Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1888-04-27
BARBARA rRiron,e
Another story About the an
whittler's War orosl

Aooot the EIoroa-
Whittier's War Lyric. u
Whittier's war lyric on r.,
fritehie has an assured place H. 'ara
thrilling poetry Of the period mo
have neither hope nor desire ~ no
ish admiration for 1t, nor 10 a'','n-
its influence in the least I'm, '.eh
lieve recit alton of the f,c,. ~ De-
neciion with its composition win 81 eon
general interest The writer =, :. :, ~
article carried musket in tho r.. .us
ARM. and marched through the $40. a'sn
of Frederick City but a few baas es's
hind the Confederate troops und. 'c'
command Of Stonewall Jackson m
we'll RENE nbcrs the little house ON ne
bara Frltchie, on the banks ~ -,
creek on Patrick street. Aftorw. "ne
in the hospital, he became ;n,;n,'
acquainted with the old ladv's n;ay
who knew personally Of her co,duct -
the occasion described in the No. vi
Here is the truth taken from n In"
written to the writer In 1878:
'Aunt never did wave her son
no matter how much you s.v Il wv
Northern people will Lever bcl;oro ~
No one has ever asked us about s.".
Barbra Fritchir, but we have told NV
simple truth. She WAS born in ~
caster, p. December. l777 sas
moved to Frederick when n lit,lo oh;.
Having ne children of her own =.
took my mother at the age Of ,hra roy
and raised her to womnnhood Aus.
Barbara was an intelligent and sx
cccdingly lady-like woman, moved H.
the best society. ard was highly w.
spected by the entire community A.
to her loyalty to the Uiion, there W..
no question. and she had no symn.,sw
whatever Tor the South. When ,IanL
sons troops we're passin hy her bouoa
some soldiers entered her ward and
seated themselves on tho .on.
OF her porch. The old lady cana
cut promptly, stirred amons
them with her cane, and drovss
hem off, but she did not wave her a,s
to tbom. Both armies were in thu
city at the same time. and it was 70
Burnsidc's troops, who were among
the first U ZION soldiers to enter Fred.
erick. who were chasing tbs enemy
and fighting in front of aunts house
she waved her flag Sho was over.
j'yed. and. running to her l.ros
family Bible. where she had placed
her little silk flag for safety. a. nv
suggestion. she stood with it in her
hand. and her extreme old age.
cighiy-six. really attracted more
notice than her flag. Officers and men
gathered around the outside Of the
window where she stood. asking to
take her by the hand, inquiring her
age. name. etc. 1t was from this tho
story originated. Some one told it, rs
written in the poem. to Mrs. South.
worth. who felt herself incapable
of writing upon it. a>l gave
the narrative to Mr.. Whit
tier. He received it as a fact,
and wrote accordingly, and no one
should lay the falsehood to him.
Aunt Fritchie's house was wiled to
my mother, and. after the flood of
1868 had to be sold to the corporation
for the purpose of widening tae creek.
The house was torn down and the
creek widencd. and upon what was
aunt's alley, now stands narrow
house used as n timers shop. One
of the most prominent Confederates Of
NJ ryland, a distant relative of mine
went to mother week ago, with 8
Union General from Philadelphia. aud
asked my mother for aunts fay for
display ut the Centennial NJ aus.
band talks OF making tour to ex-
hibit the little girl who stood by B T.
bara Fritchie's side. as she is now his
property. But a better way 10 q
fortune would be to sell Barbara
Fri chie's flag and bedstead. now in my
possession. IS. S. Olson, in Herald
and Presenter.