Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-09-17
Mrs. southworth ans, B.rb.r. rr.ischie.


To the Editor of The Eveninr Star:
PROSPER CorrAoE, Sept IS, 1892.
Ny mothers attention was called to the state
ments made by Mrs rsl Quantrelle Brown
In reference TO 1.-The story of Barbara Freit-
che published in yesterdays STAB Having
neither time nor disposition to enter into a
newspaper controversy my mother. neverthe-
less, requests me to correct some of the errors
made BY Mrs. Brown.
Mrs. Brown saws that "stonewa!l jackson
never was the city of Frederick during the
war" This error is corrected BY the state
ment of Maj. II. Kyd Douglass, adjutant gen.
eral. who was S.onewaIl Jackson staff. pub
hshed in the Baltimore sun in a recent issue,
which says: "0n Sunday he asked Majs. Doug
lass and Morrison of his staff to go 10 church
with him . He went to hear DR..
Zacharias, at the Evangelical Reformed Church,
and. as usual went to sleep. While the army
passing through he rode with Maj. Doug
Lass TO the house of Rev. DIR. Ross, the Presby-
terrain pastor. and left note for him. This
Is from one who contradicts the flag incident Of
Barbara Freitchie.
Mrs. Brown saws that Mrs Freitchie's hus-
band was hung years before in the court house
ward a. tory" While this has nothing to
do with the incident it is necessary to contra
dict il for the sake OF the living relatives. One
who knew John C. Freitchie, Barbara's hus-
band, all his life, says of him: he was ahighly
respected citizen of Frederick. His humble and
unobtrusiye manner won for him the regard OF
his fellow citizens"
His death occurred on November 10. 1S49.
Gone, but not forgotten. for beautiful myrtle
covers his grave"
So Barbara's husband was not hung in the
court yard
Mrs. Browns assertion that Mrs. South
worth SAYS that she received her information
from a Mr. Ramsburg only few years ago" Is
not correct Mr. c. s. Ramsburg told The Incl
dent of Barbara Freitchie and the flag to my
mother in nv presence in the summer Of the
year 1868, twentv-nine years ago, and then
and there suggested to my mother to send the
story TO Mr.. Whittier.
Mr. Brown ghes the following quotation
from a reply which she saws she received from
Mr.. Whittier TO a letter she wrote to him ask
ing for information on this subject: II got
my information from Mrs. Southworth, who
writes ne she in turn received IL from Miss Do
rsthea Dix, who was a matron in the hospital at
Frederick" This language il alleged to be Mr..
Whittiers. Now, the style IL not like that OF
the letter he wrote to my mother dated ''Ames-
bury. mo-, 3, 1868. published in The STAR
of last Thursday. Ny mother never had the
pleasure Of knowing Miss DIX personally. and
only knows her through her good and distin
guished reputation. Neither has she had any
communication with Miss Dix whatever on this
subject. 80 M mother never wrote to Mr..
Whittier that she received her information
from any one but Mr.. G. S. Harrisburg. She,
therefore, cannot believe that Mr.. Whittier
wrote the language attributed to him by Mrs.
Brown in the above quotation.
In regard 70 the alleged statement Of Mrs.
Freitchies niece that Aunt Barbara was never
known to possess flag" quote the following
passage from one who knew the whole family.
Speaking of the windows of Barbara Freitchie's
house he saws: AT one of those dormer win
dows have frequently noticed her standing
wi h her countrys flag floating gracefully and
beautifully from the same window"
Now, Mr.. Editor, Mrs. Southworth's connec-
ton with this subject is this: Mr.. C. S. Rams
burg related the incident TO her in 1868 as he
heard 1t when it the current subject of
throughout Frederick, and she
wrote the story to Mr.. Whittier and the poem
was the result. RICHMOND J. SoUTHwoRrH.