Chinese Americans in the Civil War.

In 1861 only 200 Chinese lived in the Eastern United States, of which 58 participated in the Civil War, 5 fighting with the Confederacy.  While a handful are recognized and fully documented, most are nearly forgotten to history.  

Perhaps one of the best documented was Cpl. Joseph Pierce (pictured left).  Born in China Pierce was sold by his parents to slavers at the age of ten.  Eventually he was purchased by an American ship captain, who took pity on the boy and raised him as his own son in New England.  In 1862 Pierce enlisted in the Union Army with the 14th Regiment of the Connecticut Volunteer Infantry.  With the 14th Regiment he fought in 34 engagements including Antietam, Gettysburg, and Appomattox Courthouse.  After the war he settled in Meriden, Connecticut, passing away at the age of 72 in 1914.

Edward Day Cohota (pictured right) was found as a stowaway aboard the ship of Capt. Sargent S. Day.  Day adopted the boy, naming his Edward Day Cohota, Cohota being the name of his ship.  Raised in Massachusetts, Cohota joined the 23rd Massechusetts infantry in 1864.  He served at the Battle of Drury’s Bluff and Cold Harbor.  After the Civil War he re-enlisted in the Army, serving at Fort Randall in the Dakota Territory and participating in the Indian Wars.  After 30 years of service in the Army, Cohota believed he was eligible for American citizenship.  Unfortunately the Chinese Exclusion Act was passed in 1882, and his request for citizenship was denied.  He died in 1935 at Battle Mountain Sanitarium for Veterans in Hot Springs, South Dakota.

After the Battle of Gettysburg, the New York World as well as other newspapers in North America and Europe ran a story on a Chinese soldier who was mortally wounded a Gettysburg.  Enlisting under the name “John Tommy”, he was an immigrant from Canton, China.  Leaving China, he worked his was across the Pacific, Hawaii, and North America.  On Oct. 22nd, 1862 he enlisted with the 70th New York Infantry.  He was captured in Virginia by the Confederates.  According to reports,

“He was brought before Gen. Magruder who, surprised at his appearance and color, asked him was he a mulatto, Indian, or what? When Tommy told him he was from China, Magruder was very much amused, and asked him how much he would take to join the Confederate army. “Not unless you would make me a Brigadier General.” said Tommy, to the great delight of the secesh officers, who treated him very kindly and sent him to Fredericksburg.”

Tommy was later sent to Libby prison, where he suffered abuse, starvation, and disease.  A chaplain of the 4th Texas Regiment the captured “Celestial” was an uncooperative prisoner and was beaten. If so, the beating had remarkably little effect on Tommy.  He was eventually paroled, and spent his time recovering in New York City caring for wounded soldiers.  He was especially noted for keeping up the spirits of those he cared for.

Tommy later fought at the Battle of Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville.  At the Battle of Gettysburg he lost both his legs from cannon fire and died on July 3rd, 1865.

New York World (now called the NY Times) article on John Tommy