IV 

110TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 415 

Honoring Edward Day Cohota, Joseph L. Pierce, and other veterans of 

Asian and Pacific Islander descent who fought in the United States 

Civil War. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MAY 17, 2007 

Mr. HONDA (for himself, Mr. WU, Mr. RADANOVICH, Mr. GONZALEZ, Ms. 

EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas, Mr. GUTIERREZ, Mr. GRIJALVA, 

Ms. BORDALLO, Mr. RANGEL, Mrs. NAPOLITANO, Ms. BERKLEY, Ms. 

HIRONO, Mr. LANTOS, Ms. ZOE LOFGREN of California, Ms. MCCOLLUM

of Minnesota, Mr. SALAZAR, Mr. BECERRA, Mr. MCDERMOTT, Mr. 

WYNN, and Mr. LARSON of Connecticut) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services 

RESOLUTION 

Honoring Edward Day Cohota, Joseph L. Pierce, and other 

veterans of Asian and Pacific Islander descent who 

fought in the United States Civil War. 

Whereas soldiers of Asian and Pacific Islander descent fought 

bravely and honorably during the United States Civil 

War; 

Whereas Edward Day Cohota was among the soldiers of 

Asian descent who fought in the Civil War; 

Whereas as a small child, Mr. Cohota stowed away in the 

ship Cohota, leaving Shanghai, China, in 1845; 


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•HRES 415 IH 

Whereas Mr. Cohota enlisted in the 23rd Regiment, Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, in 1864; 

Whereas during the Civil War, Mr. Cohota fought valiantly 

in the fog-bound Battle of Drury’s Bluff, where other soldiers reported that he had 7 bullet holes in his coat, but 

was not wounded; 

Whereas Mr. Cohota repeatedly proved his courage in the 

Battle of Petersburg and at Cold Harbor, where he heroically saved the wounded William E. Low and where a 

minie ball left a permanent part in Cohota’s hair; 

Whereas Mr. Cohota served in the United States Army for 

30 years; 

Whereas Joseph L. Pierce was also among the soldiers of 

Asian descent who fought in the Civil War; 

Whereas Mr. Pierce was sold by his family to Captain Amos 

Peck III in 1852 and raised as an adopted son; 

Whereas Mr. Pierce enlisted in the 14th Regiment, Connecticut Volunteer Infantry, in 1862; 

Whereas Mr. Pierce fought in his first battle at Antietam, 

distinguished himself in the Battle of Gettysburg, and 

bravely volunteered for a perilous attack on Bliss Farm 

during the day of Pickett’s charge; and 

Whereas many of the soldiers of Asian and Pacific Islander 

descent who fought in the Civil War, including Edward 

Day Cohota and Joseph L. Pierce, were denied rightful 

recognition of their service: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) recognizes and expresses its appreciation for 

3 the courageous and loyal contributions made by solVerDate Aug 31 2005 21:07 May 18, 2007 Jkt 059200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\HR415.IH HR415

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1 diers of Asian and Pacific Islander descent during 

2 the United States Civil War; and 

3 (2) recognizes and honors the 2 most docu4 mented of those soldiers, Edward Day Cohota and 

5 Joseph L. Pierce, for their distinguished and dedi6 cated service to preserving and maintaining the 

7 Union. 

Æ 


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