| Show rn etchie 1 legend 1 still in dispute despite doubters of whit tiers version story holds people frederick md even though controversy tro versy may rage over john greenleaf whistlers whittlers Whitt lers poetic account of her deeds barbara Friet chles personal ties left an imprint on this historic town no other ever did from the idealism of the massively simple granite monument which marks her grave in mount olive cemetery to the plate bolted to the rail of the west patrick street bridge over the town creek her name descends triumphantly into the everyday walks of life it Is em blazoned on a gasoline fill ing station A chocolate shop also bears it so does soft drink booth and a sausage stand yet doubt of her authenticity which has split frederick town into two well camps upon occasion has made itself felt legend branded as fraud several years ago with the con of a new community hotel suggestion that it carry her name was met with unveiled hostility her legend was branded as fraud in compromise the ranks ot the illustrious were scanned and francis scott key filled the breach some historians generally have been prone to consider the barbara frietchie le tale as chiefly a figment of whistlers whittlers Whitt lers imagination albeit moat deftly contrived history does not confirm that jackson led his troops through frederick he did however pay a visit to the presbyterian manse on west second street he and his party then went down bentz street to patrick street and hence out of town past barbara s house it Is true but seemingly some distance behind the main body ot his troops jaclson also appears to have been in frederick four day preceding the flag incident on the morning of september 10 the confederates broke camp and moved westward going out west patrick street past the house version traced to barbara herself A version of the story said to have been told by barbara herself to cpr niece miss caroline ebert sets forth that mrs near her ninety sixth birthday took her silk flag from the family bible and went to her window to welcome ahat she thought were northern soldiers an officer rode up and aked that the flag be given him but she refused and commented on 1 gray uniform he left to return with other and men barbara still standing her ground one of the men it Is related called out shoot her head off 1 turning angrily an officer thought to have been stonewall jack son shouted if you harm a hair of her head I 1 U shoot you down like adoli barbara dept her flag miss ebert related the story to a cousin who told a neighbor mrs E D E N southworth mrs south worth wrote whittler cr about it relatives disclaim that the old lady snatched her flag from the staff un der fire and engaged in Whitt lera dialogue with the officer who ordered it shot down |
