Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-02-19
NOVELETTE, OF THE SOUTH.
General Felix Agnus Reads His
story, "a Woman of War"
Washington Post.)


General Felix Agnus, editor of the Bal
timore American. read before the Army
and Navy Club last night n novelette,
written by himself some years ago, en-
titled. "A Woman Of War" General Ag-
nus was introduced to his audience by
Colonel Woodward. Before proceeding TO
read bis novelette,, the author explained
briefly that during much of his service In
the late war he had been among the
southern people. and thus had been given
ample opportunity OF studying the men
and the women OF that section. He had
been struck in subsequent years by the
inaccuracy and even the absurdlty OF
much OF the war-literature which pre-
tended to deal with scenes and events
located in the South, and particularly
were the photographers OF that favorite
of all writer's, the southern woman SOY,
grotesque In their accounts. The dare
devil, pistol-fring woman, he said, was
not the type Of the southern woman spy.
on the contrary. his experience with
those dangerous daughters of the South
had shown him that they had not always
received fair treatment at the hands or
post-belum authors. His little story was
founded on an incident that came under
his own observation while in front OF
Port Hudson.
1t is interesting to add that General
Agnus's story has been recently dra-
matiz6d by Miss Mallory. the dramatic
critic of the American. and was produced
with much success at the Lyceum Theatre,
in Baltimore. 1t has been sold to a Miss
Stuart, of Philadelphia. and IL now being
rchearsed in New York by carefully
selected company. Its first appearance
is set for next Monday night in New
York. and II will appear in Washington
during the latter part OF March.
Among those who were present last
night were Acknowledgement Ruggles
General Craighll, Chief Of Engineers
Lieutenanl Lemle. ge-Advbcate-Gene-
raj OF the navy: Senator Hawley: Repre-
sentative Hull, chairman OF the Military
Affairs Committee of the House; Repre-
sentatives Henderson and Hager; Surgeon
Dickson, OF the navy: Captain Kingsbury;
Captain Kendall, Medical Flint,
Major Powell and Captain Feblger
"A Woman Of War has for rs main
object to show the southern woman as
she really existed at that time-a passion
ate lover OF the South and of her cause,
an equally ardent hater OF those she con-
sidered as ryrants and invaders. and a
thing, giving up comfor. happiness. life,
and love itself In the cause 10 which her
heart and soul were devoted. The incl
dents of the story are founded on facts
which actually occurred during the siege
of Port Hudson by the Federal troops
under General ". =. Banks. The besiegers
had i'm vain tried TO surprise the fort. The
Confederates were always found prepared
for their coming and to possess know
ledge Of their numbers, movements, and
even plans. which could be explained
only on the theory that they were in
communication with some one outside.
But no endeavors or search could reveal
the mysterious spy.
Near the fort was a large plantation.
on which resided a widow and her two
daughters, both charming girls. whom the
Federal officers had taken under their
special protection. The elder. Alice had
been captured while riding with her be-
trothed lover, Captain Latimer, Of Port
Hudson, and this capture had been re-
garded as important on account of Lati-
mer's value as an experienced engineer.
He had, however escaped, and Alice had
been returned TO her home. An accident
led one of the young officers TO suspect
her of being in communication with tne
fort and he discovered her taxing the
dispatches from the carrier-dove she had
tTalne0 10 UN btlNNfH nfA ADiiE uhu H.
lover with mutual messages. She was al
once arrested and court-martialled. on
the discovery OF her secret aer native
courage threw off all restraints, and she
displayed a fearless defiance and disre-
gard of consequences that astounded her
Judges She openly avowed herself me
spy. and gloried in the harm she had
done TO the northern cause. Her courage
her dev0tedness, and her beauty made
a deem immersion. and one Of the staff
officers who volunteered to defend her
did so with such eloquence that II I'M
| pressed all. But she rejected his plea. re-
fused all the chances onered her' anu
declared abe would die willingly for the
South. on the morning Of the execution
when the troops were drawn up TO wit
ness her death, the officer or the DAY
found only a dummy In her pace. Sne
mi e.caued by the conniyance OF her
guards. who, touched by what she thought
her diving prayer, restored her to life,
love, and liberty.