Chinese in the Civil War

[tenthmo]

I'd like to do my part in contributing a stimulating article, so I'd like to pass this tidbit of information along.
I stumbled across a couple of web sites that deal with Chinese that served in the American Civil War. I don't know if this is old news to many of you, but I thought I'd passed that info along.
http://hometown.aol.com/gordonkwok/accsacw.html

Another site looks like a magazine article from the US Dept of Defense:
http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Apr2...200104241.html

Enjoy!

[Vuhginyuh]

Re: Chinese in the Civil War

Fascinating post.
I have heard that there were Chinese in some Louisiana Regts but have never seen anything to document this.

[markj]

Re: Chinese in the Civil War

Greetings,

Dr. Tom Lowry (who wrote the books "Tarnished Eagles," "The Story the Soldiers Wouldn't Tell," etc.) has looked into this subject as well and gave a presentation about it with Edward Milligan at the National Archives a few years ago. However, I would be really careful about some of the information presented. Subsequent research has shown that quite a few troops supposedly having "Chinese" names were thoroughly European--I remember one "Chinese" enlisted troop actually hailed from Norway.

That being said, seaports like New Orleans, New York, Boston, and Charleston were quite cosmopolitan so it's entirely possible that Chinese ships cooks or deckhands could have enlisted into one unit or another.

Regards,

Mark Jaeger

[KentuckyReb]

Re: Chinese in the Civil War

This was the first I'd heard about Chang & Eng being Carolina Confederates. David Stoneman being the charming, sensitive individual that he was, I was rather surprised he didn't perform a little impromptu surgery with the ol' 1850 Staff & Field. Failing that, it's a wonder he didn't just take 'em both. Now that would have made for an interesting uniform. Course you could probably always find three or four on Ebay on any given day. :D

[Johan Steele]

Re: Chinese in the Civil War

I thought I remebered seeing an article a year or so ago, perhaps on the old forum, that refuted most of the research as BS. Basically using a period photo Joseph Pierce "the only Chinamen in the AoP" as a reference and information about him from before & after the war. Many other good period references showed that there were at MOST a dozen Asians in the Union Army East of the Rockies. And suggestions that there were any more w/ CSA forces were BS at best. I spent a couple hours trying to find the article last night but couldn't.

Of the two websites I'll stick w/ the DoD site.

I have this nagging feeling that the PC/revisionist history crowd will have whole Regiments of Chinese immigrants fighting alongside the "200,000" Fighting Black Confederates.

[James Brenner]

Re: Chinese in the Civil War

On a related note, the Organization of Chinese Americans of Columbus, Ohio, recently erected a marker in Franklin Park commemorating the role of Chinese-Americans from Ohio who served in the Civil War. Unfortunately, the group did not do any real research and subsequent efforts have revealed that most of the "Chinese" surnames are German.

[Shockoe Hill Cats]

1862 Fredericksburg Newpapers??

This thread is a couple of years old, but I have a topic that pertains to the thread. After talking with Dr. Gordon Kwok, head of the Association to Commemorate the Chinese Serving in the American Civil War, a few years ago, he and I got to talking about a certain soldier of the Army of the Potomac.

I've been compiling information regarding the military career of John Tomney (aka John Tommy) of the 70th New York Volunteers. I'm specifically interested in investigating a claim that was made during the 1862 Peninulsa Campaign:

"Here Tommy became a great lion, and his picture was published in the Fredericksburg papers."

I'd really love to find the original article with the photograph in it but I have no idea what newspapers were in circulation during what would have been March-May 1862. Can anyone help a fellow out?

Thanks,

Jason

[Rob Walker]

Re: Chinese in the Civil War

Hello Jason,
I personally do not have the answer you seek but I know of a gentleman that could help you. His name is Irving Moy and he is with the 14th Connecticut (see link below) He was doing a living history with us on Governors Island last summer and he has extensive information in regards to the Chinese during the Civil War. As a matter of fact I belive their web site has some information on the subject as well. He is a very knowlegeable guy and I am sure he would be happy to assist you. Good luck with your search.

http://www.14thconnecticut.org/index.asp

[Shockoe Hill Cats]

Re: Chinese in the Civil War

Thank you Mr. Walker, I am also a friend of Irving's! Yes, he is a great guy and we communicate back and forth every now and then. However, even he and Dr. Kwok were unable to provide me with the information I need. Perhaps a different thread is required in a different folder. :sarcastic

Regards,

Jason

[Gary of CA]

Re: Chinese in the Civil War

Like Johan, I also remember that article from over ten years ago. The article pointed out that there were more Chinese swabbies than soldiers on either side of the Mason-Dixon line. It mentioned how difficult it was to ascertain the racial identity by name alone and one had to read the muster card which gave a physical description of the soldier or sailor to confirm it. Many of the Chinese were adopted by sailors or merchants and thus took the merchant's name. Another source of confusion with names is the relative ease to mistake one nationality for another. For instance, Norweigans "Chinn" for Chinese "Chin" is one example.