Cathay Williams was an American soldier who enlisted in the United States Army under the pseudonym William Cathay. She is 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 of color and a woman in slavery, making her legal status also that of a slave.
During her adolescence, Williams worked as a house slave on the Johnson
plantation on the outskirts of Jefferson City, Missouri.
In 1861 Union forces occupied Jefferson City in the early stages of the American Civil War.
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.
Additional information is available here.
Source: Wikipedia
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