Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-10-17
BARBARA FREITCHIE
ANOTHER VERSION or THE INCIDENT
MADE FAMOUS sY WHITTIER.


1t seems a pity to upsst 20 Pretty a
picture as the one Drawn Ivy Whittier
of tie aged Barbara ErriiC he waving
the stars and stripes ever tic heads 81
the rebel hosts as they marched through
Frederick. bat truth coinpels the state
ment that Barbara only displayed the
flag after the arrival 81 the Fedeial
troops, while q younger woman dared
the rebels. without. however, being
fired upon.
Barbara's maiden name vss Hancr.
and she was born ON Dc. >, 1856,
in Lancaster, Pa Her family moved To-
Frederick, Nd, when she Was child.
and in 1906 she married John Casper
Freitchie. Ono az her n lstives now iv-
ing in Frederick is authority for the
following statement:
Barbara was intensely patriotic.
and in September. lS62. when the
Union soldiers drove the rchcls out II
Frederick. Barbara manifested her de-
light by standing at her window with a
silk flag in her hand. Owing To her adj
vanced age (nrarly e6b she attracted "a
great deal Of attention, both officers ana
privates breaking ranks to- shake her BY
the hand. For thee hours she continued
nv the window, until, becoming exhaust
cd, che was persuaded TO cUme in and
rvst. Earlier in the day younger wo-
man had waved small Union flag
from "a house in tie same street while
the rebels were passing. She was not
fired upon, however.
"In the excitement following on the
retreat of the r.,bcls tie two incidents
became blended together. and q resident
of the town, writing to Mrs. L. ID. L. y.
Southwark, treated them as one. Mrs.
Southworib. feeling that she could rot
do. justice to the theme, wrote Am ac-
count Of it to TIE poet Whittier. who,
stretching poets license tn the limit.
peuned tho well known verses entitled
Barbara Freitclnc.'
"Barbara's home vas situated Gu
West Patrick street. on the cast hank of
Carroll creek. Directly opposite was tine
town spring. who's. waters still bubble
mp as icfieshinsiy rs they did through all
the years cf our bitter strife. Whichever
party held Frederick was sure Co he r,rs
resented by its soldiers at that spring.
There during hot summer days they
would lounge IN the shade Of Barbara .
stoop II il werc the boys in blue, she
was very gracious and would come down
and lend them her tumhlcrs or her dip
per and give them biscuits, but not so
the Confcderates, WHOM she would drive
from her premises or order from her
portico with a majestic motion 81 her
cane, her great age protecting her from
insolencc or harm.
Barbara died on Dec. Is. 1859. af
the age ~ o6 years and 10 days ~.
was Lrrici beside her husband In the
German Reformed church yard Of Fred
crick.
''In 1865 u fioAd did n great deal Of
damage TO property ON Wcst Patrick
street, and Barhara's house was cnn-
dcnined aud tom down 10 widen Carroll
creek. The carpenter who razed tls.
house made canes If the balus'rafic and
sold them. One was sent TO General
| Grant rs u souvenir.
'After Bsrbara's death there was q
sale Of portion Of her furniture. and II
was my pleasure afr. years sincc to so
n bedstead owned by her in an uphol.
sterer's store. OH fashioned. scy.rcly
plain and simple. should have passed
I 10 hundred times without noticing .;
had my attention not been called to II
by the sturckccIcr. who told me he h,d
| purchased 10 from n Frederick dcaiei
upon n sworn affidavit ms to its GEM.
ineness. The I'D on which IN. dic,. !,
now owned and used hy n great -grrat
nephew. Her sidcbuaTd IL the prupvrt,
IF another rcphow.
| The historic silk flag - in Oh. Toe.
session Of til. nicrr who st,SsI una
that memorable urv-nsion by Barbara
side while the latter held IL in her hand
also among her priceless treasures thii
same niece values blue china coffsc
pot. which was the property Il Barbara
and from which coffee was scrvcd o,
General Washington when hc visitcs
Frederick in 1921. Upon tina; occasion
Washington spcnt the night at Mrs
kimbal's hotel. where the City ho,c
now stands. aud barbara frsitchi.
brought her Liverpool china Co erac,
the table.
Whittier painted trutbfully wbc,
he said:
.Thc clustered spires 20 Frederick stand
Green walled - The hills of Mari land.
"Singuiarly enough, the church,s
are all grouped together within q
stones throw of each other. Barbar.
was - rncmbcr III tho German Reformed
with DR. Zacharias ms pastor. A few
years after the war he was interviews
bv some admirers q whif,i.rs rxqui
site lincs- All. ycs, answered the do-tw
frndcrly. i Wa barbara Frri;rhi, I
pastor fog nearly 10 years. handed hrt
the cup and the bread. At our rsan
nunion service she always parfonk. a
had been her lifelong habit. sfaus.is.
and afterward was sure ,o shake hand
cordially with her pastor. '"-Bcsio,
herald.