Union enlistment Foreign enlistment in the American Civil War

although union army s largest foreign-born contingents comprised irish- , german-americans, regiments such 79th new york highlanders, formed in 1850s, consisted of descendants of scottish immigrants before accepting irish, english , others ranks during years of war. should noted these immigrants had been living in years prior war.

communication difficulties, in union regiments, constant problem in divisions made of varied nationalities. such divisions included volunteers germany, ireland, italy, poland, , other european countries. 1 regiment, in particular, made of officers , soldiers 15 different nations, , commanding officer s orders had translated in 7 different languages. major general franz sigel had orders translated native german hungarian officers. reports him had translated in english rest of command , german again when sigel received reports.

the us, in north, had received large influx of european immigrants in 1850s because of people leaving europe avoid ongoing wars , rebellions there. europe had been in midst of pro-republican transformation people such garibaldi, italy.

many british citizens colony of bermuda, coloured (a term in bermuda used designate not entirely of european heritage) population, fought union, either in united states navy or united states army. among others, included robert tappin (who had served in navy 1863 1864), john wilson , joseph thomas of 31st colored infantry regiment, john thompson of 26th colored infantry, wate o. harris, of 6th coloured infantry, , george smith. best-known of coloured bermudians serve in union army first sergeant robert john simmons of 54th massachusetts infantry regiment, had served in british army in bermuda. simmons die of wounds following second battle of fort wagner, on outskirts of bermudian settlement of charleston, south carolina, of weapons run through blockade bermuda landed. other british citizens active in war included numerous irish emigres, served in large numbers on both sides. many of these irish veterans took part in fenian raids on canada after war, , britain strengthened defences in bermuda because of fear of similar raids there or feared punitive invasion of colony united states.