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CATHAY WILLIAMS,
FEMALE BUFFALO SOLDIER
When Cathay Williams enlisted
in the army, women were not allowed to serve as soldiers. Therefore,
Williams posed as a man, and joined the Thirty-Eighth Infantry. As a
result, she became the first and the only known female Buffalo Soldier.
Cathay Williams’ Life in Bondage
Williams was born into slavery in Independence, Missouri in 1842.
She worked as a house slave for William Johnson, a wealthy planter
in Jefferson City, Missouri. She worked for him until his death.
About the same time, the Civil War broke out and she was freed by
Union soldiers.
Cathay Williams Works as an Army Servant
From thereafter, she worked for the Army as a paid servant. While
serving the soldiers, she experienced military life first hand. She
served Colonel Benton while he was in Little Rock, Arkansas. She
also served General Sheridan and his staff, and was later recruited
to Washington to serve as a cook and laundress for them. While
traveling with them, she witnessed the Shenandoah Valley raids in
Virginia. After leaving Virginia, she traveled to Iowa and then went
on to St. Louis. Throughout her time working for the Army, she also
had the opportunity to travel to New Orleans, Savannah, and Macon.
 Cathay Williams Joins the Army
After the war,
Williams wanted to be financially independent so she joined the
army. In November 1866, she enlisted as William Cathay in the
Thirty-Eighth United States Infantry, Company A. She was able to do
so because a medical examination was not required. Only her cousin
and a friend were aware of her real identity. Company A arrived at Fort Cummings in New Mexico on
October 1, 1867. At the fort, Williams and her company protected miners
and traveling immigrants from Apache Indian attack. While serving in
Company A, there was insubordination among some of the troops, but
Williams was not involved in the incidents.
In 1868, Williams grew tired of military life so she
feigned illness. She was examined by the post surgeon who then
discovered that she was a woman. She was discharged October 14, 1868.
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