#cathay williams
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forthosebefore · 7 months ago
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Cathay Williams, first African-American woman to serve in the U.S. Army
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November 15, 1866: Cathay Williams became the first African American woman to serve in the U.S. Army, and the only woman to serve in the U.S. Army as a Buffalo Soldier.
Williams was born to an enslaved mother and a free father in Independence, Missouri in 1844. At 17 years old, Williams first served as an Army cook and a washerwoman. During this time, African Americans who had been captured were forced to serve in military support as contraband for Union forces. Williams enlisted in the U.S. Regular Army under the false name “William Cathay” on November 15, 1866. She was assigned to the 38th U.S. infantry Regiment, one of the all-black regiments recently established, that would become part of the renown Buffalo Soldiers. The Army did not require full medical exams at the time, so she was able to pass as a man.
When Williams began to feel the effects of smallpox and was hospitalized, it was discovered that she was actually a woman. Lewis was honorably discharged by her commanding officer, Captain Charles E. Clarke, on October 14, 1868. Following her discharge, Williams went to work as a cook at Fort Union, New Mexico, and later moved to Pueblo, Colorado. Around 1889 or 1890, Williams entered a hospital and applied for disability pension based on her medical service. Her request was denied. In 1893, a doctor’s examination revealed that Willaims suffered from neuralgia and diabetes. She had all her toes amputated and walked with a crutch. The doctor determined that she did not qualify for disability payments. While the exact date of her death is unknown, it is believed that Williams died shortly after she was denied.
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Williams’ interview that was published in the St. Louis Daily Times on January 2, 1876:
"My Father a was a freeman, but my mother a slave, belonging to William Johnson, a wealthy farmer who lived at the time I was born near Independence, Jackson county, Missouri. While I was a small girl my master and family moved to Jefferson City. My master died there and when the war broke out and the United States soldiers came to Jefferson City they took me and other colored folks with them to Little Rock. Col. Benton of the 13th army corps was the officer that carried us off. I did not want to go. He wanted me to cook for the officers, but I had always been a house girl and did not know how to cook. I learned to cook after going to Little Rock and was with the army at The Battle of Pea Ridge. Afterwards the command moved over various portions of Arkansas and Louisiana. I saw the soldiers burn lots of cotton and was at Shreveport when the rebel gunboats were captured and burned on Red River. We afterwards went to New Orleans, then by way of the Gulf to Savannah Georgia, then to Macon and other places in the South. Finally I was sent to Washington City and at the time Gen. Sheridan made his raids in the Shenandoah valley I was cook and washwoman for his staff I was sent from Virginia to some place in Iowa and afterwards to Jefferson Barracks, where I remained some time. You will see by this paper that on the 15th day of November 1866 I enlisted in the United States army at St. Louis, in the Thirty-eighth United States Infantry Company A, Capt. Charles E. Clarke commanding. Captain Charles E. Clarke in the Civil War 6th Infantry at the Battle of Baton Rouge. "The regiment I joined wore the Zouave uniform and only two persons, a cousin and a particular friend, members of the regiment, knew that I was a woman. They never 'blowed' on me. They were partly the cause of my joining the army. Another reason was I wanted to make my own living and not be dependent on relations or friends. Soon after I joined the army, I was taken with the small-pox and was sick at a hospital across the river from St. Louis, but as soon as I got well I joined my company in New Mexico. I was as that paper says, I was never put in the guard house, no bayonet was ever put to my back. I carried my musket and did guard and other duties while in the army, but finally I got tired and wanted to get off. I played sick, complained of pains in my side, and rheumatism in my knees. The post surgeon found out I was a woman and I got my discharge. The men all wanted to get rid of me after they found out I was a woman. Some of them acted real bad to me. After leaving the army I went to Pueblo, Colorado, where I made money by cooking and washing. I got married while there, but my husband was no account. He stole my watch and chain, a hundred dollars in money and my team of horses and wagon. I had him arrested and put in jail, and then I came here. I like this town. I know all the good people here, and I expect to get rich yet. I have not got my land warrant. I thought I would wait till the railroad came and then take my land near the depot. Grant owns all this land around here, and it won't cost me anything. I shall never live in the states again. You see I've got a good sewing machine and I get washing to do and clothes to make. I want to get along and not be a burden to my friends or relatives."
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Leticia Wright stars in the 2023 film Surrounded. Her character, Moses “Mo” Washington, was modeled after the Cathay Williams. I’m also seeing a bit of Stagecoach Mary in Wright’s character.
Source: Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture Facebook, National Park Service, YouTube
Visit www.attawellsummer.com/forthosebefore to learn more about Black history and read new blog posts first.
Need a freelance graphic designer or illustrator? Send me an email.
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yandins-beleagured-historian · 7 months ago
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Untitledmemoranda(23)[cathaytemple].autorecovered
In light of the recent antics of one Custodian by the name of Calladayce Taurovalia Kesh, a desire has been expressed amongst the higher levels of the Logos Historica Verita to reappraise existing histories of the Emperor's Companions and ascertain what proportion of named individuals may, like Kesh, be, and I regrettably quote "Companionesses." (remembrancer mikelos why are you like this??) 
Given the agonizingly byzantine nature of personal onomastics within the Adeptus Custodes, I have requested that I use my current research connections as a method for contribution to this undoubtedly grand and worthy undertaking (/s), rather than spend the next five decades combing through Terra's underlibraries and arguing twenty different forms of ancient linguistics with adepts who still believe the Necron are chaos robots.
I caught up with Captain Yandin on the launch deck to introduce him to my new task and ask him whether the Iron Fists have ever fought alongside the Adeptus Custodes. He was just limbering up to regale me with the story of eighth captain Demiach's experience aboard the Talos Clarion during the siege of Taralus, when we were promptly interrupted by savant Paramete, who was heard to explain something along the lines of "WE CAN DO THAT NOW??" Before leaving the deck at speed in a state of what I can only describe as 'righteous jubilation.' 
With some trepidation, I asked Yandin if the savant has a particular affection for cyclonic warheads. He responded that "The Cathay Temple is just a bit excitable when it comes to matters of engenderment." While there are notes of closed-doors organisations within the chapter, with the honour guard of the Arcan Temple being most notable, I have yet to probe further into this 'Cathay Temple'. Mostly as such exploration will likely require interacting with savant Paramete. Given the fortitude that such an experience will require, I am not keen to undertake this quite yet. Throne preserve my good graces, Hester Vinchix Calimorre, Historiographer-Moderatus, Logos Historica Verita. -Addendum- +Attached file: replication of token seen to be carried by Savant Haymer Paramete, seventh company command, Iron Fists+
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deadpanwalking · 4 months ago
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dpw i am preparing a long list of Helen Vendler books to request from the library because you have inspired me to be more of a Poetry Appreciator. I’m so excited to read them!
but also: I am wondering if there are any poets you’d specifically recommend for extremely short poems like haiku, couplets, etc?
I was transfixed when you reblogged A Lover by Amy Lowell a while ago because it’s so short but every time I thought about it i understood another dimension. And I’m now fascinated by tiny short poems because for me as a reader the brevity heightens my attention to how carefully chosen each word was, and how much each word contains and says. I read Amy Lowell said that “concentration is the very essence of poetry” and I think that’s what fascinates me about the short ones, how much is concentrated in them.
Anyway I would love love love any recommendations you might have about other poems and poets that do this well. and in the meantime thank you for inspiring me to be more well read!
Rexroth is still the gold standard for classical Japanese poetry translations, though I picked up a copy of Jane Hirshfield and Mariko Aratani's's translation of Ono no Komachi and Izumi Shikibu's poems last year on the recommendation of a friend, and fell in love with it.
As far as English language poetry goes, you don't have to stray far from the path you're already on—Imagists, Vorticists, and early Modernists all made their bones fucking around with minimalism. So: T.E. Hulme, F.S. Flint, Ford Madox Ford , H.D., William Carlos Williams, and my personal favorite expatriate fascist collaborator, Ezra Loomis Pound (though if you pick up Cathay you gotta check out ABC of Reading—and if you check out ABC of Reading you'll want to cleanse the palate with Wong May's In The Same Light, which I've talked about on here).
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lboogie1906 · 2 months ago
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Cathay Williams (1844 - 1893) is the only documented African American woman who served as a soldier in the Regular Army in the nineteenth century. She was born enslaved in Jackson County, Missouri. In September 1861 Union troops impressed her into the Army to work as a cook and washerwoman for Union Army officers. She remained with the Army throughout the Civil War serving at various locales including Little Rock, New Orleans, Shreveport, Savannah, and Macon. In 1864 she served as cook and washerwoman for General Phil Sheridan and his staff in the Shenandoah Valley campaign.
On November 15, 1866, she disguised her gender and enlisted as William Cathey, serving in Company A of the 38th Infantry, a newly-formed all-Black Army Regiment, one of its earliest recruits. She said she joined the Army because “I wanted to make my own living and not be dependent on relations or friends.”
She served at Jefferson Barracks outside St. Louis and was posted at Fort Cummings and Fort Bayard in New Mexico Territory. Like other African American soldiers stationed at remote western outposts after the Civil War, she endured inadequate supplies and inferior weapons. One of the tallest privates in her company, she concealed her femininity for two years despite numerous Army hospital visits before her true gender was discovered by the Fort Bayard post surgeon. She was discharged at Fort Bayard on October 14, 1868, on a surgeon’s certificate of disability.
Following her discharge from the Army, she resumed her identity and lived in Pueblo, Las Animas, and Trinidad, Colorado, where she was known as Kate. She was hospitalized circa 1890 for over a year in Trinidad. In June 1891 she filed a pension application based on medical disability incurred during military service as William Cathey. The Army rejected her pension claim on February 8, 1892, citing no grounds for a pensionable disability, but did not question her gender identity as William Cathay. The date of her death is unknown. #africanhistory365 #africanexcellence
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queenie435 · 9 months ago
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Cathy Williams:
A Woman Who Allegedly Posed as Man to Become a Soldier.
Cathy Williams, born in Independence, Missouri, around 1844, emerged as a remarkable figure in American history. As a daughter of a slave mother and a free father, she initially went by the name Cathay Williams before adopting the alias William Cathay.
Williams holds the distinction of being the first African American woman soldier to enlist in the Army during the 19th century. Her remarkable story also places her as the sole documented black woman to serve in the Army during that period and as a member of the renowned Buffalo Soldiers.....
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gerardfreeman · 1 year ago
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The life of Cathay Williams: The tale of the only female Buffalo Soldier, who went on to settle in Colorado | Subscriber Content | gazette.com
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imsureiforgotsomething · 1 year ago
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Cryptobotany does exist. Here are a few:
Medieval Botanica: Mythical Plants of the Middle Ages by James L. Matterer
January 2, 1994
Civilizations as early as the Chaldean in southwestern Asia were among the first to have a belief in plants that never existed, and the practice continued well beyond the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. Originally, this was done to disperse the mystery surrounding certain seemingly-miraculous events and to symbolically embody in a physical form various aspects--wealth, happiness, fertility, etc. Later, people began to invent "nonsense plants" to enliven the tale of an otherwise boring voyage, and with the invention of the printed book, to entertain readers who loved to believe in such fables. The following is a short list of some of the fantastic plants our medieval forebears believed in. As will be evident, trees, because of their longevity and immensity, have been foremost among the plants considered sacred, mystic, or mythical.
The Barnacle Tree
One of the most amazing botanical myths is that of a tree that had barnacles that opened to reveal geese. The legend of this tree was of great antiquity, and although Albert Magnus in the 13th c. denounced it as false, the tales of this tree were popular among herbalists up until the 18th century. William Turner, a 16th c. English herbalist accepted the idea, as did John Gerard in his Herball, or Generall Historie of Plantes, published in 1597, in which he wrote: "...there is a small llande in Lancashire called the Pile of Foulders...whereon is found a certaine spume or froth, that in time breedeth unto certaine shels." These mussel-shaped shells would grow until they split open, revealing "the legs of the Birde hanging out...til at length it is all come foorth." The bird would hang by its bill until fully mature, then would drop into the sea "where it gathereth feathers, and groweth to a foule, bigger than a Mallard, and lesser than a Goose."
Bohun Upas--the tree of poisons
The first voyagers to Malay returned with grisly tales of a poisonous tree growing on the islands near Cathay, which was called the Bohun Upas--the tree of poisons. To the medieval traveler this tree was to be shunned, as it produced narcotic and toxic fumes which killed plants and animals for miles around. If one were to fall asleep in the shade of this tree, he would never awaken. Malaysians supposedly executed prisoners by tying them to the trunk of this great tree.
The Tree of Knowledge
"...the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden" is the only reference in the Old Testament to that tree which has become known as the "tree of knowledge." In the Garden of Eden man was given a choice between this tree, which conferred mortality on mankind, and the tree of life, which granted immortality. Given no other indication, artists and writers have envisioned the tree of knowledge as an apple, a fig, a pear, dragon's blood, and a banana tree! The most bizarre interpretation comes from a 13th c. cathedral in Indres, France, which contains a fresco showing Eve encountering a serpent entwined around a giant branching mushroom common in Europe--the slightly toxic and hallucinogenic Amanita muscaria.
The Tree of Life
The identification of this tree varied among cultures and time periods. To the Druids, the tree of life was the Oak, due to its age and the fact that it was the host for mistletoe, their most sacred plant. To the ancient Hebrews, it was the Cedar, which provided wood and a delicate, precious oil. The Assyrians depicted the tree of life as a Date tree, and since they artificially pollinated their date trees to produce a greater amount of fruit, to them it was not only a source of food but a symbol of conception. Also, the fruit provided a date wine which was used as a libation to the gods.
Biblically, the tree of life is the Sycamore, which appears often in the Scriptures. To must of us, this suggests the western Sycamore, the Plant tree (Platanus). However, when it is read that the Egyptians regarded the Sycamore as their sacred "tree of life," we must question this, as the Sycamore is not indigenous to the Nile Valley. In reality, the Sycamore of the Bible was the wild Fig tree, dedicated to fertility, joy, and the afterlife. The fig tree has a leaf very similar to that of a mulberry tree, and over the years the two Greek words for fig and mulberry (sycos and moros) united to form the name sycamore. No real sycamore was ever a tree of life.
The Amber Tree
Amber, which we now know is the aging resin of several different tress and shrubs, was of unknown origin to the ancients, who revered it as a great element in magic and used it often as a talisman. Because it was found most frequently on the shores of streams, in old lake beds, or in the sea, it was often thought to be the product of a fish that was called, appropriately, the amberfish. Others believed it came from seafoam that had crystallized, or from resin put forth by certain trees. So when the artist of the Hortus Sanitatis, published in 1491 by Jacob Meydenbach, was required to portray amber, he cleverly composed all these legends and produced a foaming ocean in which an amberfish swims under an amber tree growing out of the waters. The look of doubt expressed in the glance of the fish perhaps says it best.
The Apple of Sodom & the Zieba Tree
To conclude this brief look at the mythical plants of the medieval world, there must be made mention of the Apple of Sodom, a gigantic tree which grew in the desolated area that was once Sodom & Gamorrah. Any traveler of the region foolish enough to pick one of the apples would have it turn to smoke and ashes in his hand--a sure sign of God's eternal displeasure with those who would succumb to their physical senses at the site of His retribution. And finally, no study of fabulous plants would be complete without mention of the Zieba tree, a huge, shingle-barked growth that supported in its lower branches a nest of bare bosomed men & women. Like all those who choose to believe in the tales of these incredible plants, the humans reposing in the Zieba tree spend their days sitting exalted in fantasy, contemplating in wonder all things seen and unseen.
Emboden, William A. Jr., Bizarre Plants, Macmillan Publishing Co., Inc.: New York, 1974.
Author: Lord Ian Damebrigge of Wychwood Please send coments to [email protected] (MR JL MATTERER)
Cryptozoology is my favourite kind of fake science stuff. Wish there was also cryptobotany, like mothman but its just a really big fern in the middle of a field with literally nothing else around it , that spawned in the dead of night, might have killed a few people and never shows up in photos, and no one is sure its even real
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savage-kult-of-gorthaur · 4 months ago
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FIRST AND BEST DRUMMER G.B.H. EVER HAD -- HAPPY MOTÖRHEAD MONDAY, BASTARDS
PIC(S) INFO: Spotlight on the mighty Andy "Wilf" Williams, classic and/or original drummer for English street punk band CHARGED G.B.H., pictured here in a Motörmasters sleeveless tee during a gig at the former Cathay de Grande in Hollywood, CA, c. 1983. 📾: Linda Aronow.
PIC #2: Group portrait of G.B.H. at the Cathay De Grande in Hollywood, CA, c. 1983.
Sources: www.picuki.com/media/3005528454866592565 (Picuki 2×).
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coloradomartini · 8 months ago
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The Hidden Legacy: Cathay Williams, the Female Buffalo Soldier
Cathay Williams was once an enslaved woman but later disguised herself as a man so she could become a soldier. Cathay Williams was the first African American woman to enlist and the only documented woman to serve in the United States Army, while disguised
Cathay Williams was once an enslaved woman but later disguised herself as a man so she could become a soldier. Cathay Williams was the first African American woman to enlist and the only documented woman to serve in the United States Army, while disguised as a man, during the Indian Wars. Williams is also the only known female Buffalo Soldier. Cathay Williams was born to an enslaved mother and a

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rebeleden · 10 months ago
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Cathay Williams: The "Buffalo Soldier" Who Dared to Break Barriers | Bla...
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CC THE EVE GENE
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valkyries-things · 10 months ago
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PVT. CATHAY WILLIAMS // SOLDIER
“She was an African-American soldier who enlisted in the US Army under the pseudonym William Cathay. She was the first Black woman to enlist and the only documented woman to serve in the US Army posing as a man during the American Indian Wars. She was born a slave and is thought of to have enlisted in the US Army under the name Finis Cathay and participated in the Siege of Vicksburg and Sherman’s March to the Sea. She seemed to have enlisted under a different name in 1866 for a three-year-engagement. She was discovered by a surgeon after being hospitalised and discharged in 1868.”
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leaarong · 11 months ago
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Cathay Williams: The "Buffalo Soldier" Who Dared to Break Barriers | Bla...
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romanadvora · 2 years ago
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Marco Polo
season 001 : story 004 : episodes 014-020
22 FEB - 04 APR 1964 || 29 - 30 JAN 2023
Quite a difficult story here as there's no surviving clips, and no [official] animation- the first story to have missing episodes, and all 7 are lost. If you get through this then you're well and truly into the 60s vibe.
That being said, between Marco Polo's voice-over journaling, and (without me realizing) William Russel being the narrator for the BBC audio release, this was actually quite easy to follow.
Susan running back into the TARDIS to attack Ian and Barbara with snowballs while the Doctor casually follows is again a nice instance of the first TARDIS team just being very laid back and cozy.
The TARDIS is written out of the plot fairly well, and the everypresent conflict of Marco being quite friendly and hospitable, while also being the one keeping the group in Cathay is nicely done. Everyone's motivations just.. make sense; the Doctor, Susan, Ian & Barbara want the freedom to leave, Marco has confiscated the TARDIS for the same reason, and Tegana wants to steal the TARDIS of Marco in order to be the one who presents it to Mighty Kublai Khan.
Plot points like the sandstorm and the caravan running out of water feel like they have genuine stakes to them (I really wish at least the sandstorm sequence had survived as I really wanna know how that turned out in a 1960s telly studio).
Moments like when the TARDIS has water condensation appear on the inside not only resolves a plot point (the Doctor has licked water off the TARDIS walls canon), but also gives a little science lesson, as how Barbara gives a bit of history while also making you keep a nervous jolt for her sake when she says some city or another will be destoryed.
I really like the Doctor in this; when Marco takes the TARDIS keys and says it'll be given to Khan, the Doctor simply breaks down laughing because he has absolutely no idea how they’ll get it back. Speaking of, winning the TARDIS back by naming it as a prize for defeating Khan in chess, BEFORE HE'S ACTUALLY SEEN IT YET is such a power move.
Ping-Cho & Susan forever by the way.
This is a slow one; it's not so much about having great action piece back to back to back but more about the slow tense journey through the Gobi desert. Characterization is key.
★★★★☆
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sfc-paulchambers · 2 years ago
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On November 15, 1866, Cathay Williams enlisted in the U.S. Army using the name #williamcathay . She informed her #recruiting #officer that she was a 22-year-old #cook. He described her as 5’ 9", with black eyes, black hair and black complexion. An Army #surgeon examined Cathay and determined the #recruit was fit for duty, thus sealing her fate in history as the first documented black woman to enlist in the #Army even though regulations forbade the #enlistment of women . She was assigned to the #38thinfantry & traveled throughout the #west with her unit. During her service, she was hospitalized at least 5 times, but no one discovered she was a female. After less than two years of service, Cathay was given a disability discharge but little is known of the exact medical reasons. #blacksoldiers #womenwarriors #theydiditwhycantyou #usarmysoldier #womenshistorymonth If you’re ready to be a part of #history & #armyhistory then #contactmenow #pm #dm #text 615-429-0932 #yourarmyreservecareercounselor #armystrong armyteam #theydidit #whatsyourexcuse #teamarmy #bedifferent #blackhistorymonth #bearmystrong #beallthatyoucanbe (at Middle Tennessee Area) https://www.instagram.com/p/CpNLPsAOviK/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=
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lboogie1906 · 11 days ago
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Cathay Williams (1844 - 1893) is the only documented African American woman who served as a soldier in the Regular Army in the nineteenth century. She was born enslaved in Jackson County, Missouri. In September 1861 Union troops impressed her into the Army to work as a cook and washerwoman for Union Army officers. She remained with the Army throughout the Civil War serving at various locales including Little Rock, New Orleans, Shreveport, Savannah, and Macon. In 1864 she served as cook and washerwoman for General Phil Sheridan and his staff in the Shenandoah Valley campaign.
On November 15, 1866, she disguised her gender and enlisted as William Cathey, serving in Company A of the 38th Infantry, a newly-formed all-Black Army Regiment, one of its earliest recruits. She said she joined the Army because “I wanted to make my own living and not be dependent on relations or friends.”
She served at Jefferson Barracks outside St. Louis and was posted at Fort Cummings and Fort Bayard in New Mexico Territory. Like other African American soldiers stationed at remote western outposts after the Civil War, she endured inadequate supplies and inferior weapons. One of the tallest privates in her company, she concealed her femininity for two years despite numerous Army hospital visits before her true gender was discovered by the Fort Bayard post surgeon. She was discharged at Fort Bayard on October 14, 1868, on a surgeon’s certificate of disability.
Following her discharge from the Army, she resumed her identity and lived in Pueblo, Las Animas, and Trinidad, Colorado, where she was known as Kate. She was hospitalized circa 1890 for over a year in Trinidad. In June 1891 she filed a pension application based on medical disability incurred during military service as William Cathey. The Army rejected her pension claim on February 8, 1892, citing no grounds for a pensionable disability, but did not question her gender identity as William Cathay. The date of her death is unknown. #africanhistory365 #africanexcellence
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arlenschumer · 2 years ago
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In honor of BLACK HISTORY MONTH: My portrait of CATHAY WILLIAMS (1844-1893), the first black woman to enlist in the U.S. Army--but posed as a MAN under the pseudonym "William Cathay"--serving in the 38th U.S. Infantry Regiment as a Buffalo soldier. BUFFALO SOLDIERS originally were members of the 10th Cavalry Regiment of the U.S. Army, formed on September 21, 1866, at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas; the nickname was given to the black cavalry by Native American tribes who fought in the American-Indian Wars. arlenschumer.com/historical #cathaywilliams #williamcathay #buffalosoldier #buffalosoldiers #arlenschumer #portrait #portraits #illustrationartists #illustrators @dgareps @richardsyrettstrangeplanet @nyadventureclub https://www.instagram.com/p/Co4-IZIL48W/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=
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