News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1891-07-16

notes, the thought came crowdine
upon the mind of Mrs. Quantrille
"They are playing a national air
Maryland never seeded, and if they
dare flaunt their false colors, | have
right to my true ones" A little
girl near at hand had a small Ameri
can flag with which she had beer
playing. Mrs. Quantrille took it from
her hand, and, without q single re
mark to those around her, stepped
to the front of the porch and waved
it. A carriage containing General r
Z. Lee and staff was Just passing
and at some one s exclamation, "See
There are the stars and stripes" he
looked up and courteously lifted his
hat in recognition. My mother re
turned his salute. Just then a
mounted officer, General A. p. Hill
rode up to the curb and, raising his
hat, said: Madam, give me your
flag" -<
"You cannot have It," answered
Mrs. Quantrille.
Give it to me-" insisted General
Hill, to present TO General Lee"
"My flag" was the prompt re-
sponse, ''is worthy a better cause
than General Lee has espoused."
Then followed some questions and
answers concerning the equipment OF
colored troops, which l do not re-
member in detail, closing with sal
ly from the general, anent the flag:
You had better make an apron OF
it."
To this Mrs. Quantrille retorted: IL
am not quite so needy as your ar
my"
General Hill rode away, but my
mother, undaunted, held her place
and flag.
A private soldier, however. who
had not yet fallen into line, stood
down by the porch and heard all that
had been said. In a few moments,
with a quick motion of his bayonet,
he had cut the staff and the flag fell
to the pavement. Mrs. Quantrille
looked down and said: "That was
the act of a cowardl"
He tore the flag into strips, and,
stamping them under his feet, growl-
ed: "G-D-the stars and stripes, and
all who advocate them!'
But it happened that Miss Hop
wood, who stood by, had a flag con-
cealed in her sleeve. Drawing it out
she handed it to my mother, saying;
Here, Mrs. Quantrille, take this. y
In less time than / can write it, the
second flag met the same fate as the
first. Every one was alarmed. Mrs
Quantrille's friends begged her tC
flee, believing she would be shot oi
taken prisoner; but just as quietly
and firmly as she stood by her flag
she refused to move. The incident
was related to General Hill. He i'm
mediately returned, and, summon
ing the offender severely reprimand
ed him.
The facts l have related will stan,
closest investigation, and upon tn
grave of Mrs. Mary Quantrille mus
the laurel be placed. and upon his
tory's page must her name be en-
blazoned.
And now 1 presume that editor an
public will want AN explanation
Whittier's poetic error. ] can gi'
| one.
Not 100 yards from our home
Frederick lived Mrs. Frietchie. H'
house stood upon what is known g
! Carroll creek. small stream tina
runs through the city and divide
Patrick street. At the time of tn
incident | have described she wa
over 90 years of age and very feebl
scarcely able to get around wit
the aid of a cane. Her entire famil.
excepting John Ebert, a brother c
the mayor, were strongly in sympa
thv with the South. Mrs. Frietchi
herself, am told, was loyal, mucl
to their chargin. Many times durin.
the invasion of confederate troop
she would become irritated at thei
lounging over her porch and hobbllnI
to the door, would bid them begone
On the evening of Burnside's al
rival she was so rejoiced that her tiaI
which she had long been hiding iron
sipht, was brought forth and unfur
ed from her window as a welcome T.
the bows in blue. The battle OF Al
tietam was raging, the booming c
cannon could be plainly heard, an
ambulances bearing wounded an
diving were making their way to on
hospitals. A hospital matron, Mis-
Dorothea Dix, heard of the two Inc
dents, and, confounding them hop,
lesslv. related her version to Mrs. |
ID. +. N. Southworth, who in tur
told it to Mr.. Whittier, and
Thus the tale in telling grew.
The only resentment | cherish
the matter is this: Mrs. Frietchle
relatives at first were incensed b
! yond measure; but when they -four
glory and honor descendingupon tI
old iady's head, they became grac
, fully mute, and accepted all the
comiums without a protest. To the
; | fling back the anathemas WI
which they assailed my mothers at
Nv mother died on August l. Isl
/ at Washington, and lies buried
| Glenwood cemetery. Peace has be
2 restored many years. All honor
4 flag OF our Union, and L would n
' be regarded as vindictive toward
(. people who have since been harm
!. nious and loyal-yes, even tender,
Q shown in the treatment OF the c
Q hero. Grant. They have display
/ too magnanimous a nature TO
n misunderstood. My desire is simT
$ that honor may fall where honor
c due.-Kate Fields Washington.