different Hordes throughout this planet - initially, Keane and his men encounter the Tugars, but in later books the Merki, Bantag, and others are mentioned or introduced into the plot. The men of the regiment attempt to use their relatively advanced technology to defeat the aliens and modernize the human societies.
The Tugars are a clan of an alien race, also known as the Horde. In the world of Valennia, they inhabit the north-most realm. A once highly sophisticated and technical race, they harnessed "Tunnels of Light" to bring them across the universe to distant worlds. They are based upon the Mongol horde.
The series originally was intended to consist of eight books. Due to its popularity, at least one additional book has been written.
Titles (and year published)
- Rally Cry (1990)
- Union Forever (1991)
- Terrible Swift Sword (1992)
- Fateful Lightning (1992)
- Battle Hymn (1997)
- Never Sound Retreat (1998)
- A Band of Brothers (1999)
- Men of War (1999)
- Down to the Sea (2000)
[edit] 35th Maine
The 35th Maine is a fictional volunteer regiment during the American Civil War in William Forstchen's The Lost Regiment series. (The regiment is based on Joshua Chamberlain's 20th Maine.)
Before the series Andrew Lawrence Keane is a lieutenant who assumed command when a superior officer was KIA at Antietam. Keane's leadership under the guide of his sergeant, Hans Schuder, made them ripe for promotion as they progressed through Fredericksburg, Cold Harbor and Gettysburg.
At the start of the series, Keane has been promoted to colonel after losing his arm at Gettysburg. Hans Schuder was recently promoted to sergeant major. On the world of Valennia, the 35th becomes essentially a vassal force to Boyar Ivor. When Ivor is overthrown it becomes the core of the Tugar resistance, with Keane filling as a military dictator. As time goes on, the men of the 35th are rapidly promoted to fill the officer corps of the Rus Army and train the Rus forces. When all hope seemed lost when the Rus broke rank in the Tugar War, the 35th reformed and made a desperate last defense.
After the Tugar War, the 35th becomes the most respected regiment which the Army of Rus is centered on. Analogous to the Big Red One, the 35th is the best that Rus has to offer. Even some men from the original 35th remain in the regiment, when they could otherwise be high ranking officers.
Men from the original 35th include (in progress):
- Andrew Keane (Colonel)
- Hans Schuder (Sergeant Major)
- Barry (Sergeant)
- Tim Kindred
- Jack Petracci
- Chuck Ferguson
- Gates
- Vincent Hawthorne
- Jim Hinsen
- John Mina
- Emil Weiss (regimental surgeon)
