Joseph Pierce

He was sold by his family to American sea captain Amos Peck in about 1852 and raised as a member of Peck's family in Berlin, Connecticut from about 1853. His birth name is unknown. His first name apparently given him by Peck's crew because they found his own too hard to pronounce, and his last in honor of then-President Franklin Pierce. He enlisted as Private in Company F, 14th Connecticut Infantry on 26 July 1862.

He was with his Company in Maryland.

He was promoted to Corporal on 1 November 1863. He mustered out with his Company at Alexandria, VA on 31 May 1865.

He returned home to Connecticut and was a silver engraver, retiring from the Meriden Britannia Company at age 72 in 1914.

Basic service data from Page1, who lists him as "The only Chinaman inlisted in the Armv of the Potomac." Further details and a CDV excerpted here from researcher Irving D. Moy of the reenactors of Company G, Fourteenth Regiment.

1842; Canton, CHINA

01/03/1916; Meriden, CT; burial in Walnut Grove Cemetery, Meriden CT