Cathay Williams
Quick Facts
Significance: Private Cathay Williams was the only woman to serve in the US Army as a Buffalo Soldier
Place of Birth: Independence, Missouri
Date of Birth: September 1842
Place of Death: Trinidad, Colorado Date of Death:
ca. 1893 Place of Burial: Unknown
Cathay Williams was born to an enslaved mother and a free father in Independence, Missouri in 1844. During her adolescence, she worked as a house slave on the Johnson plantation on the outskirts of Jefferson City, Missouri. In 1861, Union forces occupied Jefferson City during the early stages of the Civil War. At this time, captured slaves were officially designated as contraband and were forced to serve in military support roles such as cooks, laundresses, or nurses. Before her voluntary enlistment, at just 17 years old, Williams served as an Army cook and a washerwoman. In this role she accompanied the infantry all over the country. Williams served under the service of General Philip Sheridan and witnessed the Red River Campaign and the Battle of Pea Ridge.
READ MORE:
https://www.nps.gov/people/cwilliams.htm
Posted By: Dea. Ron Gray Sr.
Friday, February 14th 2020 at 2:18PM
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