Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1884-10-10
FEMALE SOLDIERS.
Women Who Haze Preferred Battle Field.
TO Home.

daughter named Maximilian de Lett
horst. Her parents seem to have been
neglectful to her, but the girls charac-
ter was resolute. She dressed as a man,
called herself Monsieur le Baron de
Leithorst, and became page to the
Baron de Halden, in Regensburg, the
Ambassador of the Bishop of Wurtz-
burg to the Count in that town. After
ward she went TO Vienna and enlisted as
soldier in the imperial army. She
served seven years as a cadet in the regi-
ment of Francis de Lorraine, in Hun
gary, and only during sickness was
her sex discovered. She became Lieu
tenant, and was dismis ed from the SER
vice with life penalty. She dressed in
male attire until her death, in 1748.
Leonora Prohaska fell in an engage
ment on the Gorde, Sept. 16, 1918, a
bullet having pierced her breast. When
'he felt that she was dying, she revealed
10 her comrades that she was woman,
md that her name Was Leonora Pro-
Aaska, and not Charles REM. Her
friend, Carolina Peters, known as
Charles Peterson, was more fortunate.
She participated in tho campaigns OF
1913 and 1914, was decorated with the
Order Of the Iron Cross ON account of
her bravery, and was honorably dis
charged from the army at the end Of the
war, when she declared her sex. She
was afterward married to the Captain OF
an English trading vessel, whom she ac-
companied on his travels, and with
whom she visited her relatives at Stettin
n 1914.
In the pages Of "All the Year Round"
1874, we read of one woman making her
field Of fame" on the deck of British
man-of-war. On the 18th of April,
1881, in the West InGies, Lord Rodney
gained his great victory over the French
heet, commanded by Admiral the Count
de Grasse, and daughter of England
shared in the honors of that memorable
lay. After the surrender of the French
ilag-ship Vile de Havre, 100 guns, to
Rodney's flagship Formidable, sixty
four guns, ga woman who had, contrary
10 the rules of the navy, sccreted herself
in her husbands cabin, and fought
quarterback gun in the room of her
husband, who was down i'll the cockpit,
was discovered. Lord Rodney severely
reprimanded her for breach Of orders.
but gave her Immediately afterward ten
guineas for SO valiantly sustaining the
post Of her wounded husband"
The life Of Mary Ann Talbot, an ille-
gitimate daughter of tho Earl of Talbot,
was one of remarkable adventure. Born
in London Feb. 2, 1778, she was well
educlted at the expense of her father.
When only about II she was induced to
run away from school by Capt Bowen,
with whom she lived short time in
London. She then went with his
regiment to the West Indies :;
served afterward as drum
mer at the siege of Valencicnnes,
where the Captain was killed, and
the intrepid girl left friendless. She
contrived to reach the coast, and shipped
as boy on board French privatecr.
This vessel was captured by one of the
ships of Lord Howe's fleet, and, the
opportunity being open to her, Mary
Talbot entered the British navy. She
served in many actions, was several
times a prisoner Of war, and finally in
l796, when suffering from q shattered
leg, was commissioned a Midshipman
and discharged from the service. Sub
sequently. Queen Charlotte granted her
pension OF G20. When recovered OF
her wounds she went to America, work.
ing her way thither as steward Of a
merchant ship, on board Of which, it is
said, she was obliged to reveal her sex in
order to repel the amorous advances OF
the Captains daughter. After long
absence, little being known of her ex-
ploits in the meantime, she again ap.
peared in London. From this point her
subsequent life was one OF great wretch
edness and poverty, and she was fire.
quently in Newgate undergoing impris-
onment for debt Out of prison she as
sumed variety of characters, being
sailor, actress, poddler, and footpad by
turns. The date Of her death is un-
known. A few years ago there was a
portrait in existence of Mary Talbot in
a naval uniform, likely enough as Mid
shipmNn, and the artist has presented
her as possessing handsome appear
ance. This picture is said to be now in
the United States.