Felix Agnus

Felix Agnus
Agnus in 1914 publication
Born	(1839-07-04)4 July 1839 Lyon, France
Died	31 October 1925(1925-10-31) (aged 86)
Buried	Druid Ridge Cemetery, Pikesville, Maryland
Allegiance	France United States Union
Service/branch	French Army Union Army
Years of service	1859 (France) 1861–1865 (US)
Rank	Major Brevet Brigadier General
Battles/wars	Franco-Austrian War Battle of Montebello American Civil War Peninsula campaign Battle of Gaines' Mill (WIA) Siege of Port Hudson Shenandoah Valley campaigns Battle of Opequon Battle of Fisher's Hill Second Battle of Winchester Battle of Cedar Creek
Awards	Ordre du Nichan El-Anouar
Children	2[1]
Other work	Publisher of the Baltimore American
Signature

Felix Agnus (4 May 1839 – 31 October 1925) (born Antoine-Felix^[2]) was a French-born sculptor, newspaper publisher and soldier who served in the Franco-Austrian War and the American Civil War. Agnus studied sculpture before enlisting to fight in the Franco-Austrian War. Upon the conclusion of the war, he travelled to the United States and again briefly worked as a sculptor. In 1861, upon the outbreak of the American Civil War, Agnus enlisted in the 5th New York Volunteer Infantry, and served with merit, rising to brevet brigadier-general before being mustered out of service. Agnus was then inspector general of the Department of the South and supervised the dismantling of Confederate forts.

After the war, Agnus settled in Baltimore and worked for the Baltimore American, eventually becoming publisher of the paper. Charles Fulton, the previous publisher, was his father-in-law, Agnus having married Fulton's daughter Annie on 13 December 1864. As the publisher, Agnus was an original member of the Associated Press, and a prominent citizen in Baltimore. He was offered political positions, including as a United States Senator and a United States Consul, both of which he declined. He served on several local and national commissions. Agnus died in 1925. A funerary statue formerly placed on his grave, known as Black Aggie, is the subject of urban legends.