The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1882-08-24
Barbara Fritehie,s True story.

1t wa to her own troops that Barbara
waved the flag, inspiring them on a march
that involved some of the most intense
suffering ofthe war. The days were OPP
prysive, the roads sunny and full of dust,
arg any momen might bring the contend
ing forces face to face. 1t was the day be-
fore the South Mountain battle. South
Mountain lies twelve miles west Of Fred
erick, and to this point General Reno, I'M
der Burnside, was presJing when he passed
Dame Barbara's door.
"They were passing all day. Mrs. II.
went on to say, but in the morning | said
TO my daughter, Julia, there are SO many
soldiers around, go across the bridge; and
bring Aunt over; shei is alone and may
feel afraid"
"And did you bring her back?' said 1.
"Oh, no" laughed Julia, Aunt Fritchis
was standing at the window, nodding and
smiling to the troops, who were gathered
all about her, and when ] came she said,
Child, hand me my flag you'll find it in
my Bible!""
In between the pages that Barbara read
daily the "silken scarf was folded, n little
flag of twisted silk, not two feet long. 1t
was not IN a staff, SO Rcrbara waved it
like a handkerchief. The throng increased,
the men would not move on. but breaking
ranks, were crowding around her with
"Why mother, how are your" "Hurrah
for 76r Lets shake hands, grandmoth-
err etc. At this moment General Reno
came up at the head ofhis brigade the pic
ture met his eye; the crowded artillery, the
banners, horses, swords, muskets and men,
and in the midst, the veritable "old gray
head" with its smooth white cap, the folded
muslin over the breast, now beating with
young heart throbs, the bent figure in the
black gown. He refined his horse before
her. "And how old is grandmother he
said. Some one replied, "Ninety-Six."
"Ninety-Sixlp Halt! Three cheers for
the loyal old grandmother A shout went
up that had some sound in ii; the General
d~ismounted, entered the little house with
one of his aids, shook hands with Barbara,
was seated, and in few minutes the old
lady was pouring him out a glass of wine
of her own making. Goodbye was spoken
and the troops passed on; but nearly all
that day the aged figure could be seer
cheering the passing soldiers by her enthu
siasm. The next day came the word, "A
flower on the Union side has fallen. Thu
brave Reno, respected by both sides alike
was killed at South Mountain, in an en-.
gagement whose details of fierce contesr
will never be fully known.
"The next day." Mrs. H continued
we were OVER bU uuutS ana went INTO INT
garden to attend to the flowers, chargin,
her not to open the door if any one raped
while we were down there, for the town
was full of strangers. When we returned
to the parlor, she met us quivering with
excitement. 4 couldn't help it, he woult
have it. 1 didn't want to give it, but h,
was a gentleman said she, he had thing
on his shoulders and wore a gold watcl
and chain. 1t was hard to draw from TIL
old lady that she had responded at once Il
the tap on upon the door. Then an office
entered and pleaded so persistently for tn,
little cotton flag she had then about her
that the old woman gave way. He woul,
have it, but it wasn't the one she said ap
pealingly.'
In passing to and from her house to he
niece's Barbara would often find her step
thronged by soldiers, for a clear sprin,
bubbled up just opposite her house, by tn
creek, refreshing many, both of the blu
and the gray if it CHANGED to be her "owl
soldiers" her tumblers and dipper wer
freely given, but if it happened that an al
ray of gray uniforms were there, her stat
would stir in among them as though the,
were dead leaves, and they would seattle
in every direction, amused at the way sh
addressed them in language not at all dis
guised by superfuous rhetorical finish.