Woods, Brent
(born: 1850 - died: 1906)Woods, a former slave, was born in Pulaski County, KY. He later joined the Army and was assigned to Company B of the all black 9th Regiment of the U.S. Cavalry. He was one of the 17 troopers and 20 miners in pursuit of Apache raiders.
With the death of the lieutenant and the miners' leader, Woods took charge and led the attack that forced the Apache to abandon their position. Woods was awarded the Medal of Honor.
Woods was discharged from service in 1902 and returned to Pulaski County. He was very poor when he died; he was buried in a pauper's grave.
For more see African American Recipients of the Medal of Honor, by C. W. Hanna; and A. Mead, "Black hero given formal military burial," Lexington Herald Leader, 10/29/1984, Main News section, p. A1.