Cathay Williams: the First Black Woman to Enlist in the United States Army

Kathy Williams was the first black woman to enlist in the U.S. Army, serving as William Kathy during the American Indian War. Born in 1844, she was impressed into the Union Army in 1861 as a cook and washerwoman. In 1866, she enlisted as a man in the 38th Infantry, serving for two years before her gender was discovered. After discharge, she lived in Pueblo and applied for a pension, which was denied. Her death date remains unknown.

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