Daughter of a Soldier, Wife of a Soldier, Daughter of the Regiment

—Served: 1861-1862 —

Of the women who accompanied Civil War armies, many disguised themselves as men. Born and reared in British Army camps in Africa, where women were commonplace, Kady chose to retain her identity. She followed her husband, Robert Brownwell, into the ranks of two Rhode Island volunteer regiments, participating in daily sword and rifle drill. She carried the regimental colors in two battles, The First battle of Bull Run, Virginia, in July 1861, and the battle of New Berne, North Carolina, in March 1862. Her husband's severe wound in this latter battle ended the couple's uniformed service, and they were both discharged in December, 1862.


All our boys from the Colonel down called her daughter.
Robert S. Brownwell, Husband interview
Providence Evening Bulletin, March 28, 1878

(captions)
Thomas Nast's sketch of the March 14, 1862 battles at New Berne, North Carolina, depicting three regiments, including the Brownell's 5th Rhode Island, storming Confederate works, appears in The Pictorial Battles of the Civil War (1884).

She carried the colors once on a thirty-mile march, and showed little sign of fatigue, when great, strong men broke down...Kady made a good soldier too. She great on the Zouave drill. Here's a picture of her in her uniform.
Robert S. Brownwell, March 28,
1878

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