UncleBourbon
Private
- Joined
- Sep 4, 2019
- Location
- Massachusetts
A bit of an obscure subject, but one that catches my interest after studying a combination of 19th century Japanese/East Asian history, US gunboat diplomacy and the Civil War.
I've found five examples, three who fought in China and two who served in Japan, all of whom would go on to serve in the Confederacy during the Civil War.
I would appreciate more examples as well, but here are the ones I've gathered.
China:
William Whedbee Kirkland, 1833 -1915 fought at the Battle of Barrier Forts in Canton, China and was the only former US Marine to serve as a Confederate General. He fought at the First Manassas and participated in Stonewall Jackson's Shenandoah Valley campaign, where he was shot through the thighs during the First Battle of Winchester, later serving as Patrick Cleburne's Chief of Staff during the Murfreesboro campaign. He then fought at the Battle of Gettysburg and proceeded to command a brigade at the Battle of Bristoe Station, where a bone in his left arm was fractured by a rifle shot. He fought at various battles of the Overland campaign until wounded in the thigh again during the Battle of Cold Harbor. He fought and surrendered at the Battle of Bentonville under command of Joseph E. Johnston.
John Douglass Simms, 1822 - 1881 having previously fought at the Battle of Mexico City, he was another Marine who fought in the Battle of Barrier Forts and participated in the attack, capture and occupation, later serving in Hong Kong and Formosa as well. He was made Captain in the Confederate States Marine Corps and commanded Company B at the Battle of Drewry's Bluff and was later captured at the Battle of Sayler's Creek.
Henry B. Tyler, 1800 - 1879 was again another US Marine who served at the Battle of Barrier Forts in Canton, China and later joined the Confederate States Marine Corps. I have much less information about him than Kirkland or Simms.
Japan:
John Mercer Brooke, 1826 - 1906 surveyed the East Coast of Japan, gave counseling and advice to Officers of the Japanese Navy and served as the technical adviser aboard the Japanese ship Kanrin Maru. He joined the Confederate Navy, converted the USS Merrimack into the ironclad CSS Virginia, invented the Brooke rifle and was instrumental in establishing the Confederate States Naval Academy.
Isaac Newton Brown, 1817 - 1889 served on the USS Niagara's voyage to Japan, carrying the first Japanese diplomatic mission to the United States. Upon return he and the crew discovered the outbreak of the Civil War. His family being in the South, Brown made "seditious remarks" and was accosted by a Boston mob who searched through his luggage, only finding "Japanese curiosities". He was arrested for less than a day and released, and he then made his way South to join the Confederate Navy, where he took command of the ironclad CSS Arkansas, overseeing the completion of her construction and commanding her breaking of the Federal naval blockade of Vicksburg, Mississippi July 15th, 1862. He was promoted to Commander where he then commanded the ironclad CSS Charleston in defense of Charleston until the end of the war.
As a Massachusetts native with interest in Confederate and Japanese history, Isaac Brown in particular is an interesting case.
I would be very interested in any other similar cases, particularly if there are any examples of Confederate veterans later serving in the US Navy in Asia after the Civil War; the 1871 Korean Expedition and Boxer Rebellion for example, or if any members of the Perry Expedition went on to join the Confederacy. It's an obscure and difficult topic to find information on.
I also have interesting info on two veteran Union Officers who served as advisors in the Imperial Japanese military during the 1874 Japanese Expedition to Formosa. They brought along at least one Winchester rifle (I assume a Model 1866 as the Expedition was in Spring 1874) and wrote in detail about their debate of tactics with the Japanese Commanders. I've filled up a significant portion of the Wikipedia page for the Expedition with the information I've acquired, and have converted word by word a seven page biography for one of the Officers (Douglas R. Cassel, whose grave I visited back in June a few days after dropping by the Wilson's Creek National Battlefield) I tracked down in a military magazine from page to text that I would be willing to post in a separate thread, if there is enough interest.
Sources and more info:
I've found five examples, three who fought in China and two who served in Japan, all of whom would go on to serve in the Confederacy during the Civil War.
I would appreciate more examples as well, but here are the ones I've gathered.
China:
William Whedbee Kirkland, 1833 -1915 fought at the Battle of Barrier Forts in Canton, China and was the only former US Marine to serve as a Confederate General. He fought at the First Manassas and participated in Stonewall Jackson's Shenandoah Valley campaign, where he was shot through the thighs during the First Battle of Winchester, later serving as Patrick Cleburne's Chief of Staff during the Murfreesboro campaign. He then fought at the Battle of Gettysburg and proceeded to command a brigade at the Battle of Bristoe Station, where a bone in his left arm was fractured by a rifle shot. He fought at various battles of the Overland campaign until wounded in the thigh again during the Battle of Cold Harbor. He fought and surrendered at the Battle of Bentonville under command of Joseph E. Johnston.
John Douglass Simms, 1822 - 1881 having previously fought at the Battle of Mexico City, he was another Marine who fought in the Battle of Barrier Forts and participated in the attack, capture and occupation, later serving in Hong Kong and Formosa as well. He was made Captain in the Confederate States Marine Corps and commanded Company B at the Battle of Drewry's Bluff and was later captured at the Battle of Sayler's Creek.
Henry B. Tyler, 1800 - 1879 was again another US Marine who served at the Battle of Barrier Forts in Canton, China and later joined the Confederate States Marine Corps. I have much less information about him than Kirkland or Simms.
Japan:
John Mercer Brooke, 1826 - 1906 surveyed the East Coast of Japan, gave counseling and advice to Officers of the Japanese Navy and served as the technical adviser aboard the Japanese ship Kanrin Maru. He joined the Confederate Navy, converted the USS Merrimack into the ironclad CSS Virginia, invented the Brooke rifle and was instrumental in establishing the Confederate States Naval Academy.
Isaac Newton Brown, 1817 - 1889 served on the USS Niagara's voyage to Japan, carrying the first Japanese diplomatic mission to the United States. Upon return he and the crew discovered the outbreak of the Civil War. His family being in the South, Brown made "seditious remarks" and was accosted by a Boston mob who searched through his luggage, only finding "Japanese curiosities". He was arrested for less than a day and released, and he then made his way South to join the Confederate Navy, where he took command of the ironclad CSS Arkansas, overseeing the completion of her construction and commanding her breaking of the Federal naval blockade of Vicksburg, Mississippi July 15th, 1862. He was promoted to Commander where he then commanded the ironclad CSS Charleston in defense of Charleston until the end of the war.
As a Massachusetts native with interest in Confederate and Japanese history, Isaac Brown in particular is an interesting case.
I would be very interested in any other similar cases, particularly if there are any examples of Confederate veterans later serving in the US Navy in Asia after the Civil War; the 1871 Korean Expedition and Boxer Rebellion for example, or if any members of the Perry Expedition went on to join the Confederacy. It's an obscure and difficult topic to find information on.
I also have interesting info on two veteran Union Officers who served as advisors in the Imperial Japanese military during the 1874 Japanese Expedition to Formosa. They brought along at least one Winchester rifle (I assume a Model 1866 as the Expedition was in Spring 1874) and wrote in detail about their debate of tactics with the Japanese Commanders. I've filled up a significant portion of the Wikipedia page for the Expedition with the information I've acquired, and have converted word by word a seven page biography for one of the Officers (Douglas R. Cassel, whose grave I visited back in June a few days after dropping by the Wilson's Creek National Battlefield) I tracked down in a military magazine from page to text that I would be willing to post in a separate thread, if there is enough interest.
Sources and more info:
A Refusal to Serve Against Liberty: Isaac N. Brown Quits the U.S. Navy
In 1860, Isaac Newton Brown was a respected lieutenant in the United States Navy with over 26 years of honorable service. He was so highly thought of by his superiors that he was selected in May 18…
mississippiconfederates.wordpress.com
Henry B. Tyler (1800-1879) - Find a Grave...
Per FindAGrave Contributor Rubbings (#47671529): Henry B. Tyler, born Virginia; previous service in the United States Marine Corps, from March 3, 1823; name stricken from the rolls of the United States Marine Corps, May 6, 1861; original entry into Confederate States Marine Corps, as lieutenant...
www.findagrave.com
John Mercer Brooke (1826-1906) - Find a Grave...
Confederate States Naval Commander, Inventor, Professor. He was born at an army base near Tampa, Florida. He entered the United States Navy as a midshipman in 1841 and graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1847. As a result of his surveying work, he invented a deep-sea sounding...
www.findagrave.com
Isaac Newton Brown (1817-1889) - Find a Grave...
Civil War Confederate Navy Officer. A veteran of 27 years in the United States Navy, he switched his allegiance to the Confederacy once the Civil War began. On May 26, 1862 he was given command of the ram CSS Arkansas. He was absent sick when the crew blew it up when it's cranky engines broke...
www.findagrave.com
Douglas R Cassel (1845-1875) - Find a Grave...
Douglas was the son of James W. Cassel and Amanda Reynolds. He was born 1846 Zanesville, died 15 Jun 1875, Philadelphia, PA of malaria. He atteded the US Naval Academy 1861-1862. Officers of the US Navy. Name: Douglas Cassel Rank Information: Acting Midshipman, Acting Ensign, Master...
www.findagrave.com
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