Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1869-05-01
BARBARA FRITCHIE AND MRS, GUAM.
TRILLE.
Whs Waved the Flag at Frederick:

WAeHINGTO0, IL. ", Apr1l lcoy.
EDITOR OF THE STAR: Your issue OF the 18th
in nst contains letter, dated 0eorgetown, ID. c.,
and signed "Frederick, attempting to disparase
my statement which appeared in the STAR Of
room, dictate few lines in aus wer, ahd ask
their publication in your columns, together
with the accompanying letter f.om Mr.. John
L. Sim, q native Of Frederick and brother
of Mrs. Arnold, 70 whom refer in my original
statement as being present when i displayed
the stars and stripes in the presence of the
rebel army, on the 10th OF September, 1867, in
Fr derrick city, Md. The loyalty and charac-
ter Of Mrs. Arnold, as well as thai of ner family,
need no defence from any one. She tells what
she sap and heard, and sustains me in full.
Your correspondent says:-.I have known
the FIitch'e family all my lifetime, anu that
il is one of the most respectable Of the entire
community; and it has been matter of sur
PRISE to me that no Que has ventured upon
vindicaton of her claims to the honor winch
the poet has givea her" In these words he
answers himself and paralyZes even the proba-
BILE correctness Of his own statement Yes, IL
is mater of surprise that TO one has veutured
to viLdica her claims, If 1 have attempted TO
take the nonor from her. Will a discerning
and intelligent public fail TO see in this fact
something sspassing strange" that, while my
communication has been before the public since
February last, challenging contradiction, nei-
ther the press of that city, nor one Of its loyal
and respectable citizens, including the numer-
Gus descendants of Mrs. Fritchie, has offered
TO impeach IL. But her defence seems to have
been lett to the anonymous correspondent OF
Georgetown. But this "native Of Frederick
contradicts the poet. He says:-ssOne OF his
(Jfck.on's) own men raised his gun towards
her. and Jackson knocked his gun aside, and
raised his hat" The poet says:-"Jackson or
window and srent the banner with seam and
CASH." In this connection the public will
bear in mind that both Stonewall and Mrs.
Fritchie had passed from the scenes Of time be-
fore the poem appeared.
About two years since the Baltimore Ameri-
can copied rom Philadelphia paper an artl-
Gle written by gentleman who visited Fred
erick for the purposeof seeing the house where
the supposed heroine lived and died. He says
he stopped at the City Hotel, and the proprie-
tor, Mr.. Mead, accompanied him to the spot
gre.ted that his adventure met with nothing 2
but uncertainty, and concludes his article as
follows I'll IL be not true, the war is robbed o Z
one Of its happiest episodes"
1t wfs well known that desired no notori-
ETY., and expressed the wish that my name
might not be brought before the public, having
been the object OF no little persecution in con.
sequence.
But the true version, and the only one ever
heard in that community. was given by Mr..
Merrill, OF the Connecticut volunteers, and
appeared In the STAR of the 9th Of February
last, and as coming from the family OF Mrs..
Fritchie, that she ssdid wave her flag on one
occasion to our forces.''
In conclusion, will state that was for a
long time a resident Of Frederick, Md, and
served acceptably, am sure, that people as a
teacher for about sixteen years, as the names,
row In my possession, OF many OF Its most
prominent citizeps fully attest; and shall be
prepared to place before the public, in a very
short time, such testimony as Will forever put
this matter at rest. MARY A. QUANTRILLB
GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE, Washing
ton, ID. o., April 18th, 1s69.-Ars. QuanriiIe .
1t affords me great pleasure to comply with
your request TO furnish you an extract from a
letter have received from my sister, Martha IA
Arnold, to whom you allade in your commu-
nication published In the EVENING STAR of
this city, detailing the circumstances of your
displaying our flag in the presence OF the rebel
army at Frederick, Maryland, IN Septemb Der,
1862. MY sister now resides at Oakland, Pa
Anxious that she should see your statement.
as soon as could l sent her a copy OF 1t, and
in her letter to me, dated March 10, 1861 she
speaks of the matter as follows The state
ment of Mrs. q uantrille is all true every word
is as fresh in m memory es though il occurred
bat yesterday
With great respect, JOHN L. SINN