Norman Dasinger Jr
First Sergeant
- Joined
- Jan 28, 2021
How diverse was the CSA armed forces?
Asian Confederates
By Norman Dasinger Jr
Stephen Decatur Bunker and Christopher Wren Bunker were first cousins and both served in Company I, 37th Virginia Cavalry Battalion, CSA. They were the sons of the famous Siamese twins Eng and Chang Bunker from Surry County, North Carolina. Eng's son Stephen received two wounds and Chang's child, Christopher was captured and imprisoned for nearly year at Camp Chase, Ohio.
In the summer of 1864, Confederate General John McCausland, as part of Jubal Early's Valley Campaign to relieve pressure being put on Lee at Petersburg by Grant and other Federal forces, marched into Maryland and Pennsylvania. McCausland with over 2,600 cavalrymen, including the 37th Virginia, took control of Chambersburg, Pennsylvania on July 30 and demanded either $100,000 in gold coin or $500,000 in U.S. currency to spare the city. When the inhabitants failed to raise the money, he ordered the town burned. Afterward, the cavalry force clashed with pursuing Federals and moved toward Moorefield, West Virginia. Three miles outside town, certain he was safe, McCausland ordered a halt. Within twenty four hours his men were overwhelmed by Federals and many Confederates were wounded or captured. One of those was Christopher Bunker. He was moved to Camp Chase and there became sick with either small pox or a milder form. On March 4, 1865, he was released. His cousin Stephen escaped the capture at Moorefield but did receive a wound September 3, 1864, near Winchester, Virginia. After the Civil War both returned to Surry County and their large and prosperous family farm.
The Bunker Family was one of the most famous in all of North Carolina. Chang and Eng were born in 1811 in Siam (modern Thailand) of Chinese ancestry. They were 'discovered' by a Scottish merchant named Hunter in 1824. It took five years for him to bring them to America. Hunter and sea captain Abel Griffin departed for Boston in 1829 with the conjoined twins. A contract had been signed by the boys and their mother that stipulated that their tour would last for five years but five would become ten. Upon arrival, they were first inspected by doctors. They were declared healthy xiphophagus twins connected at the sternum by a flexible circular band of flesh and cartilage about 5 inches long. Their livers were connected through the band and only at the middle of the ligament did they share sensation.
Once retired in 1839 from touring, they bought land in Wilkes County, North Carolina, would soon marry sisters and eventually have 22 children between them. In 1845 they bought a larger farm and moved to Surry County. They spoke English fluently, had become citizens, voted and had filed criminal charges against several white people. They were considered non-white but were afforded many of the privileges of whiteness, being wealthy Southern slaveholders with property rights. In 1850, it was estimated that they had invested $10,000 in property and had a merchant in New York who managed another $60,000 for importing and they lived off the interest. The Bunker brothers were long time supporters of the Whig Party and voted for John Bell in the 1860 Presidential election.
Chang and Eng's indifference about slavery is easy to understand, the practice being established in their home state. What's more striking is their acceptance into the surrounding community, where they lived as local gentry accommodated by neighbors and active in civic life. They were accepted as individuals. It was as individuals that the Bunkers approached the Civil War and like so many other Southerners, they chose the defense of home and community over abstract principles. They supported the Confederate government with their sons, their monetary resources and supporting foodstuffs and supplies.
By 1865, the twins' finances had taken a hit so they decided to resume touring. By now, Northern audiences were not so receptive – for they had been Confederate slaveholders. In 1870, they toured in Germany and Russia. On the ship coming home, Chang suffered a stroke. On the morning of January 17, 1864, one of Eng's sons checked on the twins. Chang was dead. Eng died only few hours later.
They are buried in Mt Airy – the fabled namesake of Mayberry- at White Plains Baptist Church.
Asian Confederates
By Norman Dasinger Jr
Stephen Decatur Bunker and Christopher Wren Bunker were first cousins and both served in Company I, 37th Virginia Cavalry Battalion, CSA. They were the sons of the famous Siamese twins Eng and Chang Bunker from Surry County, North Carolina. Eng's son Stephen received two wounds and Chang's child, Christopher was captured and imprisoned for nearly year at Camp Chase, Ohio.
In the summer of 1864, Confederate General John McCausland, as part of Jubal Early's Valley Campaign to relieve pressure being put on Lee at Petersburg by Grant and other Federal forces, marched into Maryland and Pennsylvania. McCausland with over 2,600 cavalrymen, including the 37th Virginia, took control of Chambersburg, Pennsylvania on July 30 and demanded either $100,000 in gold coin or $500,000 in U.S. currency to spare the city. When the inhabitants failed to raise the money, he ordered the town burned. Afterward, the cavalry force clashed with pursuing Federals and moved toward Moorefield, West Virginia. Three miles outside town, certain he was safe, McCausland ordered a halt. Within twenty four hours his men were overwhelmed by Federals and many Confederates were wounded or captured. One of those was Christopher Bunker. He was moved to Camp Chase and there became sick with either small pox or a milder form. On March 4, 1865, he was released. His cousin Stephen escaped the capture at Moorefield but did receive a wound September 3, 1864, near Winchester, Virginia. After the Civil War both returned to Surry County and their large and prosperous family farm.
The Bunker Family was one of the most famous in all of North Carolina. Chang and Eng were born in 1811 in Siam (modern Thailand) of Chinese ancestry. They were 'discovered' by a Scottish merchant named Hunter in 1824. It took five years for him to bring them to America. Hunter and sea captain Abel Griffin departed for Boston in 1829 with the conjoined twins. A contract had been signed by the boys and their mother that stipulated that their tour would last for five years but five would become ten. Upon arrival, they were first inspected by doctors. They were declared healthy xiphophagus twins connected at the sternum by a flexible circular band of flesh and cartilage about 5 inches long. Their livers were connected through the band and only at the middle of the ligament did they share sensation.
Once retired in 1839 from touring, they bought land in Wilkes County, North Carolina, would soon marry sisters and eventually have 22 children between them. In 1845 they bought a larger farm and moved to Surry County. They spoke English fluently, had become citizens, voted and had filed criminal charges against several white people. They were considered non-white but were afforded many of the privileges of whiteness, being wealthy Southern slaveholders with property rights. In 1850, it was estimated that they had invested $10,000 in property and had a merchant in New York who managed another $60,000 for importing and they lived off the interest. The Bunker brothers were long time supporters of the Whig Party and voted for John Bell in the 1860 Presidential election.
Chang and Eng's indifference about slavery is easy to understand, the practice being established in their home state. What's more striking is their acceptance into the surrounding community, where they lived as local gentry accommodated by neighbors and active in civic life. They were accepted as individuals. It was as individuals that the Bunkers approached the Civil War and like so many other Southerners, they chose the defense of home and community over abstract principles. They supported the Confederate government with their sons, their monetary resources and supporting foodstuffs and supplies.
By 1865, the twins' finances had taken a hit so they decided to resume touring. By now, Northern audiences were not so receptive – for they had been Confederate slaveholders. In 1870, they toured in Germany and Russia. On the ship coming home, Chang suffered a stroke. On the morning of January 17, 1864, one of Eng's sons checked on the twins. Chang was dead. Eng died only few hours later.
They are buried in Mt Airy – the fabled namesake of Mayberry- at White Plains Baptist Church.
Bringing the