The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1913-03-02
WOMAN VETERAN
Of CIVIL WAR
Only Woman Veteran Of Civil War
and Only Woman Admitted
to the Grand Army, is
Very III.
THREE DAYS BRIDE
kady Browne.I, Who Entered the
Federal Army at the Age Of
Eighteen is in Want in
New York.
[Gate City Special Servicel

NEW YORK, March ]. Kady I
Brownell, the only woman veteran |
Of the civil war and the only woman
ever admitted to membership in. the
Grand Army of the Republic is very
i'll, and her friends and comrades have |
Just learned that the little soldier is
more up against it than at any time
since she gaily joined the federal army
a bride OF three days, at the age of 1S. /
Robert S. Brownell, the husband, rs
years DID, whose life has not been
an active one because of the wounds
that he brought back from the war is
more helpless than ever with his wife
sick. and the little family has been
almost in dire want. Mrs. Brownell
has her regular discharge papers as
soldier and draws a pension. In
1895 she took civil service examina-
ton and became an employe of the
park department. Two weeks ago her
health was such that she was per-
suaded to remain in her little bed up
under the gables of the historic old
sJumel mansion ct Hedgecomb road
and 10th street.
1t is difficult to realize that the help
less little woman, whose speech has
been blurred by her illness and who
now turns to her husband for every
thing, has had lifelong habit of talk
ing her own destiny into her own two
very capable hands. A great many
mol In
veteran, but few of them now are al
lowed to go beyond the Threshold of
the little apartment that is reserved
for the custodian of the Jumel man
sion. This has been the position held
by Mrs. Brownell since her health
forced her to give up the guardian
ship of one of the buildings in Cen
trail Park, under the jurisdiction Of
the park department.
A trained nurse is stationed at this
entrance and if you are among the
chosen few to be admitted, you will
see all about you the photographs and
clippings that tell of the years that
the bride-soldier spent in fighting for
her country On the floors below are
the relics of Washington and Lafay-
ette, but this third-floor space belongs
to the war record of Kady Brownell
and her husband, who cheerfully In
sists on occupying place in the
background.
Here is her portrait In the red
zouave skirt that reached just below
her knees, the blue blouse. the grey
leggings and broad white sash with
its red tassels. The short curls en-
Hcircled face that is more like a boys
than woman's and the eyes are
bright and full of good humor. That
was the uniform completed by broad
brimmed gray felt hat, in which she
marched gaily beside her new husband
when they joined the army
Her face, wrinkled now and framed
with thin, silvered hair. brightens
when you enter It is probably the
impulse of nature that has always
been frank and cordial, for Mrs.
Brownell does not know what is 60
ing; on about her now.
The little veteran was born on a
battlefield Her father was Col.
George Southwell, British officer
who in 1912 was stationed in Caffra-
ria, South Africa. His greatest friend
was another officer. Sir James Kady,
who had been married about the same
time as Col Southwell. The two men
agreed that the one that had the first
child should name him" after the
other. Col Southwell's wife was
proud in the knowledge that she was
soon to allow him to fulfill his part
T OF the bargain.
There was sudden fighting near the
station and Mrs. Southwell, with other
women drove out to see the battle.
1t was while there that she was taken
/, Ill. military tent was hastily pitch
led. and as the zone OF battle veered,
bullets We're flying periously near the
tent when the baby was born. It was
la girl, but Col Southwell called her
Kady just the same
The mother died and the little child
corf IT,, ,,,t4l.