Forno, who was in the Louisiana militia, served as a United States Volunteers officer from 1846 to 1847 during the Mexican-American War.
[1] During the American Civil War, Forno served as Colonel of the 5th Louisiana Infantry Regiment during the latter phase of the Northern Virginia Campaign.
He fought at the Second Battle of Bull Run during which he was wounded after assuming temporary command of a brigade.
[1] After Bull Run, Forno was posted in Georgia where by late November 1864, he was placed in charge of moving prisoners of war from Savannah to Blackshear.
It was believed victims of the disease were buried in mass graves in the ditch surrounding the prison.