Barbara Frietchie, Native of Pennsylvania, Died December 18, 1862

Where is the person who has not been thrilled with the reading or recitation of John Greenleaf Whittier’s poem, “Barbara Frietchie?”

It is even doubtful if the Massachusetts Quaker poet realized how famous he was going to make the venerable Barbara, and himself, when he penned his immortal poem. But there are few persons of the present generation who know anything about the personal side of Barbara Frietchie.

This patriot was born in Lancaster County, Pa., December 3, 1766, when George Washington was a young man of thirty-four. She was 887the third daughter of John Niclaus Hauer and Catherine Zeiler Hauer, who were both born in Germany. In 1753 they emigrated to America.

When Barbara was two years old her parents moved to Frederick, Md., then a long distance away. The trip was made in old-fashioned ox carts.

This noted woman was born during patriotic times. The hated Stamp Act had just been repealed. In fact, Frederick County, in 1765, was the first to officially protest against it.

It is said of Barbara that she met many of the patriots of that day, and when she was twenty-five years old she had the pleasure of conversing with George Washington.

This event occurred one afternoon in 1791 at Kimball’s Tavern, now the City Hall of Frederick.

A number of ladies were participating in a quilting bee, when a messenger leaped from his horse in front of the hotel and announced that President Washington would soon arrive and intended to pass the night at the tavern.

This unusual news broke up the party, and the ladies turned in to assist in preparing for the reception to the great Washington.

The tavern did not possess a suitable coffee urn, and Barbara Hauer hurried to her home and returned with her choice Liverpool coffee pot, a precious heirloom in the family.

Barbara was the one who was specially assigned to look after the personal comfort of the President, and her pretty face, pleasant manners and vivacious spirit greatly pleased the first President of the United States.

After supper he gave Barbara a beautiful china bowl, which he was carrying to Mount Vernon in his traveling bag. Nothing that she possessed in after life did she prize so highly as this precious gift.

The beginning of the one romance of her life happened in an unusually strange manner. When she was fourteen years old, Barbara accompanied her mother to a quilting party, where all sorts of things and events of that period were discussed, from parson to pig butchering, petticoats, pumpkin pies, sickness, deaths and births. One old maiden lady coyly announced that Mr. and Mrs. Casper Frietchie had that day been presented with a fine baby boy. None present ventured the prediction that some day little Barbara would become the bride of this little John Casper Frietchie, but nevertheless, twenty-six years later, May 6, 1806, that is just what happened.

Despite the somewhat unusual difference in their ages, they lived happily throughout their married life. It is claimed their home was one of the most popular in Frederick.

888Young Frietchie was the proudproud proprietor of a prosperous glove factory and he enjoyed a fair income.

Besides taking much pride in her housekeeping Barbara Frietchie was a great reader and kept herself well informed upon subjects of that period.

The Frietchies had no children of their own, but adopted Catharine Stover, a niece of Mrs. Frietchie, who lived with them until she was married in 1825.

Mr. Frietchie died after a very short illness in 1849. Mrs. Frietchie continued to reside in their old home, where she devoted her time to her flowers, garden and the entertainment of her young relatives.

At the breaking out of the Civil War, Barbara Frietchie was one of Abraham Lincoln’s most loyal supporters.

The story of the flag-waving incident which resulted in Whittier’s poem is heard in different ways, but it is a fact that the geographical location of Frederick caused it to figure conspicuously in the movements of both armies.

Sentiment was naturally divided, there being a strong feeling both for and against the Union. It was a trying time, but the real bitterness of the war came toward the close of the summer of 1862.

The Confederate forces had crossed the Potomac and entered Maryland on September 5. The main body encamped at Frederick Junction, three miles south of Frederick, but a large portion of the army marched through the city on September 6 and went into camp.

The next morning (Sunday), while his troops lay resting General “Stonewall” Jackson took advantage of the opportunity to attend divine worship.

Early on the morning of the 10th the army broke camp and moved westward, going out West Patrick street, passing the home of Barbara Frietchie. It was at this time the flag incident occurred.

The venerable patriot hearing the troops were approaching, took her silk flag from between the leaves of the old family Bible, and stepped out on her front porch, thinking they were Union soldiers. Immediately an officer rode up, saying: “Granny, give me your flag.” “You can’t have it,” she said, and then she noticed the gray uniforms, but she continued to wave the flag.

The officer spoke to his men, and they turned facing her. She thought they intended to fire on her, but, instead, the officer rode off a short distance to Mill Alley, and returned in a moment with another officer and some soldiers.

This officer said to her: “Give me your flag, Granny, and I'll stick it in my horse’s head.” “No, you can’t have it,” she said. One of the men then called out, “Shoot her damned head off.”

The officer turned angrily upon him, saying: “If you harm a hair of her head, I'll shoot you down like a dog.” Then turning to the 889trembling old lady, he said: “Go on, Granny, wave your flag as much as you please.”

This version of the affair was related by Barbara Frietchie to her niece who was visiting her, some time after the incident. It is also said that this account has been certified by Confederate soldiers, who also stated that the episode was talked about by the troops all through the lines.

McClellan’s army followed closely and none gave them a more joyous welcome than dame Barbara, who, with her silk flag in hand, stood at her front window. She attracted much attention, many soldiers going from the ranks to speak to her.

Mrs. Frietchie did not live to see the victorious end of the Civil War. Shortly after the celebration of her ninety-sixth birthday, on December 3, 1862, she was stricken with pneumonia and died December 18, 1862. Her body was tenderly carried to the churchyard and placed by the side of her husband.

May 30, 1913, the bodies of Barbara and her husband were reinterred in Mount Olivet Cemetery at Frederick. On September 9, 1914, an artistic monument in honor of the famous woman was unveiled upon which is a large tablet bearing the words of Whittier’s poem, “Barbara Frietchie.”