Cathy Williams

by Phillip Thomas Tucker

Now available in paperback Women in the United States military have received more recognition than ever in recent years, but women also played vital roles in battles and campaigns of previous generations. Cathy Williams served as Pvt. William Cathay from 1866 to 1868 with the famed Buffalo Soldiers who patrolled the 900-mile Santa Fe Trail. Tucker traces her life from her birth as a slave near Independence, Missouri, to her service in Company A, 38th U.S. Infantry, one of the six black units formed following the Civil War.Cathy Williams remains the only known African American woman to have served as a Buffalo Soldier in the Indian Wars. Her remarkable story continues to represent a triumph of the human spirit.

Genres: History, Biography Memoir, Nonfiction

272 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2002

About the author

Phillip Thomas Tucker, Ph.D. has been recognized today as "the Stephen King of History," and the most groundbreaking historian in America, because of his great productivity of high-quality books (more than 185 books of history) in many field of history, including the American Revolution, Women's History, Civil War History, African American History, etc.
A winner of national and state book awards, Tucker has recently optioned out three books--Cathy Williams, Anne Bonny, and Mia Leimberg--for Hollywood films.
No American historian has authored more history books than Dr. Tucker. America's most prolific and innovative of historians has won international acclaim for breaking much new ground in history by authoring more than 180 history books of unique distinction. In total, he is the author of more than 225 works in history, including both books and scholarly articles.
Significantly, the vast majority of these groundbreaking books have a distinctive "New Look" focus, including five volumes of the Harriet Tubman Series and Haitian Revolutionary Women Series. An award-winning scholar of highly-original and uniquely human history, he has most often explored the remarkable lives of forgotten men and women in powerful historical narratives long ignored by other historians.
Most important, Dr. Tucker has emerged as one of America's leading Revolutionary War historians. He has authored groundbreaking Revolutionary war books, including "How the Irish Won the American Revolution"; "George Washington's Surprise Attack": "Saving Washington's Army"; "Brothers in Liberty"; "Kings Mountain"; "Alexander Hamilton's Revolution"; "Alexander Hamilton and the Battle of Yorktown"; "Captain Alexander Hamilton and His Forgotten Contributions at the Decisive Battle of Trenton"; and others no less distinguished.
The author has also written four books about female Buffalo Soldier Cathy Williams. In addition, he has completed groundbreaking New Look Glory 54th Massachusetts Regimental Series of four volumes. This important series has focused on the heroic story of the first black regiment from the North during the Civil War.
Throughout his distinguished career, Dr. Tucker has revealed some of the most overlooked chapters of America's hidden history to present new insights and fresh perspectives. The author's books have most often broken historical boundaries, while going well beyond traditional history in bold "New Look" narratives.
As America's leading myth-busting historian with three degrees in American history, including a Ph.D. from prestigious St. Louis University where he graduated summa cum laude, America's most prolific author has mined American history's obscure depths to present unique historical narratives long unexplored and forgotten. Tucker has long focused on illuminating the previously untold stories of forgotten women (black and white), who have been long overlooked. By revealing their distinguished hidden history that had been previously lost to the American public, the author has paid long-overdue tributes to these remarkable women of great courage and outstanding character. Ahead of their time, these dynamic women defied the odds in carving out their own unique destines with their hard work, enduring faith, and perseverance.
Dr. Tucker has authored groundbreaking books in many fields of study: African American, Women's, Irish, American Revolutionary War, Buffalo Soldiers, Civil War, Tuskegee Airmen, Little Bighorn, Caribbean, Private, Spanish American War, Second World War, George Armstrong Custer, and Southern history. He has long focused on telling the forgotten stories of lost souls, outcasts, renegades, misfits, rebels, deserters (like Buffalo Soldier David Fagen), iconoclasts, refugees, nonconformists, and outliers, whose unique lives deserve attention at this late day.
The author's award-winning books have often focused on iconic turning point moments in American

Reviews

[SDestinie · Rating 3 out of 5]

While this book is a much-needed corrective to the record of the Buffalo Soldiers, it required persistence to continue and to finish reading it.

A lot of educated guesses about her life despite the fact that you something would never really told much about Cathy Williams' own writing.
Please see my reading updates for details.
Shira

[Katia M. Davis · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm giving this a 3. I wanted to give it a 4 because of the topic, but the writing is more of a 2.5. I really wish this had been written by a black woman instead of a white man. On numerous occasions I wanted the rip the author's eyes out. He could not have been more condescending if he tried even though he was trying not to be. Things like, despite the pack on her back and rifle on her shoulder, she managed to gamely keep up with the men. Seriously? Cathy was like 5' 9", strongly built and athletic. She probably ran rings around some of the men. On one hand the author states she is smart, resourceful and cunning and then on the other describes her actions as 'no small task', especially for a lone, female, black ex-slave.

There is also a lot of guess work in this book as the author tries to fill in Cathy's narrative... Maybe this, maybe that, a slim chance of, she must have felt, perhaps she knew, we could suppose that, nothing was recorded but no doubt Cathy felt... It gets a bit much and undermines the facts.

The book is quite informative regarding general Civil War history, expansion westward and the destruction of the Native American way of life. The bibliography is also extensive. It's just a shame that the story of a such a strong willed woman who grasped opportunity and built herself a life only to be let down by the very thing she fought for is over shadowed by the writing style and expression. In different hands, this could have been a much more empowering and poignant piece of writing.

[Deborah Palmer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I only read certain portions of the book that focused more on her life and her experiences as a slave, impression into service during the Civil War and some of her service as a Buffalo Soldier. The book was rather spotty on her life as the writer did not seem to have very much direct references or resources and relied on historical research of the day. The reader will receive plenty of background knowledge of the slave and soldier experience during that era.

I will conduct a more thorough reading at the end of this month or next month when time permits.

[Carole Whittaker · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed learning that there was an illegal female Buffalo soldier in the United states army and think this story could be made into a epic movie.
It was a little too descriptive and detailed on how the women survived by sleeping with the soldiers vs. describing her accomplishments and her legacy to African American history, but overall the author shed light on a historical event no one knew existed.

[Fareeda · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was more about the wars Cathy Williams (aka Pvt William Cathay) fought for, not about her true experience/story. There was a lot of speculation about her experience, which made it difficult to get through.

[Shelley · Rating 2 out of 5]

I could tell without looking that this was written by a white dude. Incredibly condescending and outright racist at times this book included very little information on Cathy Williams. It was mostly "she might have," "she probably did" etc. I recommend skipping this one.

[Jessi Bone · Rating 5 out of 5]

From Slave to Buffalo Soldier

"Cathy Williams went where no other African American woman—or any woman, for that matter—had previously gone. During nearly two years of service, she successfully challenged and eventually overcame a host of demeaning stereotypes about both her race and gender."

To be honest, I knew very little of Cathy Williams prior to opening this book. I knew the rumors that a female slave became a Buffalo Soldier which to me sounded completely unrealistic until Dr. Phillip Thomas Tucker open my eyes to the woman born into slavery who knew she was meant for far more than the life she was born into. For in her society women were the powerful ones for they are the ones who gave life. So, It is not unreasonable for Cathy even in slavery to believe she could be and do more than work in the fields until death.

Being a fan of Dr. Tucker it was not a big shock when I came across his book I had to read it.  His thorough research and easy writing style makes any book he writes thoroughly enjoyable. I honestly believe anyone can enjoy this book as a resource for history teachers or even students to grow in their understanding of the heroes in our past. I have found that people find his research rough to dig through when he writes but I found it to be refreshing, he truly does not want to leave any stone unturned when he gives all of himself to a project. If you can take the time I think you will find this to be the Dr. Tucker book for you.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fascinating book, for its history, the strong woman central character and the writing. Cathy Williams was a real person but her life has been stylized in this book with the addition of events and characters not part of her life. Still, a great read.

[Sarah Dean · Rating 1 out of 5]

Shockingly awful. This might be the most poorly written book I’ve had the displeasure of reading.

[Nan]

This sounds fascinating!

[Heloise West · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unfortunately, unlike her white sister soldiers who fought in the war and later wrote their memoirs, anyone who wanted to know about Cathy Williams' experiences had to rely on interviews conducted later in her life. I suspect because she did not have the opportunity, as a former slave, to learn to read and write. That being said, I felt the author skillfully put Cathy's war in perspective, though it is admittedly lacking her voice except in excerpts from interviews. I did have a sense of being there with her, as I read about the 8th Indiana and the Buffalo Soldier troops. It's an ugly time in US history, and her depth of character and bravery shine through it all.