Downtown in Frederick in Frederick County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Barbara Fritchie House

"Spare your country's flag"

— Antietam Campaign 1862 —

Barbara Fritchie House Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), June 29, 2024

1. Barbara Fritchie House Marker

Inscription.

Barbara Fritchie House. "Spare your country's flag". , After Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee's smashing victory over Union Gen. John Pope at the Second Battle of Manassas, Lee decided to invade Maryland to reap the fall harvest, gain Confederate recruits, earn foreign recognition of the Confederacy and perhaps compel the Union to sue for peace. The Army of Northern Virginia crossed the Potomac River on September 4, 1862. Lee divided his force, detaching Gen. Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson's corps to capture Harpers Ferry. At Antietam Creek on September 17, Gen. George B. McClellan's Army of the Potomac fought Lee's men to a bloody draw. Lee retreated to Virginia September 18-19., The Army of Northern Virginia marched through Frederick on several streets on September 10, 1862. Feisty local Unionists, mostly women, taunted the troops by waving the Stars and Stripes as they passed by. A year later, the poet John Greenleaf Whittier immortalized one of the women in "The Ballad of Barbara Fritchie." Contrary to Whittier's poetic licence, Jackson's command took another street through town. The aged Fritchie (1766-1862) did, however wave a flag from her porch when Federal forces marched by. Whittier may have conflated her with Mrs. Mary Quantrell, who shook a United States flag at the Confederates; they ignored her. Whittier's poem raised patriotic spirits throughout the Union when it was published.,

The Ballad of Barbara Fritchie , Up from the meadows rich with corn, , Clear in the cool September morn, , The clustered spires of Frederick stand , Green-walled by the hills of Maryland, , Round about them orchards sweep, , Apple and peach-tree fruited deep,, Fair as a garden of the Lord , To the eyes of the famished rebel horde,, On that pleasant morn of the early fall , When Lee marched over the mountain-wall,, Over the mountains winding down, , Horse and foot, into Frederick town., Forty flags with their silver stars, , Forty flags with their crimson bars,, Flapped in the morning wind; the sun , Or noon looked down, and saw not one., Up rose old Barbara Fritchie then, , Bowed with her fourscore years and ten,, Bravest of all in Frederick town, , She took up the flag that men hauled down;, In her attic-window the staff she set, , To show that one heart was loyal yet,, Up the street came the rebel tread, , Stonewall Jackson riding ahead., Under his slouched hat left and right , He glanced, the old flag met his sight., “Halt!”, the dust-brown ranks stood fast, , “Fire!”, out blazed the rifle-blast., It shivered the window, pane and sash; , It rent the banner with seam and gash., Quick as it fell, from the broken staff , Dame Barbara snatched the silken scarf;, She leaned far out on the window-sill, , And shook it forth with a royal will., “Shoot if you must this old gray head, , But spare your country’s flag,” she said., A shade of sadness, a blush of shame, , Over the face of the leader came;, The nobler nature within him stirred , To life at that woman’s deed and word;, “Who touches a hair on yon gray head , Dies like a dog! March on!” he said., All day long through Frederick street , Sounded the tread of marching feet;, All day long that free flag tost , Over the heads of the rebel host., Ever its torn folds rose and fell , On the loyal winds that loved it well;, And through the hill gaps sunset light , Shown over it a warm good-night., Barbara Fritchie’s work is o’er. , And the Rebel rides on his raids no more., Honor to her! and let a tear , Fall, for her sake, on Stonewall’s bier., Over Barbara Fritchie’s grave , Flag of Freedom and Union, wave!, Peace and order and beauty draw , Round thy symbol of light and law;, And ever the stars above look down , On thy stars below in Frederick town!

After Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee's smashing victory over Union Gen. John Pope at the Second Battle of Manassas, Lee decided to invade Maryland to reap the fall harvest, gain Confederate recruits, earn foreign recognition of the Confederacy and perhaps compel the Union to sue for peace. The Army of Northern Virginia crossed the Potomac River on September 4, 1862. Lee divided his force, detaching Gen. Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson's corps to capture Harpers Ferry. At Antietam Creek on September 17, Gen. George B. McClellan's Army of the Potomac fought Lee's men to a bloody draw. Lee retreated to Virginia September 18-19.

The Army of Northern Virginia marched through Frederick on several streets on September 10, 1862. Feisty local Unionists—mostly women—taunted the troops by waving the Stars and Stripes as they passed by. A year later, the poet John Greenleaf Whittier immortalized one of the women in "The Ballad of Barbara Fritchie." Contrary to Whittier's poetic licence, Jackson's command took another street through town. The aged Fritchie (1766-1862) did, however wave a flag from her porch when Federal forces marched by. Whittier may have conflated her with Mrs. Mary Quantrell, who shook a United States flag at the Confederates; they ignored her. Whittier's poem raised patriotic spirits throughout the

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Union when it was published.

The Ballad of Barbara Fritchie
Up from the meadows rich with corn,
Clear in the cool September morn,

The clustered spires of Frederick stand
Green-walled by the hills of Maryland,

Round about them orchards sweep,
Apple and peach-tree fruited deep,

Fair as a garden of the Lord
To the eyes of the famished rebel horde,

On that pleasant morn of the early fall
When Lee marched over the mountain-wall,

Over the mountains winding down,
Horse and foot, into Frederick town.

Forty flags with their silver stars,
Forty flags with their crimson bars,

Flapped in the morning wind; the sun
Or noon looked down, and saw not one.

Up rose old Barbara Fritchie then,
Bowed with her fourscore years and ten,

Bravest of all in Frederick town,
She took up the flag that men hauled down;

In her attic-window the staff she set,
To show that one heart was loyal yet,

Up the street came the rebel tread,
Stonewall Jackson riding ahead.

Under his slouched hat left and right
He glanced, the old flag met his sight.

“Halt!”—the dust-brown ranks stood fast,
“Fire!”—out blazed the rifle-blast.

It shivered the window, pane and sash;
It rent the banner with seam and gash.

Quick as it fell, from the broken
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), June 29, 2024

2. Barbara Fritchie House Marker
staff
Dame Barbara snatched the silken scarf;

She leaned far out on the window-sill,
And shook it forth with a royal will.

“Shoot if you must this old gray head,
But spare your country’s flag,” she said.

A shade of sadness, a blush of shame,
Over the face of the leader came;

The nobler nature within him stirred
To life at that woman’s deed and word;

“Who touches a hair on yon gray head
Dies like a dog! March on!” he said.

All day long through Frederick street
Sounded the tread of marching feet;

All day long that free flag tost
Over the heads of the rebel host.

Ever its torn folds rose and fell
On the loyal winds that loved it well;

And through the hill gaps sunset light
Shown over it a warm good-night.

Barbara Fritchie’s work is o’er.
And the Rebel rides on his raids no more.

Honor to her! and let a tear
Fall, for her sake, on Stonewall’s bier.

Over Barbara Fritchie’s grave
Flag of Freedom and Union, wave!

Peace and order and beauty draw
Round thy symbol of light and law;

And ever the stars above look down
On thy stars below in Frederick town!

Erected by Maryland Civil War Trails.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Patriots & Patriotism

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• War, US Civil • Women. In addition, it is included in the Maryland Civil War Trails series list. A significant historical date for this entry is September 10, 1862.

Location. 39° 24.836′ N, 77° 24.878′ W. Marker is in Frederick, Maryland, in Frederick County. It is in Downtown. Marker is on West Patrick Street (Maryland Route 144) east of South Bentz Street, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 154 W Patrick St, Frederick MD 21701, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. 1862 Antietam Campaign (here, next to this marker); Jacob Engelbrecht (here, next to this marker); May 17, 1943 (here, next to this marker); Water Level of the 1976 Flood (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); Mullinix Park (about 500 feet away); John Hanson (about 500 feet away); Mary Quantrill's Stand (about 600 feet away); a different marker also named John Hanson (about 600 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Frederick.

Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. This marker has replaced the linked marker.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 30, 2024. It was originally submitted on June 30, 2024, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 36 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 30, 2024, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.