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At one time she was transferred to Little
Rock, where she would have seen
serving as soldiers, which may have
inspired her own interest in military
service. Later, Williams was transferred
to Washington, D.C., where she served
with General Philip Sheridan's
command. When the war ended,
Williams was working at Jefferson
Barracks.
Despite the prohibition against women
serving in the military, Williams enlisted
in the United States Regular Army on 15
November 1866 at St. Louis, Missouri
for a three year engagement, passing
herself off as a man. Only two others
are known to have been privy to the
deception, her cousin and a friend, both
of whom were fellow soldiers in her
regiment.
Shortly after her enlistment, Williams
contracted smallpox, was hospitalized
and rejoined her unit, which by then
was posted in New Mexico. Throughout
her military service, she continued to
complain of illnesses and was
hospitalised on several other occasions
but yet managed to conceal her gender.
It was only after she had grown weary
with military service feigned illness that
her gender was revealed to the post
surgeon. She was discharged from the
Army by her commanding officer,
Captain Charles E. Clarke on 14
October 1868.
Rock, where she would have seen
serving as soldiers, which may have
inspired her own interest in military
service. Later, Williams was transferred
to Washington, D.C., where she served
with General Philip Sheridan's
command. When the war ended,
Williams was working at Jefferson
Barracks.
Despite the prohibition against women
serving in the military, Williams enlisted
in the United States Regular Army on 15
November 1866 at St. Louis, Missouri
for a three year engagement, passing
herself off as a man. Only two others
are known to have been privy to the
deception, her cousin and a friend, both
of whom were fellow soldiers in her
regiment.
Shortly after her enlistment, Williams
contracted smallpox, was hospitalized
and rejoined her unit, which by then
was posted in New Mexico. Throughout
her military service, she continued to
complain of illnesses and was
hospitalised on several other occasions
but yet managed to conceal her gender.
It was only after she had grown weary
with military service feigned illness that
her gender was revealed to the post
surgeon. She was discharged from the
Army by her commanding officer,
Captain Charles E. Clarke on 14
October 1868.
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Williams was born in Independence,
status also that of a slave. During her
house servant on the Johnson
occupied Jefferson City in the early
stages of the 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. At age
seventeen, Williams was impressed into
Williams was born in Independence,
serving of 8th Indiana Volunteer
Infantry Regiment, commanded by
Colonel William Plummer Benton.
For the next few years, Williams
travelled with the 8th Indiana,
accompanying the soldiers on their
marches through Arkansas, Louisiana,
and Georgia. She was present at the
Battle of Pea Ridge and the Red River
Campaign.
status also that of a slave. During her
house servant on the Johnson
occupied Jefferson City in the early
stages of the 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. At age
seventeen, Williams was impressed into
Williams was born in Independence,
serving of 8th Indiana Volunteer
Infantry Regiment, commanded by
Colonel William Plummer Benton.
For the next few years, Williams
travelled with the 8th Indiana,
accompanying the soldiers on their
marches through Arkansas, Louisiana,
and Georgia. She was present at the
Battle of Pea Ridge and the Red River
Campaign.
