The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1875-05-13
BARBARA FRITCHIE.
JubaI Early Gets aid of Some Wind on
the Vexed Question.

Jubal Early has written one Of his
characteristic letters in which he vents
much of his venom and gives very de-
cided opinions on the subject of the dis
play of the American flag at Frederick,
Md, by Barbara Fritchie. One para
graph, the only one of importance in the
letter, is comparatively mild in express
sion, and reads thus:
Onthe morning that we passed through
Frederick ON the expedition for the cap
tire of Harper's Ferry, the two follow
ing incidents occurred, one of which I
witnessed in person, and the other was
described to me by an entirely reliable
officer of Hays Louisiana brigade. As
NV brigade of Ewell's division was
marching through the town on the
street which connects with the road to
Boonsboro, a young girl about 10 or II
years old was standing on the platform
In front of framed wooden house on
the left side of the street as we marched,
with small flag Omitted States) of the
size commonly called candy flags, in her
hand, which she was slowly waving
while reciting, in dull, monotonous
tone, 'sHurrah for the Stars and Stripes!
Down with the Stars and Bars 7! BY
her side stood another girl about or f
years old, looking as If she did not
know what it all was about, and the girl
who was going through the performance
seemed to have no heart in the matter,
but to be merely going mechanically
through recitation she had been
taught. The doors and window-shutters
of the house were closed, and not an
other human being was visible about 1T.
The men, as they passed, laughed and
ioked pleasantly about the affair, but
not rude or unpleasant remark was
made by them. The only indication TO
interfere with the girl was by one-leg
ged man who had been accompanying
one of my regiments on horseback dur
ing the campaign. When 1 got mp [
my asking him what was the matter, he
called my attention to the girl with the
flag, and said he had a good mind to
take the flag from her. He had evil
IDENTIFY taken two or three extra drinks,
and I told him he was a fool-to go on
and let the girl alone-she could do no
harm with her candy flag; and thereupon
he moved on. The other incident oc
CURED further on think just across
the bridge in the western part of the
town. AS the Louisiana brigade Hays
was passing, coarse, dirty-looking wo-
man rushed up narrow alley with a
United States flag, very much soiled,
an Irish soldier in the brigade, with his
ready wit, made a remark about ''that
dom'd ould dirty rag; as he called it,
which sent her back with her flag IN q
hurry, and no effort to take the flag
from her was made. Upon these two
incidents, [ presume, are based Mr..
Winters ''lofty numbers and the dis
ruted claim to the honor and glory Of
having Haunted the s'Union flag In the
faces of Stonewall Jacksons ragged
rebels" as the passed through Frederick.
The story told by the Frederick CORES
pondent Of The Sun about flag being
stricken from the hand of Mrs. Guam
triII by one of our officers is, I think, as
groundless as that told in Whittier's
verses. If any such incident had occur
red, and it had been the subject of re-
primand or disapproval by his superior
[ think I would have heard OF
it. | have witnessed number of in
stances of the display of small flags, or
the Union colors, as they were called, by
ladies in the enemies country as we
passed through their towns, but [ never
heard of an instance in which any vio-
GERS or soldiers on such occasions;
though when the exhibitions became OBJ
trusive, our boys were always ready with
a good-natured witticism or jest that put
an end to these exuberant displays of
patriotism. L have also seen ladies,
even in Pennsylvania, wave their white
handkerchiefs to our troops. Whoever
is disposed to claim the honor of either
of the two incidents in Frederick that
I have mentioned is entirely welcome to
do so.
The Boston Commonwealth says that
Mr.. Whittier, on the other hand, claims
he has satisfactory evidence to his own
mind Of the facts as narrated. Miss
Dorothea Dix is one of his authorities
A LITTLE boy and girl, each FIVE years