American history is much more diverse than we realize. At the Battle of Gettysburg, there were many soldiers from varied nationalities who fought there: Irish, Norwegian, Polish, French, and Italian. A little known fact is that there were two soldiers from a land much farther and more ancient than the rest. Joseph Pierce and John Tommey* were Union soldiers who fought valiantly in the pivotal battle. Their names belie the fact that both were full-blooded Chinese men. Joseph was born in Canton, China in 1841. John was also born in China, and as an immigrant resided in New York City when the war began.1
Joseph Pierce enlisted in the 14th Connecticut just a year before Gettysburg on July 2, 1862. He joined as a private but after the Battle of Gettysburg held the rank of corporal. During the Battle of Gettysburg he was part of Smyth’s Brigade, Alexander Hays’ Division, in General Hancock’s Second Corps. He fought on Cemetery Ridge on July 3, 1863 with the rest of his regiment against Pickett’s Charge. The 5’5” slender soldier stood out from the rest because of the long braid he sported beneath his kepi. In spite of the heated battle that afternoon, Private Pierce escaped injury and survived the war.2
John Tommey joined the 70th New York, one of many regiments recruited from New York City. He was part of the Excelsior Brigade, Humphreys’ Division, in Dan Sickles’ Third Corps. After a narrow escape of running into a sizeable Confederate force at Black Horse Tavern upon their arrival at Gettysburg very early in the morning of July 2, the Excelsiors were deployed with the rest of their division in the Peach Orchard, near the Emmitsburg Road. Because the ground was well suited for artillery but ill favored for infantry, the men were subjected to a horrendous barrage of cannon fire from Longstreet’s Confederate line. Several shells exploded in the vicinity of the 70th New York, killing and desperately wounding many in the ranks. One of them was John Tommey. A bursting shell blew him to bits, tearing off both arms to the shoulders and legs up to the thighs.3
Though the wounds were mortal due to the shock, loss of blood and proclivity to infection, John Tommey managed to survive through the summer and part of the fall, dying on October 19, 1863. He lived for three and a half months as only a torso. He was considered by his comrades in arms as “a good and brave soldier.”4
Neither Pierce nor the family of John Tommey applied for pensions from the United States government. Thanks to their regimental histories, we know of their service and sacrifice in the most gripping and grisly chapter of American history.
Sources: Busey, John. These Honored Dead: Union Casualties at Gettysburg. Hightstown, NJ: Longstreet House, 1996. Coddington, Edwin B. The Gettysburg Campaign: A Study in Command. New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons,1964. New York at Gettysburg, Vol. 1, p. 219. Copy, Gettysburg National Military Park. Page, Charles D. History of the Fourteenth Regiment Connecticut Vol. Infantry. Meriden, CT: The Horton Printing Co., 1906. Phisterer, J. New York in the War of the Rebellion. Joseph Pierce Military Records, National Archives.
End Notes:
1. Busey, p. 149. Page, p. 131.
2. Coddington, p. 578. Joseph Pierce
Military Records, National Archives.
3. New York at Gettysburg, p. 219.
Phisterer, p. 70. Busey, p. 149.
4. Phisterer, p. 70.
*Editor’s Note: John Tommey’s name is spelled differently depending on the source of information. His name is also spelled Tomney and Tommy.
