Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1888-02-23
BARBARA FRrTcHiE.


whitsies's War Lyric
Whittier's war lyric on Barbars
Fritceie has an assured place in the
thrilling poetry Il the period We
have neither hope nor desire TO odimin-
ish admiration for il. noe 10 weaken
is influence in the lcass but we be-
lieve a recitation of the facts in con-
neciion with its composition will b. of
general interest The writer II this
article carried mu- ket in the Union
arTnv. and marched through the streets
Of Frederick City bat few hours be-
bind the Confederate troops under the
command Of Stonewail Jackson He
well RENE bers the little house II b r.
bara Eritchie. ON the banks of he
creek on Patrick street. Aferwar,i.
in the hospital. he became intimately
acquainted with the old lady's nieces
who knew personally of her conduct on
the occasion described in the pom
Here IS the truth taken from letter
written to the writer in 1875:
Aunt never did wave her fiag. Ra,
no matter how much you sAy it. the
Northern people will never believe IL
No one has ever asked us about Aunt
Barbtra Fritehie. but we have told the
simple truth She was born in Ian
caster. p. December. I757. and
moved To Frederick when a little child.
Having no children If her own. she
took nv mother n the ace of three
and raised her to womanhood- Aunt
Barbara was IN intelligent and *
cecdingly la'iy-like woman. moved in
the best $ cety. and was highly re-
Spected by the cutir- community. A..
To- her LOYALTY T. IN u ion, there was
n" question. and -hr had no sympathy
whatever fnr tn : auth. When JACK.
son : troops " err passing by her house.
some soldiers entered her var,i and
>eair'l themselv~s on ths, step
ef her porch Tie oil Iadv cam.
out promptly. sti red among
Them with her cane. and drove
hem 90. hui she dii No, wave her flag
g. them Both armies were in the
city n ihe same time. and it was &c
Burr ~i'ir' : troops. who were among
The FIRST ioa soldiers To- enter Fred-
eriek. who were chasing the enemy
and tighiiug IN front Il aunt : house.
she waved her htS. She was over
'yet. and. rurning % her large
family Bible. where she had placed
her little silk nag for safetv. at nv
suggestion. she stood with IL in her
hand. and her extreme Old are,
eighty--x. really attracted more
notice than her dag. Officers and men
gathered around ths outside II the
window where she stood. asking Z
take her by the hand. inquiring her
age. name. etc. waS from this the
story originated Some one told il. NJ
written IA h. poem. 10 Mr. South
worth. who felt herself incapable
of wriii=g upon it and gave
the narrative To NJ. Whit
tier. H. received il as a facf.
aud wrote accordingly. and no one
should lay the fal,ehopd In him.
Aunt Fritchie's house Wa viIied ie
INV mother. anil. after the fioad II
1868 had 10 be sold to the corpora ion
for the purpose of y wdening the creek
The house was torn down and the
creek widencd. and upon whai wa.
aunt's alley. now stands a narrow
house used a Ii ner's shop. One
II the most prominent Confsderates Of
Maryland. distant relative Of mine.
vent 10 mother week az, with
Union G. neral fr0-u Philadelphia. aud
asked nav mol her fer aunt Ia for
display 1T the Centennial VI hus-
land talks Of making a tour To ex-
hibit the little girl who stood BY B r.
bara Fritehir'- : side. a she i now hi.
property. But better wav to
fortune would be To- sell Barbara
Friichie' fiag AMI belstead. now in nv
possession - ). 5. Gis0A. ia Herald
aRd PrcsbFfer