My name is Willa Mae Chathay and I was born on October 3, 1849 near Independence, Missouri to slave parents. As near as I can tell my parents, brother & sister are still alive. The Union soldiers took me in 1865 to be their camp cook, but I finally managed to run away. On November 15, 1866 I disguised myself as a man and enlisted in the 38th Infantry-Buffalo Soldiers, under the name of William Chathay. I served for years and no one ever knew I really wasn't a man. I wound up being sent to Washington as a male cook for General Sheridan for a time. In 1868, while serving in Ft.Bayard, NM; I fell ill and my secret was discovered. When I was drummed out of the military I opened a popular boarding house.

Because of my years in the military I saw first hand the brutality of men's actions towards women. I vowed I would never get married or have children, and that I would get even with every ***!! man I crossed paths with. One day I came across a woman being beaten by her husband and took her under my wing, after she killed him by way of an "accident". The leader of the Sweet Revenge Gang observed my actions and recruited me into the gang. The idea of an outlaw life appealed to me, as it would make me an independent woman. I could make my OWN living. Close tabs were kept on that formerly abused woman; "Irish Rose" and when I heard her life might be in danger I persuaded the gang to ride to her rescue.

I ride with the gang disguised as a man, so when we're out and about those ***!! men don't take advantage of "helpless" females. Makes for a swifter journey traveling like that, and we've often disguised ourselves in that manner while traveling to heists and back. Due to my extensive military travels and training I'm skilled in being on the run. So I know where all the cave systems are from D.C. to Mexico. I'm in pretty good health.but slightly deaf in one ear. (Other gang members have made a game of it to try and sneak up on me because of it. It's all in good fun and it keeps our reflexes sharp.)

Am I ruthless? Nope …I'm accurate. And I make it a point to be quiet and polite to those I'm holding up… it makes them more afraid and compliant that way. I'm very capable of committing what others call "murder… I call it revenge

I get along well with the rest of the gang as I have taken it upon myself to guard and protect the rest of the gals. The only reason I'm afraid of being caught by the law is that they'll only be able to take me when dead. There'll be a lot of dead and dying lawmen in their ranks when that happens!