The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-02-13
THE REAL BARBARA FRlETCHlE.
Nsnc1y-six Years Old, Bcdriddcn and
Never Dcf;cd StoncS:ill jackson.


To the Editor of the Sun:
Sir,-The Barbara Hrietchic' lie dies
hard 1t has been mailed" time and
again. hut at intervals of every five years
or so '.bobs up again serene and cheerful,
finds patriotic champions from Brook
Ign tgenerous asylum ever OF exploded
war-mythsD 10 Waterbury, Conn. But
some OF the later champions take the
very soul out of the myth and the point
out of the poem by allowing that the
aged Barbara waved her little flag in
welcome 10 the Union forces and not in
defiance of Stonewall Jackson and his
ragged Rebels Mr.. J. c. HouShton, in
your issue of January 24th says: Il am
glad TO see that you have rescued Barbara
Frietchie from the realm OF m!lh.
! have Il photograph OF hcr,
taken after her welcoming display of the
United States flag 10 the Union forces as
ahcy were passing through Frederick CITY
Mr.. Whittier took poets Ii
cense In making her defy with her flag
The rebel General in previous march
through Frederick" This being granted,
the whole raison dctre of the poem goes
by the board.
No one, SO far as j know, has ever con-
tended that Barbara Frietchie never exist
ed. She undoubtedly did exist, and Was
the wife OF citizen of Frederick. who
was said TO be descended from one OF The
Hessians brought over to subdue the Anne
s'ican colQniStS!
. II Is a perfectly well-known fact that
Stonewall Jackson did net pass through
Frederick along with his corps, but rode
rapidly through the town with a small
cavalry escort about an hour before his
troops marched through the streets.
Neither nc nor his troops passed Bar
bara Frietche's house. There is not one
single incident in ANhittiers poem that
has an historical foundation. 1t is pure
poetic myth from start to finish.
Perhaps the following letter from Bar
lara Fnetchies own nephew, which APP
Dearcd in the Baltimore Sun in August.
1874. may interest Your readers and give
the doughty champions Of the myth
pause for reflection. 1t will be seen that
twenty-five years ago the bottom was
knocked out of the patriotic episode" by
one who could speak with authority
Sir:-I have just read a communication
in The Sun purporting to set forth GER
tain facts in relation to the life and
character Of the late Barbara Frie:chie.
the heroine of Whi,tiers celebrated war
poem. 1t may not be proper 10 state that
] am the nephew Of Dame Barbara"
and had the settling UP Of her husbands
estate In the capacity of administrator.
This necessarily threw me into frequent
communication with the ancient and ven
cradle DAME.
Barbara Frietchie, my venerable aunt.
was not a lady of twenty-five summers
as your correspondent alleges, but an
ancient dame of nincty-siX winters when
she departed this life: and it is but truth
TO add that she never saw the inside Of
ahe Federal hospital in this city. Nor
did she depart this life in September,
1S6S. but died on December u.s. 1862. Nor
did any OF the Federal soldiers from the
hospital attend the old la1ys remains
10 their last resting place. This, to my
certain knowledge, was fact, no orders
20 that effect having been given. There
fore none of those convalescing invalid
solulers We're at my old aunt's funeral.
SO much for this branch Of your New
York correspondents statement
Now, a word as to the waving of the
Federal flag IN the face of The. rebels BY
Dame Barbara on the occasion of Stone
wall Jacksons march through, Frederick.
Truth requires me TO say that Stonewall
Jackson With his troops did not pass Bar
bara Frietchie'S residence at all. but
passed up what in this city is popularity
called 1.-The Mil Alley about three hun
dred yards above her residence then
passed due west TO Artietam. and thus
GU: OF the Gty. But another and stranger
fact with regard TO this matter may be
here presentcd-viz.: The poem by Whit
tier represents our venerable relative
(ti,en ninety-siX years OF aseD as ni.nb!s
ascending TO her attic window and wav-
ing her email Federal flag de;ian,ly IN
tho face OF Stonewall Jackson's troops.
Now, what are the facts at this point?
Dame Barbara was. at the moment of
the passing of that distinguished general
and his forces through Frederick. bed
ridden and helpless. and had lost the
power of locomotion. She could at this
period only move as she was moved. by
The help OF her attendants. These are
the true and stern facts. proving that
Whittier poem upon this subject Is tic-
lion, pure Action. and nothing else With,
out even the rcnotest semblancc or re-
semblance OF fact.
vALERlEs EBERT.
Frederick City. Md. August 9TH.
So the deed OF .sderring do. tina, cha,-
ienges u place for Barbara FTietchie
alongside OF Roman Cloelia or Scottish
katherine Douglas yanishes into thin air.
Tne utmost that can be contended for is
that rho may have waved a Onion nag
Z eaB-icnn,At rYytnu froona Ever 4 Mis- a