West-Jersey pioneer., 1878-07-25

mean that the advane entered Frederick K
it certainly did not, but Stonewall Jackson
did A little while before the troops CAM
within sight of Barbara's window, the gen
eral dropped out of line, and, entering town
thrust little note under the door of 6
friend about square away. How he re-
gained his position no one knows, but it il
not likely he could penetrate the file creep
ing down the narrow road. He probably
spurred his horse through side street and
crossing the bridge at the end of Patrick
street to get ahead of his men, passed di-
rectly under Barbara's window. If the
rudeness of the troops ever drew his atten-
tion it was at this point, and here must his
voice have rung out, 'March on!' to his
startled men. So much for the generals
part in the matter, by which 1 indicate the
least he could have done.
Further the writer believes that the whole
scene was witnessed by Confederate SOL
diers who told it in the hospital, whence it
reached Miss Dix's ears, and thence to Whit
tier; in which course of recital, and with
the allowable political embellishments, the
variations of the poetical from the prose
narrative are not significant. OF subse-
quent events Miss Dali says:
| think it very likely that Barbara brought
down her flag that Saturday morning,
when the breakfast hour came and found
Harriet still at her prayers. think it also
likely that one shot or more may have been
aimed at the staff; but it is certain none
ever struck either the flag or the house.
We hear nothing of the flag when Lee en-
tered the town on the following Wednesday
Jackson's advance had already pressed be-
yond it, but if the story had been ''made
to order'' this moment would have been the
most tempting to its invention.
The army of Lee moved to the west Sep
| tember 10th. On the next day but one
Friday, September 12th-Burnside's army
entered the very streets of Frederick. The
advance under Reno crossed the bridge, en-
tering between Barbara's house and one
opposite where an old German clergyman,
the Rev. Jos. Traphell, himself over 80
years of age, was waving his flag,
Barbara stood in the doorway of her
house with Harriet Yorner and Mrs. Han
shew. A younger member of the party
brought her flag from her sitting room
where it was shut up in a drawer. Some
what reluctantly Barbara accepted and
waved it. 1t was much more like to shake
her flag in the face of the advancing foe
than to parade her good will when a friend
ly army entered.
The groups in the two houses attracted
the attention of Gen. Reno. He saw at
one glance the advanced age and the deep
emotion of those who held the flags. He
halted between them. "Behold the spirit
of seventy -six,"' he cried out to his men,
and they answered by mighty shout which
echoed along the street.
This little incident, which has never
been questioned in Frederick or out of it,
throughout the town, 1t took place in full
day, and was witnessed by both parties.
The talk about it led the few persons who
knew what had occurred OH September 9th,
to speak of that also. The battle of South
Mountain brought many wounded men into
the hospital, and so the story slowly trav.
| eled.
In considering the denials which the story
has met with, it is said first that many, ig
norant of the original incident, denied it in
| good faith, because they believed it had
| grown out of the subsequent incident mar
rated Immediately above; that few persons
being then astir, and the location of its
scene, on the very edge of the town. Again
many residents of Frederick were opposed
to Barbara Frietchie for her hatred of the
| Southern cause, and others cherished an
old local grudge because Of the Hessian pro
clivities of her husbands family; hence
they discredited the story. A denial of ii
| by Mr.. Erglebreicht at that time mayor Of
the city, rests on the fact that he says he
watched the march of the troops all day
long, from his window opposite Barbara S
house, and would have witnessed the incl
dent if it occurred; but it is said he has mis-
I
10th for Jackson's march, which occurred
early in the morning and before his win
! dows were open. Another denial compre-
hends only the fact that Jackson's advance
never entered Frederick That is true,
but it marched, as we have shown, close
enough to make all the incidents of the
poem possible.
| With a reference again to local causes
that prevented free currency to the story
and the ENHANCEMENT of double dates
which has confused some of the people
Miss Dali concludes:
The poem is historically true to the spirit
of the loyal woman who gave it being. II
several minor respects it errs, for the histo
ry of that 9th of September had not beer
told when it was written.
Cali that day through Frederick stree
sounded no ''tread of marching feet;'
and the marching out side the bridge ceaset
at an early hour. 1t was not "noon" whel
Barbara climed her attic stairs. But thes,
things are of little consequence. The poe
may do as he will with his own.
| THE POEM.
Following is the poem, as written b.
Whittier, and which, though familiar, will
be read with new interest in comparison
with and in the light of the above history
Up from the meadows rich with corn,
Clear in the cool September morn,
The clustered spires of Frederick stand
Green walled by the hills of Maryland.
Round about them orchards sweep,
Apple and peach tree fruited Deep
Fair as garden of the Lord
To the eyes of the famished rebel horde.
On that pleasat morn Of the early fall
When Lee marched over the mountain wall
Over the mountains winding down.
Horse and foot, into Frederick town.
Forty flags with their silver stars
Forty flags with their crimson bars,
Flapped in the mornin wind the sun
OF noon looked down and saw not one