The Washington herald., 1911-06-25

I Barbara Frietchie was born Of an
old German family, her ancestors hav-
ing settled in Pennsylvania in Colon
ial times. She was fortunate, If II
might be termed such, in living through
all the great American wars. Born In
/ Lancaster on December 8, 1865, she had
seen the Continental soldier, when a
| little girl, go forth to battle with the
red coats, as middle-aged woman she
had passed through our second war
with Great Britain. and in her extreme
old age, bowed with the weight of
nearly a century, she saw the beginning
of the civil strife.
Barbara had met and knew George
Washington, and having been all her
.life schooled in deep loyalty to her
flag, She declared that in her declin-
ing years, with her end almost at hand,
she did not wish to see its death. She
and greatly interested in the stirring
events OF the early SOS.
Barbara's maiden name was HauSer,
and when quite young she removed
with her parents to Frederick. When
she was fourteen years of age she at
tended a quilting party in honor Of the
birth of John Casper Frietchie, who
afterward became her husband. They
never had any children. He was a
.
vember 10, 1859. His grave is beside
that of Whittier's heroine In the little
cemetery of the Reformed Church Of
Frederick.
Western Maryland was well divided
in its loyalty to either side in the
great civil conflict, but Frederick was
loyal to the North. The city and the
county, for this reason, were nick
named Little Massachusetts, Bar
har q In, Fradarfnlr ed
on West Patrick street beside Carroll
Creek 1t was scarcely 5 o'clock in the
morning when Jackson's army entered
the city and passed the Frietchie
house, Patrick street being one of the
principal thoroughfares of the town.
Jackson's little side trip, in which
he escaped passing the Frtetchte home,
was an early call on Rev. John B. Ross,
a Presbyterian clergyman, and Mrs.
Ross, who were his friends. Hating in
front of their house Jackson wrote the
following note and slipped it under
meath the door: Rev. John r. Ross
Regret not being able to see you and
Mrs. Ross, but could not expect to
have the pleasure at such an unseason-
able hour" This note was dated Sep
tember 10, 1852, $3.50 a. m. He then
rode on to Brentz street and passing
through, what is commonly known as
ICJOlnSO IAONPo All "Cob
Patrick street
Two days after "StonewalP Jackson's
visit. division OF the Union army un-
der Burnside marched through the city.
Barbara presented him with a little
silken flag. Later in the day came
Gen Reno. and to him she gave the
flag that is said to have been fired upon
by the Confederate soldiers. Though
this flag was wrapped about his body
after his death, 1t was not buried with
him, but instead was taken as a me-
mento by his son, Conrad Reno.
Barbara died. without knowing she
had been made famous and "Stone-
wall" Jackson was never aware Of the
part he was made to take in making
her so. The little silken flag is now in
possession of Mrs. John H. Abbott. A
few years after the old lady's death.
the house IN which she had lived was
torn down to provide for the widen
ing of Carroll Creek. On portion of
the lot there Is now standing a two
story building occupied as q paint shop.