The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1896-11-05
BARBARA FRETCHIE.
VERSION OF THE INCIDENT
MADE FAMOUS BY WHITTIER.
1t Was Younger Woman Who
Waved the Flag at the COnfederatcs
How Barbara Came TO Get the
Credit-The Character and Home of
Barbara Freitchie-A Good Story
Spoiled in the Interest of Truth.
(Bosion IIerald.)

(Boston Herald.)
1t seems a pity 10 upset 50 pretty
picture As The one drawn by Whittier
nt the aged Barbaiil Freiichlc waving
he stars and stripes over The heads OF
The rebel hoS,s As they marched
through Frederick, hut truth Compcls
the statement that Barbara only dis
played the flag after the arrival of lhc
Federal troops, white younger woman
dared the rebels, without, hewever, lie
ing tired upon.
Rarbara'S maiden name was HaEcr,
and she was bonn on Dec. Srd, I7O6,
IN Lancaster, Pa Eer family moved
10 Frederick, Md, when she was
child, and in 1906 she married John
Casper Frel,chie. One Of her relatives
now living in Frederick is authority
for the following statement:
"Barbara was Intensely patriotic,
and in. September, 1862, when The
Union soldiers drove the rebels out OF
Frederick, Barbara manifested her de-
light by standing at her window with
silk flag in her hand. Owing to her
advanced age (nearly 90 she attracted
great deal of attention, both OtlCerS
and prlvates breaking ranks to shake
her by the hand. For three hours she
continued by the window, until be
coming exhausted, she was pursuaded
TO come in and rest. Earlier in the
day younger woman had waved
small union flag from house in the
same street while the rebels were pass
ing. She was not fred upon, how
ever.
"ln the excitement following upon
retreat OF the rebels The TWO incidents
became blended together, and a resi-
dent OF the town, writing 10 Mrs. T..
ID. +. N. Sou,hworth, treated them as
one. Mrs. Southworlh, feeling that
she could not do justice 10 the theme,
wrote an account of 1t 10 the poet
Whittier, who, stretching poet license
to the limit, penned the well known
verses en,llied Barbara Freitchie.
"Barbara' home was situated on
West Patrick street, on the east bank
of Carroll creek. Directly opposite
was the town Spring, whose waters
still bubble up as relreshngly as they
did through all the years of our bitter
strife. Whichever party held trcder-
lex was sure to be represented by It's
soldiers at that spring. There during
hot summer days they would lounge in
the shade OF Barbara's stoop. 1t i
were the boys in blue, she was very
gracious and would come down and
lend them her tumblers or her dIpper
and give them biscuits, but MOI SO the
the Cunfe,Ierates, whom she would
drive from her premises, or order from
her porlIoo with majestic motion OF
her cane, her great age protecting her
from lnsoienCe or harm.
"Barbara died on Dec. IS, 1862, at
the age of 96 years and IS days. She
! was buried beside her husband IN the
German Reformed church yard OF
Frederick.
.In 1868 food dii 4 great deal
| Of damage to property on West Fat
rick street, and, Baibara's house was
| condemned and torn down To widen
| Carroll The carpenter who RACED he
house uladr clnes Of til: balusiradc
and sold them. One was sent TO Cen
| FRA f,rauf nc CnuNfIIr
"Altcr Barbara's death there was a
sale OF a portion OF her furniture, and
it WAS my pleasure few years since
t. see a bedstead owned by hsr IN an
upholsterer's sIore. Old fashioned,
severely plain and simple, | should
have y ssld il hundred times with,
out Bnllcing 1t had my attention not
been called 10 II by the sto,ekeeper,
who told me he had purchased 1t from
a Frederick dealer upon sworn hiil-
davit as to its genulneness. The bed
on which she died is now owned and
used by a great nephew. Her aide
board IS the property If another neph-
eW.
"The historic silk flag = IN shc pos
session of the niece VINO 3OOd by upon
! that memorable occasion a, BIrbara' g,
! side while the latter held II in Etr
! hand; also among her priceless treas
| ures this same niece values blue CHINA
cofeepo;, which was the property oi
Birbar,, and from which coffee was
served To General Washington wherl
ii. visited Frederick IN 1891. Upon
that occasion Washington spent The
night al Mrs. kImbaps hotel, where
! CITY hotel now stands, and Barbara
Fre;,chie brough. her Liverpool china
10 grace the table.
"WhlD;ier painted ,ruth:uliy when
| he SAID:
1.-The clustered spires of Frederick stand
Green vailed by the hills Of Maryland.
"SingnlarlS enough, the churches
are. all grouped together within a
stones throw Of each other. Barbara
was a member Of the German Reform
ed. with DR.. Zacharias as pastor. A
few years after the war he was ln,er-
viewed by some admirers of Whittier :
exquisite lines. 'Ah, yes, answered.
the doctor ,enderly. Il was Barbara
Freitcnie's pastor for nearly thirty
wears. / handed her lie cup and The
bread, Al our communion service
she always pariook, as had been he'
lifelong habit, standing, and atterward
was sure tc shake hands cordially witt
her pastor.