21+ Cathay Williams Meme

Cathay williams 1844 1892 a k a.
Cathay williams meme. She served in the buffalo regiment during the civil war having enlisted two years earlier. On october 14 1868 william cathay was declared unfit for duty and honorably discharged. She was the first african american woman to enlist and the only one who is documented as having served in the united states army posing as a man. She was the first black woman to be documented for her service in the u s. She signed up with the 25th infantry buffalo soldiers as william cathay. Here are 10 facts about this fascinating character. Army before women were officially allowed to enlist.
Cathay williams was the only known female african american buffalo soldier. Williams posed as a man named william cathay and served as a buffalo soldier in the first black unit of the military during the civil war. Born a slave in independence missouri in 1844 cathay worked as a house servant on a nearby plantation on the outskirts of jefferson city. She was the first woman to enlist in the united states military. She remained with the army throughout the civil war serving at various. Nov 1 2012 cathay williams. At this time captured slaves were.
In september 1861 union troops impressed cathay into the army to work as a cook and washerwoman for union army officers. Cathay williams was pressed into service in 1861 by the union army in missouri enlisted as a man in 1866 and served in the indian wars as a buffalo soldier the first and only female ever to do so. When she was hospitalized the doctor discovered her secret. In 1861 union forces occupied jefferson city during the early stages of the civil war. Cathay williams september 1844 1893 was an african american soldier who enlisted in the united states army under the pseudonym william cathay she was the first black woman to enlist and the only documented woman to serve in the united states army posing as a man. Army in the nineteenth century. Cathay williams is the only documented african american woman who served as a soldier in the regular u s.
Cathay williams was a cook for the union army. When the civil war ended cathay needed to support herself. William cathay was the first known african american woman to enlist in the united states army and the only black woman documented to serve in the us army in the 19th century. Cathay williams was born to an enslaved mother and a free father in independence missouri in 1844. When congress passed an act authorizing the establishment of the first all black units of the military later to become known as. Cathay was born a slave around 1850 in jackson county missouri. Williams was born in september of 1844 in independence missouri.
Her biggest wish was to live free from the restrictions placed on women especially slave women.