Posted on 09/06/2022 4:50:36 AM PDT by Bull Snipe
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 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 Fredrick town. Forty flags with their silver stars, Forty flags with their crimson bars, Flapped in the morning wind; the sun Of noon looked down, and saw not one. Up rose old Barbara Frietchie then, Bowed with her fourscore years and ten; Bravest of all in Frederick town, She took up the flag the 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 noble nature within him stirred to life at that woman’s deed and word; “Who touches a hair of yon grey 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 Shone over it with a warm good-night Barbara Frietchie’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 Frietchie’s grave Fla of Freedom and Union, waved Peace and order and beauty draw Found thy symbol of light and law; And ever the stars above look down, On thy stars below in Frederick town! John G. Whittier
Betsy Ross ???
In 1862 ???
?
Her name is mentioned in the poem.
“Shoot, if you must, this old gray head,
But spare your country’s flag,” she said.
Its suppose to be a poem ???
Its not structured like a poem
It is a famous 1863 poem by John Greenleaf Whittier. Whoever posted it did not post it in the normal way for poems. It’s supposed to be based on an incident in Frederick, Maryland, in Sept. 1862 involving Barbara Fritchie and Stonewall Jackson. Mrs. Fritchie died in Dec. 1862 and Jackson in May 1863 so both were dead when the poem was published. Apparently Whittier got the details confused—it involved a different woman in a different town and a different Confederate general.
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