page_title: Hawaii and the American Civil War
section_title: Hawaiian combatants
hierarchical_section_title: Hawaii and the American Civil War / Hawaiian combatants
caption_attribution_description: English: This document reflects naval enlistments at Boston, for the week ending 11 July 1863. Recruits no.21 John Davis, Ordinary Seaman and no. 36 Samuel Jones, Ordinary Seaman are both enumerated as natives of the Sandwich Islands (Hawaii) and described as "Sandwich Islander" Both men enlisted as "Ordinary Seaman" accorded to those with some seagoing experience.
context_page_description: After the outbreak of the American Civil War, the Kingdom of Hawaii under King Kamehameha IV declared its neutrality on August 26, 1861. However, many Native Hawaiians and Hawaii-born Americans, abroad and in the islands, enlisted in the military regiments of various states in the Union and the Confederacy.
context_section_description: Despite the Hawaiian government's reluctance to be involved in the conflict, many Native Hawaiians and Hawaii-born Americans (mainly descendants of the American missionaries) both abroad and in the islands volunteered and enlisted in the military regiments of various states in the Union and the Confederacy. Individual Native Hawaiians had been serving in the United States Navy and Army since the War of 1812, and even more served during the American Civil War. Many Hawaiians sympathized with the Union because of Hawaii's ties to New England through its missionaries and the whaling industries, and the ideological opposition of many to the institution of slavery, which the Constitution of 1852 had specifically officially outlawed in the Kingdom. The sons of American missionaries in Hawaii, many studying in American universities, also enlisted; twenty-one were students at Punahou School. Notable volunteers from Hawaii include: Henry Hoʻolulu Pitman, Samuel C. Armstrong, Nathaniel Bright Emerson, James Wood Bush, Prince Romerson, and J. R. Kealoha.  
  Two mariners on the Boston Massachusetts Naval Rendezvous July 1863 (see thumbnail) list of naval recruits are from Hawaii, the (Sandwich Island’s). These Hawaiian sailors are enumerated as John Davis (no. 21) Ordinary Seaman, age 23 and Samuel Jones Ordinary Seaman, age25 (no. 36), both men are described as born in the Sandwich Islands and as a “Sandwich Islander”.
  According to the 2014 survey, researchers have identified 119 documented Native Hawaiian and Hawaii-born combatants from historical records. The exact number still remains unclear because many Hawaiians enlisted and served under Anglicized names and little is known about them due to the lack of detailed records.
caption: Naval Enlistments at Boston July 1863 no. 21 John Davis Ord Seaman and no.36 Samuel Davis Ord Seaman, both from Sandwich Islands (Hawaii) ers
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