Brownell, Kady (b. 1842)

American Civil War hero who served with the Rhode Island Volunteers. Name variations: Kate. Born inCaffraria, on the African coast, in 1842; death date unknown; daughter of a soldier in the British army; married Robert S. Brownell.

During the American Civil War, camp followers—fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, wives, and sweethearts—were a fact of life. Tents often housed entire families who had found their way into a regiment camp to be with a loved one. While many wives were satisfied to visit their husband on the battlefield or act as volunteer nurses in camp hospitals, others were brave and spirited enough to enlist along with their husbands. In 1861, Kady Brownell joined her husband's Rhode Island infantry company. Becoming an excellent markswoman, she was assigned as color-bearer and fought alongside her husband Robert in several battles. Brownell is credited with saving the day at Newbern when the regiment, traveling through a dense forest, was fired upon by another group of Union soldiers who mistook them for the enemy. Brownell rushed forward, waving the regimental flag until the attackers realized their mistake. Unfortunately, many were wounded in the confusion including her husband, whose leg was shattered by cannon fire. Although Robert recovered, he and his wife were discharged from the regiment. Brownell kept her flag and sword as souvenirs but reportedly gave a rifle she had confiscated to a soldier friend who fought with it until the end of the war.