In Chapter 7 (Manilamen: Filipino Roots in America), in the book The Filipino Americans: (1763-Present): Their History, Culture, and Traditions, second edition, by Author Veltisezar Bautista stated that according to Filipino oral history passed from generation to generation, and later cited by Filipino historians, Filipinos fought side by side with Americans against the British during the Battle of New Orleans in 1815 as part of the War of 1812. Those were the men who signed up with the famed French buccaneer, Jean Baptiste Lafitte, to join the army of Major-General Andrew Jackson.

However, the Filipino participation in the war was not recognized by American historians.

I. FILIPINOS IN THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION

An excerpt from the book The Baratarians and the Battle of New Orleans by Jane Lucas de Grummond (Louisiana State University Press, Baton Rouge, Louisiana) states:

“Cochrane (Admiral Cochrane of the invading British fleet) had sent two officers in a boat to reconnoiter the area below New Orleans via Bayou Buenvenu. They were disguised as fisherman and some of the Spanish fishermen were their guides. They reached the bayou and ascended to the village of the fishermen.

“Perhaps the fishermen had something to do with the situation. They were accustomed to fish in Lake Borgne and then to take their fish in pirogues to the canals of the Laronde’s and Villere’s plantation....”

In the above quote, the author mentioned “Spanish fishermen” and the fact that they were used to fishing in Lake Borgne. The only known fishermen in the Lake Borgne area, who spoke Spanish, were the Manilamen. Could there be other Spanish fishermen in the area? Or could they be the Filipinos (Manilamen) who were not known as Filipinos but might have been known as Spaniards because they spoke Spanish? Could some of the Filipinos from the fishing village had been signed by Lafitte to join the American soldiers? It is indeed a great possibility. Filipino American historians should continue further research on the participation of Filipinos in the American Revoluition.

II. FILIPINOS IN THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR

Nestor Palugod Enriquez, a retired U.S. navyman turned Filipino American historian, has been researching Filipino American history for the last few years and has discovered that Filipinos did participate in the American civil war.

The results of his exhaustive research of Filipinos who took part in the American Civil War include the following sources:

Filipino Veterans of the US Civil War

Sources:

MA Roster - Massachusetts State Rosters.

Mil. Im. - Military Images magazine.

Muster Roll - Information obtained from original muster rolls at the National Archives.

NH Rosters - New Hampshire Rosters issued by State Adjutant General. Pension - Pension Records, National Archives, Washington, D.C.

Naval Rendezvous Reports - Available at National Archives, Washington, D.C.

Asians In the U.S. Civil War researched done by Terry Foenander who wrote:

“In recent times it has become rather fashionable mongst several researchers and authors to emphasize upon the achievements of one section of the Asian population during the Civil War, at the expense of the many others who served. For quite a few years now this author has attempted to collect data on the various Asians (as well as other natives of Pacific, Eastern and Middle Eastern countries) who participated in the struggle, with rather amazing results. I have found that the statement made by one well known Civil War researcher (and repeated in at least one other publication) that a higher percentage of Chinese served in the Civil War than any other ethnic group is highly unlikely. Obviously the service of Filipinos, Indians (from the Indian sub-continent), Malays, Indonesians and several others of that region were not taken into account.”

The following list contains the names of natives of the Philippines who participated in the American Civil War:.

Pedro Acon, laborer, born Canton, China; enlisted in Company K, 2nd Louisiana Infantry, USA, at New Orleans, September 30, 1862. Aged 28, gray eyes, black hair, dark complexion. Deserted April 14, 1863, at Algiers City. (Muster Roll.)

Stephen Amos, Ordinary Seaman, aged 33, occupation caulker, enlisted November 25, 1863, for 2 years, at New Bedford, Massachusetts. Born Manila, eyes black, hair black, copper complexion. (Page 682, Volume, Naval Rendezvous Reports, National Archives, Washington, D.C.)

Joseph Astor (or Castor?), Ordinary Seaman, USS New Ironsides, aged 23, occupation Mariner, enlisted August 19, 1863, for 3 years, at New York. Born Manila, eyes hazel, hair black, swarthy complexion. (Muster Roll.)

Felix Cornelius Balderry, Philippines, Company A, 11th MI Vols. Employed by sea farer Joseph Foster of Leonidas, Michigan, aboard his vessel before the war, Balderry moved to Michigan and worked as a farmhand before enlisting December 7, 1863, at Kalamazoo for 3 years. He served in the western theater, and was sent to hospital at Nashville in June 1864. Discharged in September of that year, he returned to Michigan, where he worked as a tailor. On September 1, 1885 he married 16 year old Ada May Barns at Constantine, Michigan. Balderry passed away on August 18, 1895, of tuberculosis, at the age of 49. (Pension Records. See also Military Images magazine Nov/Dec 1994, page 13 for an image of Balderry.)

Caystana Baltazar, Landsman, aged 19, enlisted November 10, 1863, for 1 year, at Boston. Born Manila, eyes black, hair black, dark complexion. (Page 644, Volume 29, Naval Rendezvous Reports, National Archives, Washington, D.C. )

Joseph Banards, landsman, aged 21, occupation cook, enlisted March 21, 1865, for 3 years, at Philadelphia. Born Manila, eyes brown, hair black, dark complexion. Page 191, Volume 43.

Andrew Bellino, seaman, aged 27, occupation mariner, enlisted May 6, 1864, for 3 years, at Philadelphia. Born Manila, eyes black, hair black, dark complexion. (Page 308, Volume 33, Naval Rendezvous Reports, National Archives.)

Joseph Bernard, Landsman, aged 21, occupation cook/steward, enlisted February 4, 1864, for 1 year at Boston. Born Manila, described as East Indian. (Page 72, Volume 31, Naval Rendezvous Reports, National Archives, Washington, D.C.)

Joseph Bernardo, landsman, aged 23, occupation steward, enlisted March 25, 1865, for 3 years, at Boston. Born Manila, eyes black, hair black, dark complexion. Page 169, Volume 43. (See entry for Joseph Bernard, above - probably the same person. Muster Rolls for USS Conemaugh also show Joseph Bernardo, Landsman, aged 21, born Manila, occupation Cook, resident of New Jersey, enlisted March 31, 1865, for 3 years, at PP (Philadelphia?). Received bounty of $100.)

James Brown, seaman, USS Pursuit and USS Powhatan, aged 24, enlisted October 10, 1864, for 3 years, at New Bedford, Massachusetts. Born Manila, eyes hazel, hair black, dark complexion. (Muster Roll.)

John Brown, ordinary seaman, USS Augusta, aged 27 (or 22?), occupation nariner, enlisted April 18, 1864, for 2 years, at New York. Born Manila, eyes black, hai black, dark complexion. Page 261, Volume 33. (Possibly the same person as the previous entry. Muster Rolls for USS Augusta show that he was transferred to hospital on May 28, 1864.)

Martin Cross, seaman, aged 22, occupation mariner, enlisted April 11, 1864, for 2 years, at New York. Born Manila, eyes bronze, hair black, brown complexion. Page 24, Volume 32. (Muster Rolls of USS Owasco describe his birthplace as Malaya.)

Valentine Cross, seaman, aged 21, enlisted March 8, 1862, for 3 years, at Boston. Born Manila, described as East Indian. Page 153, Volume 19.

William G. Cruise, Oordinary seaman, aged 26, enlisted March 22, 1865, for 3 years at Kennebunkport, Maine. Born Manila, eyes black, hair black, mulatto complexion. Page 169, Volume 43. (New Hampshire Naval Rosters also show service aboard the USS Constitution and the USS Florida.)

Joseph Cruze, ordinary seaman, aged 20, enlisted May 22, 1862, for 3 years, at New Bedford, Massachusetts. Born Ladrone Island, eyes dark, hair black, copper complexion. Page 5, Volume 20, Naval Rendezvous Reports, National

Martin Cruze, ordinary seaman, aged 20, enlisted March 5, 1863, for 1 year, at New Bedford, Massachusetts. Born Manila, eyes black, hair black, copper complexion. (Page 116, Volume 25, Naval Rendezvous Reports, National Archives).

Antonio Davis, seaman, aged 29, occupation Sailor, enlisted August 5, 1863, for 2 years, at New York. Born Manila, eyes dark, hair black, brown complexion. (Page 426, Volume 27, Naval Rendezvous Reports, National Archives).

Antonio Ducastin, ordinary seaman, aged 24, enlisted August 6, 1864, for 3 years, at Jc(?). Born Manila, eyes black, hair dark, dark complexion. (Page 83, Volume 36, Naval Rendezvous Reports, National Archives).

John Fernando, third classboy, aged 17, enlisted March 23, 1863, for 3 years, at Boston. Born Manila, described as Malay. Page 149, Volume 25.

Benjamin Floros, ordinary seaman, aged 21, occupation Sailor, enlisted November 11, 1864, for 2 years, at Kennebunkport, Maine (?). Born Manila, eyes black, hair brown, brown complexion. (Page 867, Volume 39, Naval Rendezvous Reports, National Archives)

John Francis, Seaman, USS New Hampshire, aged 25, occupation nariner, enlisted July 13, 1862, for 1 year, at New Bedford, Massachusetts. Born Manila, eyes dark, hair black, dark complexion. Page 498, Volume 35. (Muster roll shows John Francis, aged 22, enlisted July 13, 1864, at Boston, for 3 year, eyes black, hair black, copper complexion. See also next entry.)

Johnny Francis, ordinary seaman, aged 27, enlisted October 9, 1861, for 3 years, at New Bedford, Massachusetts. Born Manila, eyes black, hair black, copper complexion. Page 113, Volume 16. (Probably the same person listed in the previous entry.)

Peter Francis, seaman, aged 31, occupation Sailor, enlisted August 5, 1863, for 2 years, at New York. Born Manila, eyes dark, hair black, brown complexion. (Page 426, Volume 27, Naval Rendezvous Reports, National Archives.)

John Henry, seaman, aged 25, occupation mariner, enlisted June 29, 1863, for 1 year, at Philadelphia. Born Manila, eyes black, hair black, copper complexion. Page 353, Volume 26. (See next entry.)

John Henry, ordinary seaman, USS Little Ada, aged 26, occupation mariner, enlisted September 22, 1864, for 3 years, at Portland, Maine (?). Born Manila, East Indies, eyes dark, hair black, dark complexion. (See previous entry - probably the same person.)

Sabas Pilisardo, seaman, aged 37, occupation Mariner, enlisted September 3, 1864, for 3 years, at New York. Born Manila, eyes black, hair black, dark complexion. (Page 123, Volume 37, Naval Rendezvous Reports, National Archives.)

Prince Romerson, 5th Massachusetts (Colored) Cavalry; born Nyhee, Sandwich Islands; enlisted April 23, 1864, aged 24, at Boston, Massachusetts; previous occupation, barber; promoted to Sergeant, June 1, 1864; mustered out of service, October 10, 1865. (Muster Roll.)

Mananea Romulus, landsman, aged 26, enlisted September 3, 1861, for 3 years, at New York. Born Manila, described as Lascar. (Page 222, Volume 16, Naval Rendezvous Reports, National Archives.)

Manuel Roymanus (or Raymanus), Manilla [Philippines], Company H, 25th NY Cavalry, enlisted February 15, 1864, aged 25; previous occupation, sailor; black eyes, black hair, dark complexion; deserted at Camp toneman, August, 1864. (Muster Roll.)

Manuel Santos (or Santoz), seaman, USS Monitor, aged 45, enlisted April 8, 1863 (1865?), for 1 year, at Boston. Born Manila, described as Manila ----. (Page 175, Volume 25, Naval Rendezvous Reports, National Archives.)

John Thompson, ordinary seaman, aged 23, enlisted March 3, 1863, for 1 year, at New Bedford, Massachusetts. Born Manila, eyes black, hair black, copper complexion. (Page 116, Volume 25. See also next entry.)

John Thompson, seaman, aged 24, occupation Sail Maker, enlisted March 31, 1864, for 2 years, aboard USS Brandywine. Born Manila, eyes black, hair black, copper complexion. Page 199, Volume 32. (Probably the same person shown in the previous entry.)

(Note: Enriquez wrote about the latest achievers in his US Navy website: http://members.tripod.com/philusnavy.)

Nestor Palugod Enriquez
http://www.filipinohome.com
Coming to America

(For more info about Filipinos and Filipino Americans, see the book The Filipino Americans (1763-Present): Their History, Culture, and Traditions.), click here.