Background
Woods was born a slave in Pulaski County, Kentucky and freed at the age of 8.
Woods was born a slave in Pulaski County, Kentucky and freed at the age of 8.
He joined the United States Army from Louisville, Kentucky in 1873 at the age of 18 and was assigned to Company Bachelor of the 9th Cavalry Regiment. On August 19, 1881, he participated in an engagement in New Mexico against Chief Nana and a small band of Apaches. After the deaths of six men in his cavalry, including his lieutenant, Woods took command and fought to save the lives of many of his comrades.
He retired from the army in 1902 and returned to Somerset.
Woods died in 1906 at the age of 50 or 51 and was buried in an unmarked grave at the First Baptist Church of Somerset. On June 20, 1984, the United States Army exhumed Woods" remains and gave him a full military funeral on October 28.
His grave can be found in section A, grave 930 of Mill Springs National Cemetery, Nancy, Kentucky.