Cotton Canvas Tote Bag (Cathay Williams,)

Cathay Williams, also known as William Cathay, was an American soldier and the first African American woman to enlist in the United States Army1234. Born in Independence, Missouri in 1844, she was the daughter of a free man and an enslaved woman.

During the Civil War, Williams served as a cook and a washerwoman for the Union Army. She also acted as a spy, going behind enemy lines deep in the Confederacy. After the war, she enlisted in the U.S. Army under the pseudonym “William Cathay,” disguising herself as a man.

Williams served in the 38th U.S. Infantry Regiment2. She contracted smallpox and was hospitalized shortly after her enlistment. Despite her frequent hospitalizations, it took some time before the post surgeon discovered she was a woman and informed the post commander2. She was honorably discharged by her commanding officer, Captain Charles E. Clarke, on October 14, 18682.

After her discharge, Williams worked as a cook at Fort Union, New Mexico, and later moved to Pueblo, Colorado2. She eventually settled in Trinidad, Colorado, where she worked as a seamstress. Her story became public in 1876 when a reporter from St. Louis interviewed her2.

Cathay Williams’ service is significant as she was the only documented Black woman to serve in the U.S. Army while posing as a man during the Indian Wars3. Her courage and determination continue to inspire many today.