Edward Day Cohota, 1890 and 1891

The Repository
(Canton, Ohio)
September 22, 1890
A Chinese War Veteran.
A recent visitor to the Libby Prison war museum at Chicago was E.D. Cahota, the only Chinaman who is a veteran of the great civil contest. He served through the war as a private of the Twenty-third Massachusetts regiment, and made a splendid record as a brave soldier.

The National Tribune
(Washington, DC)
October 2, 1890
But few people know that there was a native-born Chinaman in the war of the rebellion. This Chinaman’s name is Edward Day Cahota, and he was a member of Co. I, 23d Mass. He enlisted in February, 1864, when but a little over 15 years of age. He was not satisfied with his military experience of the war, for, when his regiment was mustered out in 1865, he enlisted in the Regular Army, and served there an enlistment of three years, and then re-enlisted and served a five-years’ term, making a total service of nearly 10 years. Cahota was bought from his parents by Capt. Day, of Gloucester, Mass., in 1857, when a youth of eight, for 21 Mexican dollars, brought to this country and was going to the public schools when he enlisted. After his service in the Regular Army he settled on a ranch in Colorado and made money. He married a German girl about a year ago and took a wedding trip to Europe. Not long ago he visited Libby Prison in Chicago, and returned to his Western home.

The Austin Weekly Statesman
(Texas)
October 2, 1890
A Chinese War Veteran.
(same story as The Repository)

Omaha Daily Bee
(Nebraska)
October 5, 1890
E.D. Cahota visited Libby prison war museum and inspected the curious relics of the war, says the Chicago Herald. Mr. Cahota is a native born Chinaman. He has lived in this country nearly forty years, having left the land of his birth when but six years old. Long before the Chinese exclusion law was dreamed of he had proved his fitness for the duties of American citizenship by taking up arms in defense of his adopted country and marching to the front. Although but fifteen years old when the war broke out, he declared that he was over age and enlisted in the Twenty-third Massachusetts volunteers, under the command of Colonel Andrew Ellwood. The only representative of the Mongolian race among the millions of men thus facing each other in a struggle for life and death, Cahota was a unique character. Under fire Cahota proved that he was made of stern stuff, for his bravery was commented on during various engagements, notably at Cold Harbor and in the building of General Butler’s signal station in front of Petersburg. At the close of the war Cahota was mustered out along with the survivors of his regiment, then under command of Colonel Raymond of Marblehead. Since that time Cahota has devoted himself to business, there being little in common between him and the ordinary Chinaman beyond certain race characteristics of feature. In speech and dress he is an ordinary citizen.

The Evening Star
(Washington, DC)
October 8, 1890
Our Only Chinese Soldier.
(same story as the Omaha Daily Bee)

The National Tribune
(Washington, DC)
October 23, 1890
Chaplain H.S. Stevens, of the 14th Conn., says that recently there has appeared in several papers and in our own journal, under the heading, “Our Only Chinese Soldier,” a statement that Mr. E.D. Cahota [sic], once of the 23d Mass, was “the only representative of the Mongolian race among the millions of men thus facing each other in a struggle for life and death.” This statement is erroneous, for there was at least one other Chinaman among the boys who wore the blue and saved the Nation. The 14th Conn., whose record as to number and severity of battles engaged in, number of men lost by war casualties and hard campaigning experience, surpasses that of any other regiment representing our good State in the field during the war, had in its ranks a simon-pure Chinaman, brought to this country but a few years before, Joseph Pierce by name. His record, as officially given shows that he enlisted, a private, with Co. F, from Berlin, Conn., July 26, 1982; was promoted to Corporal Nov. 3, 1863, and was mustered out May 31, 1865, thus serving with the regiment its full term. Our “Joe,” as we all call him, was an apt, capable, faithful and brave soldier, and “did us proud.” He is living now, an intelligent and industrious business man and good citizen, and I had the pleasure of greeting him at the recent (Sept. 17 last) Reunion of our dear old regiment at Middleton, Conn. “Joe” is a great favorite with us, as was evident from the hearty, vociferous round of applause with which he was greeted by the boys as he entered the hall at our recent meeting, his bright eyes snapping and sparkling in his honest face as they were wont to years ago. Now, if other Chinamen served as loyally and as well among our Union patriots during the war, why may we not hear from them?

Cherry Creek News
(New York)
October 31, 1890
Edward Day Cahota has the unique distinction of being the only pure-blooded Mongolian who served in the war of the rebellion. In 1857 Captain Sergeant [sic] Day, of Gloucester, Mass., purchased him at Shanghi [sic] for twenty-one Mexican silver dollars. He was then but 6 years old and received his name after that of his master and the vessel over which he was captain. Edward was given to him as a convenient handle. Returning to this country Capt. Day placed Cahota in the public schools at Gloucester where he was receiving a good education when the war began. Cahota then enlisted, serving until the end and at all times displaying unwanted bravery. At the end of the war he enlisted for eight years in the regular army, subsequently settling on a ranch in Colorado. He has since acquired fortune and recently returned from Europe where he had been on a wedding trip. His wife is a German lady of good family.

The Daily Times
(Troy, New York)
November 1, 1890
The Only Chinese Soldier.
(same story as the Omaha Daily Bee)

The Marion Enterprise
(New York)
November 1, 1890
(same story as the Cherry Creek News)

Putnam County Republican
(Carmel, New York)
November 1, 1890
A Chinaman Who Fought for Us.
(same story as the Cherry Creek News)

Syracuse Standard
(New York)
November 4, 1890
A Chinese Veteran.
(same story as the Omaha Daily Bee)

Weekly Times
(Troy, New York)
November 6, 1890
The Only Chinese Soldier.
(same story as the Omaha Daily Bee)

The Fairport Herald
(New York)
November 12, 1890
A Chinese Veteran.
The Only Mongolian Who Shouldered a Musket and Fought in the War.
E.D. Cahota visited Libby Prison War Museum recently and inspected the curious relics of the war. Mr. Cohota is a native-born Chinaman. He has lived in this country nearly forty years, having left the land of his birth when but six years old.

Long before the Chinese exclusion law was dreamt of he had proved his fitness for the duties of American citizenship by taking up arms in defense of his adopted country and marching to the front. Although but fifteen years old when the war broke out, he declared that he was over age and enlisted in the Twenty-third Massachusetts Volunteers, under the command of Colonel Andrew Elwood.

The only representative of the Mongolian race among the millions of men thus facing each other in a struggle for life and death, Cohota was a unique character. Under fire Cohota proved that he was made of stern stuff, for his bravery was commented on during various engagements, notably at Cold Harbor and in the building of General Butler’s signal station in front of Petersburg.

At the close of the war Cohota was mustered out along with the survivors of his regiment, then under command of Colonel Raymond of Marblehead. Since that time Cohota has devoted himself to business, there being little in common between him and the ordinary Chinaman beyond certain race characteristics of feature. In speech and dress he is an ordinary citizen.—Chicago Herald.

The Wichita Daily Eagle
(Kansas)
November 12, 1890
A Brave Chinaman.
E.D. Cahota is a native-born Chinaman. He has lived in this country nearly forty years, having left the land of his birth when but 8 years old. Long before the Chinese exclusion law was dreamy of he had proved his fitness for the duties of American citizenship by taking up arms in defense of his adopted country and marching to the front.

Although but 15 years old when the war broke out, he declared that he was over age, and enlisted in the twenty-third Massachusetts volunteers, under the command of Col Andrew Ellwood—the only representative of the Mongolian race among the millions of men thus facing each other in a struggle for life and death, Cahota was a unique character. Under fire Cahota proved that he was made of stern stuff, for his bravery was commented on during various engagements, notably at Cold Harbor and in the building of Gen. Butler’s signal station in front of Petersburg.

At the close of the war Cahota was mustered out along with the survivors of his regiment, then under command of Col. Raymond of Marblehead. Since that time Mr. Cahota has devoted himself to business, there being little in common between him and the ordinary Chinaman beyond certain race characteristics of feature. In speech and dress he is an ordinary citizen.—Chicago Herald

The Standard
(Ogden, Utah)
November 13, 1890
Uncle Sam’s Only Chinese Soldier.
(same story as The Wichita Daily Eagle)

Union Springs Advertiser
(New York)
November 13, 1890
A Chinese Veteran.
(same story as the Omaha Daily Bee)

Richmond County Advance
(West New Brighton, New York)
November 22, 1890
(same story as The Fairport Herald)

The Evening Times
(Little Falls, New York)
December 8, 1890
A Brave Chinaman.
(same story as The Wichita Daily Eagle)

New York Herald
December 29, 1890
Cohhota’s Claim to Citizenship.
[By Telegraph to The Herald.]
Chicago, Ill., Dec. 28, 1890.—There is a Chinaman in the United States who has a claim to citizenship that it’s hardly probable any court will deny. He is called Edward Day Cohota, and he is serving in Company H of the Fifteenth infantry at Fort Sheridan. According to his story his name is Moy. He was born in Shanghai in 1848.

When six years old he was taken on board the ship Cohota, from Boston, commanded by Captain S.S. Day. He he served as cabin boy, and claims to have discovered that he was the son of Captain Day, his mother being a Chinese woman of rank. A few years later Captain Day took him into his family and sent him to school. At the breaking out of the war he went to the front and served through it in the Twenty-third Massachusetts volunteers, Colonel Elwell commanding. At the close of the war he was discharged, with his character given as “excellent,” and on that discharge he will claim citizenship when he leaves the army long enough to make a settlement.

Tacoma News
(Washington)
December 29, 1890
He “Fit” in the War.
One Chinese Who Has Some Claim on the Country.
Chicago, Dec. 29.—A local paper has discovered a Chinaman serving in the regular army. He is an enlisted man in Company H of the Fifteenth Infantry, now stationed at Fort Sheridan, near Chicago. His name on the rolls is Edward Day Cohota, but he says all of his original name he can remember is Moy.

He was born in Shanghai 42 years ago. When quite young he was taken as cabin boy on the ship Cohota, of Boston. Captain Day took the boy to his home at Gloucester, Mass., and gave him a common school education. When the was broke out the Chinaman enlisted in the Twenty-third Massachusetts Infantry and served through the war, receiving an honorable discharge in 1865. Soon after he enlisted in the regular army and has remained in it ever since.

Talking with a reporter Moy said he had always been treated in the kindest manner by his officers and comrades. When he leaves the army he proposes to claim citizenship and the right to vote on the strength of his long and honorable service during and since the war.

Wyoming County Times
(Warsaw, New York)
January 1, 1891
A Brave Chinaman
(same story as The Wichita Eagle)

The Evening World
(New York)
January 1, 1891
The only Chinaman in the regular army of the United States is Edward Cohota, a private in Company H, of the Fifteenth Infantry, at Fort Sheridan, Ill. He served through the war as a volunteer.

St. Paul Daily Globe
(Minnesota)
January 8, 1891
(same story as The Evening World)

The Colfax Chronicle
(Louisiana)
January 17, 1891
(same story as The Evening World)

Waverly Free Press
(New York)
January 24, 1891
(same story as The Evening World)

The Critic
(Washington, D.C.)
January 26, 1891
A Chinese Pensioner.—Among the pensioners of the late war is E.D. Cohota, a native-born Chinaman. He has lived in this country nearly forty-six years, having left the land of his birth when but 6 years of age. Long before the Chinese Exclusion law was thought of he had proved his fitness for the duties of American citizenship by taking up arms in defense of his adopted country and marching to the front. Although but 15 years old when the war broke out he declared that he was over age and enlisted in the Twenty-third Massachusetts Volunteers, under the command of Colonel Andrew Ellwood. The only representative of the Mongolian race among the millions of men thus facing each other in a struggle for life and death, Cohota was a unique character. Under fire Cohota proved that he was made of stern stuff, for his bravery was commented on during various engagements, notably at Cold Harbor and in the building of General Butler’s signal station in front of Petersburg. At the close of the war Cohota was mustered out along with the survivors of his regiment, then under command of Colonel Raymond of Marblehead. Since that time Mr. Cohota has devoted himself to business, there being little in common between him and the ordinary Chinaman beyond certain race characteristics of feature. In speech and dress he is an ordinary citizen.

Anderson Intelligencer
(South Carolina)
January 29, 1891
(same story as The Evening World)

Fergus County Argus
(Lewistown, Montona)
January 29, 1891
A Chinese Soldier.
(same story as the Tacoma News)

The Philadelphia Inquirer
(Pennsylvania)
February 15, 1891
A Chinaman Who Gets a Pension
(almost the same story as The Critic)


Cohota is profiled in the National Park Service book, Asians and Pacific Islanders and the Civil War.

(Next post: Edward Day Cohota, 1892 and 1895)