cathay williams primary sources

Still, the history is up for debate: Some sources claim she was discovered as a woman, while others say she was discharged with no one the wiser to her female identity. She was the first Black woman to enlist, and the only documented woman to serve in the United States Army posing as a man during the American Indian Wars.[1]. Cathay Williams (September 1844 – 1893) was an African-American soldier who enlisted in the United States Army under the pseudonym William Cathay. William Cathay The only woman to serve in the U.S. Army as a Buffalo Soldier and the only African American woman documented to serve in the US army in the 19th century. But being illiterate, she couldn’t spell her “last” name, and her service was recorded under the name William Cathey. [6], In 2018, the Private Cathay Williams monument bench was unveiled on the Walk of Honor at the National Infantry Museum.[7]. Standing 5 feet 9 inches, Cathay was taller than her fellow privates and garnered no undue curiosity or suspicion. There was precedent for granting a pension to female soldiers. She was frequently hospitalized. Williams was born in Independence, Missouri to a free man of color, and a woman in bondage making her legal status also that of a slave. The most distinguishing characteristic of her Army career was her repeated hospitalizations (posthumous analysis determined that she suffered from diabetes, as evidenced by the amputation of all 10 toes prior to her death). Cathay in later years. In 1861 Union forces occupied Jefferson City in the early stages of the Civil War. Cathay Williams is the only documented African American woman who served as a soldier in the Regular U.S. Army in the nineteenth century. 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 … Shortly after her enlistment, Williams contracted smallpox, was hospitalized and rejoined her unit, which by then was posted in New Mexico. She was the first African-American woman to enlist, and the only documented to serve in the United States Army posing as a man.. Williams was born in Independence, Missouri to a free man and a woman in slavery, making her legal status also that of a … Responses will vary, but may include these: Cathay Williams, who'd formerly been enslaved, pretended to be a man so she could enlist in the army in order to make more money than she would have as a female cook. At that time, captured slaves were officially designated by the Union as "contraband", and many were forced to serve in military support roles such as cooks, laundresses, or nurses. In September 1893, a doctor employed by the U.S. Pension Bureau examined Cathay Williams. On November 15, 1866, Cathay Williams—under the inscrutable, male alias William Cathey—enlisted in the 39th United States Infantry Company A … It is possible that Cathay Williams was present at the Battle of Pea Ridge and the Red River Campaign. She was discharged from the army after repeated hospitalizations (for diabetes), but it is still unclear whether the army ever knew she was a woman. She is the only documented black woman to serve in the Army in the 19th century. Cathay Williams was born in Independence, Missouri in September 1844.… Cathay Williams went to work as a cook at Fort Union, New Mexico, and later moved to Pueblo, Colorado. Cathay Williams. Cathy Williams, 2002: CIP galley (born a slave in Independence, Missouri in 1844; she enlisted with Company A, 38th U.S. Infantry in November 1866 by disguising herself as a man and assuming the name William Cathay; she thus became a "buffalo soldier", serving in one of the six black units formed following the Civil War) There is no evidence, however, that supports any claims to her service in the Civil War, although a soldier named "Finis Cathay" did enlist in the 32nd Missouri Infantry as early as 1862 and participated in most of the major campaigns in the west, including the Siege of Vicksburg and Sherman's March to the Sea, before helping to force Joseph E. Johnston's last Confederate army into surrender in North Carolina. Her application was rejected.[4][5]. A reporter from St. Louis heard rumors of an African-American woman who had served in the army, and came to interview her. Nearly 80 years before women officially were allowed to serve in the U.S. Army, former slave Cathay Williams did so, patrolling the western United States as a member of the all-black Buffalo Soldiers. After her discharge, Williams returned to life as Cathay Williams, working in the very jobs she tried to avoid by enlisting as a Buffalo Soldier. Although her military service did not begin until November 15, 1866, Cathay made her career choice based on her experience with the Union Army, which began in late 1861 when she was “impressed” by Colonel William P. Benton of the 13th Army Corps. Instead, authorities declared she had no physical disability, even though she had been discharged because of a pre-existing disability. Needing work, she enlisted in the Army—as a man, William Cathay. Cathay was not unfamiliar with military life. 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[3] Only two others are known to have been privy to the deception, her cousin and a friend, both of whom were fellow soldiers in her regiment. In September 1861 Union troops impressed Cathay into the Army to work as a cook and washerwoman for Union Army officers. She was a slave in Jefferson City, Mo., until the Union Army liberated her, at which point she traveled with the troops, working as a cook and laundress. Historians make much of Williams’ trailblazing service. In 2016, a bronze bust of Cathay Williams, featuring information about her and with a small rose garden around it, was unveiled outside the Richard Allen Cultural Center in Leavenworth, Kansas. The Golden Horde was the name used for the group of Mongols who took control of what is now Russia and other nearby lands. Lessons from our past, help us deal with the present, in hopes of creating a better future! But, she didn’t do it for fanfare or to pave the way for women in the military. Her application was denied—but not because, as a woman, she had served in the Army illegally. Cathay Williams . Cathay’s life after her bid for pension is unknown. This unit's history parallels many of the wartime stories told of Cathay Williams, including its presence in Washington, D.C., at the final Grand Review on May 24, 1865.[2]. Her mother was a “slave” and her father was a “free man of color”. Incredibly, five hospital visits during her soldier days didn’t yield her secret. At that time, captured slaves were officially designated by the Union as "contraband," and many were forced to serve in military support roles such as cooks, laundre… Cathay was born a slave approx. Cathay Williams was the first and only known woman to serve as a Buffalo Soldier. Despite the prohibition against women serving in the military, Cathay Williams enlisted in the United States Regular Army under the false name of "William Cathay"[3] on November 15, 1866, at St. Louis, Missouri, for a three-year engagement, passing herself off as a man. To continue, log into your Learning for Justice account. She had no money, was in poor health, and is supposed to have died sometime in the last decade of the 19 th century. She harkened back to her days in the Army and applied for a military pension. a. The “Buffalo soldiers”—so named by their Apache adversaries because their hair was like the hair of buffalo—saw dangerous duty that they performed well. Cathay in later years. When Congress passed an act authorizing the establishment of the first all Black units of the military, later to become known as Buffalo Soldiers, Cathay Williams, a former slave, joined the Army. Female Buffalo Soldier—With Documents. She was assigned to the 38th United States Infantry Regiment after she passed a cursory medical examination. Sources Remembering Remarkable Firsts During Black History Month Wikipedia During her adolescence, Williams worked as a house servant on the Johnson plantation on the outskirts of Jefferson City, Missouri. The Primary Sources Document 9 Information on the source: Pegolotti’s Merchant Handbook offers insight into trade across Central Asia in the 1300s, when the “Golden Horde” was in control of much of the area. She was discharged from the Army by her commanding officer, Captain Charles E. Clarke, on October 14, 1868. Bert Williams 1874-1922 Bert Williams was one of Broadway’s most successful performers during the first two decades of the 20th century. The WVHP includes a wide range of source material including photographs, letters, diaries, scrapbooks, oral histories, military patches and insignia, uniforms, and posters, as well as published works." During her two year stint in the military, Cathay Williams primarily did regular garrison duties and there are no documented records that can verify that she saw actual combat. Williams had him arrested. She may also have owned a boarding house. In 1861, Union forces occupied Jefferson City … Cathay Williams, posing as a man, served as a member of the Buffalo Soldiers Cathay Williams was born to an enslaved mother and a free father in Independence, Missouri in 1844. 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. By Linda Kirkpatrick, July 1999 . Cathay Cineplexes offers movie-goers an unrivalled movie experience complete with state-of-the-art projection technology and everybody's favourite Cathay caramel popcorn. Cathay was not unfamiliar with military life. Cathay Williams (September 1844 - 1892) was an American soldier. It was at this time that Williams' story first became public. During her adolescence, Williams worked as a house slave on the Johnson plantation on the outskirts of Jefferson City, Missouri. In 1866, she joined the 38 th infantry of the Union Army. Possibly due to the effects of smallpox, the New Mexico heat, or the cumulative effects of years of marching, her body began to show signs of strain. Cathay Williams (September 1844 – 1893) was an African-American soldier who enlisted in the United States Army under the pseudonym William Cathay. But when the Civil War ended, so did Williams’ job. A trailblazer is someone who paves the way for others to be able to do something not previously done before; a pioneer. 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. Select the Student Version to print the text and Text Dependent Questions only. Needing work, she enlisted in the Army—as a man, William Cathay. Thus her final resting place is now unknown. In 1861 Cathay worked as a cook and washerwoman for the Union Army officers. She didn’t have the luxury to consider her legacy. Reread the paragraph that begins, "Historians make much.". She remained with the Army throughout the Civil War … Highlighted vocabulary will appear in both printed versions. Her life and military service narrative was published in The St. Louis Daily Times on January 2, 1876. Select the Teacher Version to print the text with labels, Text Dependent Questions and answers. She is the first African-American female to enlist, and the only documented to serve in the United States Army posing as a man, under the pseudonym William Cathay . The exact date of Williams' death is unknown, but it is assumed she died shortly after being denied a pension, probably sometime in 1893. Ms. Williams was an African-american woman who joined the US Army during the Civil war under the alias of William Cathey. This story appears in the March/April edition of Library of Congress Magazine. But when the Civil War ended, so did Williams’ job. Cathay Williams or William Cathay (Cathey), Private, Thirty-eighth U.S. Infantry, 1866-1868, https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cathay_Williams, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, Many black women were written out of the history surrounding the 'Civil Rights Movement', Jerry Lawson: The “Father of Modern Gaming”, Sundiata Keita: Founder Of The Mali Empire, San people: Oldest Population Of Humans On Earth, Terms and Conditions - Contact Us - Refund Policy, 38th U.S. Infantry Regiment, U.S. Army (Buffalo soldier), This page was last edited on 10 March 2021, at 19:34. Valerie Haeder is a reference librarian in the Serial and Government Publications Division. Cathay Williams Handout - 20 pages . During her adolescence, she worked as a house slave on the Johnson plantation on the outskirts of Jefferson City, Missouri. Then the Civil War broke out And the Union soldiers came And taking Cathay with them Her life would never be the same. Cathay Williams: Female Buffalo Soldier Cathay Williams was the first and only officially documented female buffalo soldier in the United States of America. She was the first African-American woman documented to join the military. Williams was born in Independence, Missouri, to a free man and a woman in slavery, making her legal status also that of a slave. What could she do? I appreciate each and every one of you for joining, viewing, and shopping on my website! After over a year in the hospital she was bereft of money. In late 1889 or early 1890, Cathay Williams entered a local hospital where she remained for some time, and in June 1891, applied for a disability pension based on her military service. Unknown. Sources: Tucker, Phillip Thomas. Our work has evolved in the last 30 years, from reducing prejudice to tackling systemic injustice. In 2016 a small bust of Cathay Williams, with a small rose garden, was unveiled outside the Richard Allen Cultural Center in Leavenworth, Kansas. Cathay Williams served with the “Buffalo Infantry” of Afro Americans from her enlistment on November 15, 1866 until her discharge on October 14, 1868. The following sources were consulted in piecing together the life and military service of Cathay Williams: RG 15, Records of the Veterans Administration, pension application file SO 1032593, Cathay Williams, NARA RG 94, AGO, carded medical records, Regular Army, 1821-1884, six cards relating to William Cathey, NARA RG 94, AGO, enslistment papers, US. Cathay Williams (1844 – 1892), a.k.a. The post surgeon finally discovered she was a woman, and informed the post commander. Cathay Williams is the only documented Black American woman to serve as a soldier in the U.S. Army in the 19th century. At that time, women were not allowed to serve as soldiers so Williams posed as a man, calling herself William Cathay. Williams married, but it ended disastrously when her husband stole her money and a team of horses. Battles/wars. Cathay Williams was the first African-American woman to serve in the U.S. Army. She was a cook and a laundry woman before being hospitalized again, this time in Colorado, her final home. Cathay Williams was determined And never was deterred As she began her life as a house girl Being seen but never heard. At the time she was enlisting in the United States’ army, the government did not allow women to serve in the forces as soldiers. In 1861 Union forces occupied Jefferson City in the early stages of the Civil War. Cathay’s life after her bid for pension is unknown. in 2018 a Private Cathay Williams monument bench was unveiled on the Walk of Honor at the National Infantry Museum. Today's choice for "Women of History," is another american woman named Cathay Williams. Cathay Williams served honorably. Cathay Williams (1844 – 1892), a.k.a. Summarize the text in two to three sentences. Cathay Williams (1844– 1893), a.k.a. Cathay Williams: The Female Buffalo Soldier. Cathay had a cousin and a friend who enlisted, and she decided that in order to earn a living, she would enlist too. Commands held. She disappears from the Trinidad census rolls after that time so historians are not sure if she died there or moved away. So we’ve chosen a new name that better reflects that evolution: Learning for Justice. If you have any questions, fell free to ask! around 1850 in Jackson County, Missouri. Cathay Williams was born in Independence, Missouri in September of 1842. If you don't have an account, Hidden Figures of Women's History: Cathay Williams, Bookmark Hidden Figures of Women's History: Cathay Williams, Includes text, author, text categories, vocabulary terms, text dependent questions with answers, Includes text, author, vocabulary terms, text dependent questions. Cathay Williams - Wikipedia Save en.wikipedia.org https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cathay_Williams 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 during the American Indian … This website and its content is subject to our Terms and Conditions. American Civil War. Cathay learned the ways of military life “I wanted to make my own living and not be dependent on relations or friends,” she declared. Cathay was born a slave around 1850 in Jackson County, Missouri.. Deborah Sampson in 1816, Anna Maria Lane, and Mary Hayes McCauley (better known as Molly Pitcher) had been granted pensions for their service in the American Revolutionary War. Cathay Williams was an African-American soldier who enlisted in the United States Army under the pseudonym William Cathay. Her commanding officer cited Cathey “unable to do military duty” due to disability. I'm the owner and creator of this website! Still today, it is unknown whether the Army knew that William Cathey ever was Cathay Williams, a lone female making her way in the world. 7. Source #1 . 8. Cathay Williams (September 1844 – 1893) was an American soldier who enlisted in the United States Army under the pseudonym William Cathay. In fact, her discharge, after nearly two years of service, never mentioned Williams’ womanhood. First... Henry Ossian Flipper 1856-1940 Henry Ossian Flipper was the first African American to graduate from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. Her simple grave marker would have been made of wood and deteriorated long ago. A project of the Southern Poverty Law Center ©1991-2021. Williams was born a slave and was forced to serve in the Union Army as a cook, then served two years in the Army as a man. United States Army. Her benign deceit was practical: A male soldier would earn more than a female cook. She was the first Black woman to enlist, the only documented woman to serve in the United States Army posing as a man. found: Tucker, P.T. She next moved to Trinidad, Colorado, where she made her living as a seamstress. She disappears from the Trinidad census rolls after that time so historians are not sure if she died there or moved away. Despite the fact that she suffered from neuralgia and diabetes, she had all her toes amputated, and could only walk with a crutch, the doctor decided she did not qualify for disability payments. She was a slave in Jefferson City, Mo., until the Union Army liberated her, at which point she traveled with the troops, working as a cook and laundress. Cathay Williams was born to an enslaved mother and a … She had no money, was in poor health, and is supposed to have died sometime in the last decade of the 19 th century. Sources: Tucker, Phillip Thomas. She was the first Black woman to enlist, and the only documented woman to serve in the United States Army posing as a man during the American Indian Wars. So begins the story of Ms. Cathay Williams, the first documented woman to enlist in the U. S. Army. Williams was born in Independence, Missouri, to a free man and a woman in slavery, making her legal status that of a slave. The nature of her illness and disability are unknown. Born in Independence, Missouri, in 1844 to a slave mother and a free father, her name was Cathay Williams before she was known as William Cathay. (public domain image) Black History Black History Month Profiles: Cathay Williams, Only Known Woman Buffalo Soldier.