The Republican journal., 1875-05-27
Barbara Fritchie.

.jubal Early has written one Of his char
acteristlc letters, in which he vents much
OF his venom and gives very decided opm-
ions on the subject of the display OF the
American flag at eFrderck, Md, by Bar
bara Fritchle. On" paragraph the only
one of Importance in the letter. is com
paratNeiy mild in expression, and reads
thus:
On the morning that we passed through
Frederick on the expedition tor the capture
Of llarper's Ferry the two following Incl
dents occurred. one of which | witnessed
in person, and the other was described
to me by an entirely reliable officer of
Hays Louisiana Brigade: As my brigade
of Eweil's Division was marching through
the town on the street which connects
with the road to boonsborough, a Young
grl about ten OF eleven years old was
standing on the platform in front of
framed wooden house on tilc. left side
OF the street rs we marched, with q small
flag Omitted States), OF the size common
ly called candy-tlags, in her hand, which
she was slowly waving while recitnm IN 4
dull, monOtOnous tone: 'lIurrah for the
Stars and Stripes, Down with the Stals
and Bars" BY her side stood another
Girl five or sin years Old, looking as if She
did not know what it was all about, and
the girl who was going through the per
tormance seemed to have no heart in the
matter, but to be merely going mechanic
ally through u recitation she had been
taught The doors and window shutters
Were closed, and not another human being
was visible about it, The men, as they
passed, laughed and ioled about the al
fair, but not Il rude or unpleasant remark
was made by them. The only indication
of u disposition to interfere with the gir.
was by :; legged man, who had been
accompanying one of the regiments on
horseback during the campaign. When
got up | found MIN somewhat excited, and
upon my asking him what was the matter
he called my attention to the girl with the
flag and said he had u good mind to get
down and take the flag from her. He had
evidently taken two or three extra drinks,
and told him he was fool to 90 on and
let the girl alone. she could do no harm
with her candy-tlag, and thereupon he
moved further on--l think Just across the
bridge in the western part Of the town
As the Louisiana Brigade (llaysD was
passing, a course, dirty-looking woman
rushed up Il narrow alley with Il nited
States flag, very much soiled, which she
thrust out of the alley, when an Irish
soldier in the brigade, with his ready Irsh
wit, made i remark about 'that dom'd
old dirty rag" as he called it, which sent
her back with her flag in a hurry, and no
effort to take the flag from her was made
Upon these two incidents. presume, are
based Mr.. Whittier's LOFTY numbers" and
the disputed claim to the honor and glory
of having Haunted the Union flag" in the
faces Of Stonewall Jacksons ragged
rebels as they passed through Frederick
The story told by the Frederick corre-
spondent Of the Sun about flag being
stricken from the hands of Mrs. Quantrill
by one of our officers is, | think, as
groundless as that told in Whittier's verses
Ii any such incident had occurred, and it
had been the subject Of reprmand OF dis
approval by his superior officers think
would have heard of it. nave witnessed
Il number of instances Of the display of
small flags, or the Union colors. as they
We're called, by ladies in the enemy's
country rs we passed through their towns,
but | never heard of an instance in which
any violence or rudeness was used by our
officers or soldiers on such occasions;
though, when the exhibitions became OBJ
trusive, our boys were always ready with
good-natlred Wittcism on Jest that put
an end to these eXuberant displays Of pat
rotism. | have also seen ladies, even in
Pennsylvania, wave their handkerchiets to
our troops Whoever is disposed to claim
the honor of either of the two incidents
in Frederick that have mentioned is en-
tifely 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 Do
rothea Dix is one Of his authorities.
Church +. Gates, senior member of a lumber
aealns 1lrm IN Mott Haven, n. Y, committed
suicide on Thursday night. lie was a bachelor
OF 33 years, and lived in il comfortably furnished