The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-04-26
BARBARA FREITCHIE NO MYTH.
She Lived in Frederick and Died at
the Age of N~inety-six.

T.. II. Brendel. in Baltimore American.
Apropos OF the Barbara Frietchie contro-
versy, / think ! can connect several miss
Ing links In the narrative and also correct
one or two that have been adj
vanced. At the time the city of Frederick
was occupied by the Confederate troops 1
was a boy living at home with my parents
In the city. I saw the first Confederate SOL
der enter the city and witnessed the de-
parture of their last man. Nearly one
week thereafter there was a skirmish be-
tween the advance guard or the Union
army and the rear guard of the Confed-
crate army through the streets of the city.
AS 10 the flag Incident / am not prepared
10 say whether the story is correct in ev-
cry particular. but this | do know, that
Barbara Frftchie was not a myth.
II is claimed that she lived on a small
street through which Jackson could not
have marched any large body of men,"
This is not correct. for she lived on Pat
rick street. one of the principal streets of
the city. which Is also the old National
pike, through the city, and / know from
MY own personal observation that the main
portion of the Confederate army passed
Ugh by her house. The Confederate army
Entered Frederick in September. 1862. In
Inc month CT December following Barbara
Fritchie died at the age of ninety-six years.
Her body rests in the old German Re-
formed graveyard, at the west end of Sec
ond street. between Second and Third
streets, and the last information l nave
on the subject is that her grave has been
sadly neglected, although / have nothing
pm that subject OF a recent date. / was in
frederick last spring, but did not get to
visit that section of the city. and have
heard nothing as TO the condition OF the
grave for several years.
1t is also related of Barbara that upon
another occasion the presence OF a lot OF
Confederate soldiers loungfng on her porch
incensed her very much. She approached
Them, energetically fi~ourishing her cane,
Ind exclaimed: b gone, you lousy pack
Ind In a trice they disappeared TO a man.
Barbara's residence was a one-and-a-half-
btory structure, which stood on the south
hide OF West Patrick street, the first house
past or the bridge over Carroll creek.
Some eight or ten years after the flag Incl
dent occurred a heavy rainstorm flooded
Carroll creek. overfiowing its banks and
Bntailing some damage to the property
hear by. Shortly after the city purchased
the Frietchie property, as also several
pther properties adjacent to the stream.
The buildings were torn down and the sites
Df the same We're made use of 10 widen the
bed of Carroll creek. 1t was the general
opinion at the time this demolition took
place that Ii was done by certain persons
not In entire sympathy with the heroic act
OF Barbara, and that 1t was their desire to
obliterate as far as In their power every
thing that had a tendency to perpetuate the
deed. Quite a number of canes and other
trinkets were made from the material Of
the building. and i have no doubt that
many of these relics are still I'm the hands
OF the people OF Frederick, and that others
have found their way into the homes OF
Northern people who have visited the city
from time TO time.