The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-08-31

cauley, Of the United Statos Army, fur
nishes an interesting chapter OF his expert
ence among the dragon-fies and mosquitoes
of the Upper Missouri. The book IL Illus
trated with colored and other plates.
Barbara Fritchie.
"The march Of the army Of Northern Viz.
GINA Lees army through the streets q
Frederick lon the invasion OF Maryland IN
September. 1862 was the occasion 81 "a
scandalOus invention in derOgation OF It's
honor which has gone to the world rs the
ballad of Barbara Fritchie. The point and
the pathos Of this creation OF the imagina-
ticn is in the description OF scene IN when
an aged and decrepit woman, fired by patri-
Otism and neryed by courage in which the
men were lacking. planted the flag OF the
United states defiantly IN the face of the
Confederate column as it swept through
Frederick; that. by order OF Stonewall
jackson. a volley was fired at her and the
flag. and then, seized by sudden remorse,
the ideal Confederate hero passed ON with
heart wrung by grief and head bowed by
shame for the unnatural crime Of which he
had been guilty. IL transmits IN smooth
and melodiOus verse the explicit statement
that one of the chief historical characters
of the COnfederacy-he whom the love OF
his contemporaries and the veneraton
of the good IN the whole world
have singled out and apotheosized as
the hero, the genius. the martyr oil
the cause of honor. chivalry, and patriot
ism-that Stonewal Jackson ordered Con-
federate soldiers TO fire on an old woman
feebly haunting flag out of a garnet win
dow. and then, overwhelmed with remofse
and grief. hung his head and fed from the
scene of his shame. The function OF the
singer has at all times been akin 10 that OF
the prophet. While the latter gave express
sion 10 the will and purposes Of the gods.
the former moulded into words the hopes,
the memories, and the aspirations OF races,
Of people. and of nations. The real poet Is
under obligations to both, for truth llNes
and stirs the heart, and perpetuates heroic
deeds and the desire to do them. Therefore
there is no excuse for this Islander and libel
on the Confederate cause, the Confederate
soldier and the Confederate hero. Not only
is every allegation in the fable of Barbara
Fritchie false, but there never existed ioun-
datiOn for It.
81 was born in Frederick, and lived there
until Nav. 1861. when joined the Conied-
crate army. had known Barbara Fritchle
all nv life. At that time she was eighty
four Years old. and had been bcd-ridden for
some time. She never saw Confederate
soldier. and probably no one OF any kind.
Her house was at the corner OF Patrick
street and Town Greek bridge The troops
marched by there duringta portion of the
10th of September. On that morning Gen
cral jackson and his staff rode into the
town and paid visit to Mrs. Ross, the
daughter of Governor Mcdowell, of LeXing-
ton, Va, where Jackson lived, and whom
he knew well. After the visit TO Mrs. Ross
at the parsonage, which was next to the
Presbytcri church. and not on the same
street, nor near Mrs. Fritchie's house, he
rode at the head of his stan by the court
house, down through the Mill alley some
distance beyond the Fritchie house. lie
never passed it, and in all probability never
saw it."-General Bradley 1. johnson
quoted in Belford's Magazine.