Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1944-11-12
Nearby Frederick,
AndBarbara Frietchie
By John Clagett Proctor.

BY John Clagett Proctor.
Up from the meadows rich Nth corn,
Clear, on the cool September morn,
The clustered spires OF Frederick stand
Green-wolled BY the hills OF Maryland
Round about their orchards sDeep,
Apple and peach tree rooted deep,
Fair as the garden OF the Lord.
Thus spoke Whittier in 1852, and
thus 1t is still today--fair as the garden
of the Lord. Indeed, Frederick County
Md, Is now and always has been
one Of the richest and most fertile coun-
ties In America, and at one time-many
years ago-it raised more wheat to the
acre, and more acres Of wheat, than did
any other county in the United States.
And few sights are more beautiful to
behold than this great Middletown VAL
ley from Braddock Heights just about
when the grain is ripe and ready for
harvest, and to see what intelligent
farming, in cooperation with nature,
can do with a minimum of effort.
The writer has always admired Fred.
erick County, especially its old taverns,
its old landmarks and its old cemeteries
where its distinguished dead lie buried
awaiting the great day when all shall
rise again.
Indeed, Western Maryland has always
been more than attractive to him, since
his great great grandfather, John
Hines, Revolutionary soldier, and his
good wife, had born to them in Liberty
town, near Frederick, Md, eight sons
and two daughters before moving to
Georgetown, D, c., in $780, And the
writer's own father, for whom he was
named, was born in Cavetown, in Wash
ington County to the north.
But in Frederick Mount Olivet Gene
terry Is Of particular interest because
here is buried Francis Scott Key, author
OF THE. Star Spangled Banner" and
though born in the Monocacy Valley of
Western Maryland and buried in Fred
erick City, for many years of his
life he was resident of Washington,
D. c., where he served as United
States district attorney from 1833-1841,
and practiced law here from 1905 to the
time of his death in Baltimore, January
II, 1S43, where he had gone to attend
to some legal matters. And it was in
connection with his profession that he
went to the British fleet in September,
1914, to secure the release of DR.. Beanes
and while thus engaged wrote THE
Star Spangled Banner"
Frederick Town
1t has been said that Winters
famous poem of Barbara Frietchie" is
what made Frederick, Md, or in other
words, as we might carelessly say today,
put it on the map. But this is not so,
for good old Frederick, as Frederick
Town, was a well-known place hun
dred years before the Civil War and no
doubt would have grown to its present
greatness If Whittier and his heroine
had never been born. It's part in the
Colonial wars, in the Revolutionary,
war, IN the Civil and subsequent wears
have all added to its Tame and its glory.
1t has had many great men and its
women have been of the substantial
and sterling kind that kcrrns even to the
present day theaFeal backbone of the,
Republic.
The Debated Legend
Recently the writer paid a visit to
Frederick and visited the graves of
Francis Scott Key, Thomas johnson
and Barbara Freitchie in Mount Olivet
Cemetery, and he naturally recalled
the much-debated question whether
Dame Barbara did or did not wave the
Union flag in Stonewall Jackson's face
when the Confederate troops passed
through this quaint Maryland city. Of
course, like the capturing of John Wilkes
Booth, there will always be those who
will say that the assassin of Lincoln
was never taken into custody, and there
will always be those who will believe
that Barbara Frietchie did wave the
flag, as so beautifully recorded by Whit
tier, regardless of the facts in either
case
AS to Barbara and Whittier's poem,
there are three reasons automatically
recorded by those in good position to
know why this good woman did not
wave the American flag on Septem-
Der 10, 1852, at the time of the flag
waving incident. These reasons are
Barbara was then SO years old and bed
ridden and had been so for quite while,
and that in her condition it would have
been impossible for her to have waved
a flag, Indeed, she died few months
later from old age, and this alone should
be enough to dispose of the story.
But further it was not light when
Jackson left Frederick, as evidenced by
the following note left at the door of
Or. Ross, Presbyterian minister Of the
place: Regret not being permitted to
see DR.. and Mrs. Ross. but could not
expect to have that pleasure at so un-
seasonable an hour.
ct. J. JACKSON"
September TO- 1862, Sis am"
Hence since the sun did not rise that
morning until about GAS it is extremely
doubtful If jackson could have seen
Barbara or Barbara could have seen him.
By Another Route
The third reason that brands. the Incl
dent myth is that Jackson did not
march by Barbara's home, but selected
another route.
1t is remarkable how story like this
can gain credence.
One could not imagine a better news