The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-07-31
PRINCESS SALM- SALM,"
I6yEs LECLERco's CAREER Nv WAR
" IN PEACE

In one OF tho nneSL TeSluenCea on bno OOD
lents-strasse. in Bonn. dwells a woman VIII
crowded into one decade probably moro thrilling
experiences than any other woman now living
As Agnes Leclercq. n famous beauty and wit
che flashed through the battle smoke Of oul
civil war and emerged as tho Princess Balm'
galm. Her career In Mexico as the well-niRt
successful rescuer Of Macmillan stamped hel
a. q heroine. and this reputation she nobly
sustained In her subsequent career as IN army
nurse In the Franco Prussian war. Agnes
Ieclercd In known in many European courts az
"the American princess" This IL an error, In
ommo with many other statements made in
regard 10 this much-maligned yet brave
woman. She was born In Cuba. about sixty
years ago. Her father. n wealthy French citi-
zen Of Havana. died leaving three small dauRh-
tiers 10 the care OF a near kinsman In New
York. The sisters received their education in
New York. Agnes, the brightest, ~pretticst and
most dnshlng Of the three. excelled in literary
studies and equestrianism. Her prediction
for military matters and her love Of adventure
brought her to Washington at an early period
Of the civil war. Endowed with youth, beauty
and ample means. she soon became n recog-
niSed power in the military excitement and
political jobbery Of the time. She had many
friends among her own sex. and. though the
most unconventional woman in the then motley
population of the capital. she enjoyed the re-
spect Of it's best social element.
Nevertheless. unkind and untruthful stories
concerning her were sometimes whispered by
those who were jealous Of her popularity. She
was reputed 10 have failed both as q circus
rider and q tlght-rope walker. and to have!dis-
carded several husbands. These statements
were falsehoods. She was n patron Of the Ma
tional Hotel. then the most fashionable hostelry
in Washington. and her ~favorite pastime was
H0rpatn0 nj - ina ~ frinpda 20 xtaik 4ho oap,pto,
ground Of the Army Of tho Potomac. at Airing
ton. Her favorite attire on these excursions
was q rich. dark riding habit. gilt buttoned and
gold braided. From her riding hat swept three
large black plumes, and her mount was q huge
black thoroughbred with an incurable fond
ness for p-omcnading Pennsylvania avenue on
his mind feet. Her perfect control OF this horse
doubtless gave rice to the rumor that his fair
owner had once been q circus rider. A liveried
negro servant usually accompanied her on her
walks and rds5.
In the German corrs Of tho Army ofthe Poto-
mao was q young officer who. In company with
many others. had left Europe In search OF ad-
ventures In the American war. Felix Salm-
Balm was a younger son Of the r~eigning house
OF Anhalt. which principally Is now absorbed
IN the North German Confederation He was
bred as q soldier. and served with distinction In
the Holstein campaign. but he was extravaRant
In his tastes. and left Europe deeply In debt.
Shortly after receiving from President Lincoln
Q commlssion as n volunteer oflceri in the Union
Army. Prince Felix salm-S alm. thlrty-fonr
years old. became acquainted with Agnes Le-
cleroQ, and lost no time In proposing marriage.
The fascination was mutual. and a truer love
match never was made. They were married,
not secretly. but quietly. by the Rev. J. A. Wal
ter. who died in Washington three years ago,
mourned by every religious denomination In
the city. Father Walter. having learned be-
yond q peradventure that there was no legal
obstacle to the marriage. performed the cere-
mony on Aug. 80, 1852. in st. Patrick's Church.
Never was prince blessed with q more charm
ing princess or q more faithful spouse. Prin-
cess salm-salm followed her husbands mill
tary fortunes, sharing uncomplainingly the
hard riding and trough life Of the campaigns
and the peril Of tho battlefelds. Her appear
ance at this time is thus described by Col. Won
Corvin. war correspondent Of the London
Times. who witnessed her marriage:
Her complexion had 2 mellow olive tinge.
pounded forehead, finely penciiied arcRed
DTSTs and large, Iight.br9yn eyes. full, Of
sLa and nGdn GraeetppIly built. VIII, q small waist
plastic as India rubber. and. though frail look
Y is Noteworthy That hut for his wife Prince
would have been a failure, The beauty and
and diplomacy made her all -powerful when she
Ses ABOUT to accomplish anything. After she
SRsShGaflIis.o AZ Se9 The eF close OF of the her w sF2 pr w Ssre 8 8n his
disE5General; or this circumstance she wrote:
He had given me his name and made me
rank he would have failed, after his first start,
and remained a Colonel without a regiment, in
All his merit would have availed him little;
SSEf%a ma ne he Tqhnc s OF Stanton; procured for
eighth New York; Regiment: now he had be-
eGme f I sSsssne G9r through ot my GHertions" 49,
Princess a c Spts 4st com on siilinG oSd S gave the the
used the latter for the benefit OF our sick and
Topnded soldiers, IN whom she always mani
81 hostllities between the North and South
Prince ,Salm- Salm. thirsting for new excite
n tHs United States and - leaving The Prin nc@s
%e,NEcaos n1TF Sto fbrn sailed I'd early IN 1904 fer
fated western. empire was already tottering,
end the star Of its occupant had begun TO wane.
oTeRioE sih1@1 xItb sS Same to N, MeSico with heart
S %3thsyto received BY the young Emperor. not
btter's followers. One reason for this was that
Prince salm ;salm was only one OF manyoflcers
eommands; private soldiers and money were
more needed than commanders.
and G Sbnn1tI EN- WAS STa surrounded u mSS by ;; hostile armies,
councillors, Guarrelllng among themselves.
ana oil warped by private ambitions After
ak months Of, neglect. Prince Raim-Salm got
the rank OF Colonel In the Belgian Corps under
Gen; Van der Smissen. His regiment was
made Hp q Frenchmcn, Germans. hungarian
enn seElcans; who were. according TO the
iEg among themselSes, but, ready. enough to
Joined By the Princess. who had sailed for Vera
Crnz early In August, One Of her fellow pas
70 figure prominently IN the tragedy already
pasSenlng e us close. Tho Prince and Princess
both wore the silver and gray Belgian Uniform
end the lattor again, checrtully endured the
nardshtns OF camp and campaign.
On RED D, 1877. the French army began to
SySeuate the country, Shortly afterward Maxi.
Mexico; and took refuge at Qucretnro. Strange
70 say, ne mad not yet lost faith IN his expert
Hent He stii believed that the better class Of
Mexicans wished him to be their Emperor; and,
Shough az this time he might have escaped, he
thought that II would be an act Of cowardlce to
desert HIS subjects.
The enemy pressed closer. and on MAY IS the
Liberal army. under Escobedo and IopeZ, sur.
Eounded Queretaro. Maximilian's escape, even
NJ IhnH Nh HHaa -