Comments on: Sikhs in the Yankee Army

By: Sathanuman S. Khalsa

Sathanuman S. Khalsa — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 21:28:51 +0000

The Sikh in the picture is real. He was a young lad without turban and beard when he first joined the Union Army during the American Civil War. He, like many East Indians and other Asians came via Canada. They were British educated and some were light skinned. Some were dark-skinned. Some had Anglo names, some Hispanic names. Some joined white regiments, some colored. There were many. As for the old US Civil War veterans in this picture, this is real. Old men in 1917 cheering American and British troops going off toe France to fight the Germans. I joined the US Air Force in 1968. I was cleaned shaven, typical American lad. I am now 61 and a veteran. I adopted the Sikh faith in 1971 when I was discharged. I am American (in fact 11th generation) but I have white beard and mustache, long gray hair and I wear a Daastar (turban). I work for DHS (5 years). SO this is very feasible. Since I know the history and study the Civil War, am a Sikh-American myself, I find this very sound.

By: avtar singh dhami

avtar singh dhami — Fri, 26 Nov 2010 05:15:31 +0000

You have to study the book In The Shadows of The Himalays which is story of how and when the Presbeyterian Church in Pennsylvania sent its missionaries to Punjab after the fall of Maharaja Ranjit Singhs Kindom in 1849. The first nmission was established in Rawalpindi Punjab by AC Gordon and family and over a period they converted about 150000 people to christian faith and broght lot of people in to America which we need to investigate the normal history is that people came to sanfrancisco in 1896 but my gut feeling is that people from punjab or sikhs from other states like bengal bihar and assam might have come earlier. Bhagat Singh Thind joined the US army in 1918 and retired in 1918. thanks avtar singh dhami

By: Neil

Neil — Wed, 24 Nov 2010 05:23:00 +0000

It’s not likely that he was with the British when called upon to serve in the US Civil War, mainly because the British supported the Confederacy, not the Union, in the war.

By: Kautilya

Kautilya — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 17:03:29 +0000

TTCUSM – Cassius: “The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, But in ourselves, that we are underlings.”

By: Goutham

Goutham — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 15:42:18 +0000

Could it be that he was not in US Army but still participated in the Civil war as a British siubject . The following web Link talks about Briton in the civil war (The sikh guy is not listed though): http://www.americancivilwar.org.uk/news_uk-people-in-the-civil-war_182.htm

By: TTCUSM

TTCUSM — Sun, 21 Nov 2010 00:39:30 +0000

Kautilya,

I'm sure you've heard of the "Martial Races Theory"? According to this theory, the Indian Subcontinent is inhabited by certain "Martial Races" who are inherently better at warfare than the "Effeminate Races".

Typically, a "Martial Race" consisted of one that sided with the British during the 1857 Sepoy Mutiny, and an "Effeminate Race" consisted of one that rebelled.

By: Dr Anonymous

Dr Anonymous — Sat, 20 Nov 2010 22:07:51 +0000

And here’s more info:

One of the photographs, however, presents a real mystery – one of the 14 men, wearing a ribbon or medal like the rest of them, very clearly appears to be a Sikh; no record of any practicing Sikh in the Union armies or navies has been found, and efforts to identify him have so far failed. Other photographs show at least one Black veteran, probably Private William Silkerd, 4th U.S.C.T.

http://www.americancivilwar.org.uk/news_the-london-branch-of-american-civil-war-veterans-1910-1933_192.htm

By: Dr Anonymous

Dr Anonymous — Sat, 20 Nov 2010 22:06:22 +0000

Here's video minus the Sikh guy posted at the Sikhnet forum. http://www.britishpathe.com/record.php?id=76134

By: Dr Anonymous

Dr Anonymous — Sat, 20 Nov 2010 22:04:33 +0000

Interesting. I wonder why he moved to London, if he did. Also, 'British' veterans seems like a premature conclusion to come to, given the signage and the reason.

Anyway, look forward to finding out what happened. Thanks!

By: Radha Krishna

Radha Krishna — Sat, 20 Nov 2010 21:10:21 +0000

Amen, Kautilya.

Most of the elite in India--Congress Party, esp.--were collaborators of the colonizers.