 | The Romance of the Civil War |  |
106. Barbara Frietchie
JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER (1863)
[_]
An incident actually occurred in Fredericksburg which suggested this poem, by the Quaker poet; the details are all changed.
Up from the meadows rich with corn,
Clear in the cool September morn,
Clear in the cool September morn,
The cluster'd spires of Frederick stand
Green-wall'd by the bills of Maryland.
Green-wall'd by the bills of Maryland.
Round about them orchards sweep,
Apple-and peach-trees fruited deep.
Apple-and peach-trees fruited deep.
Fair as the garden of the Lord
To the eyes of the famish'd rebel horde,
To the eyes of the famish'd rebel horde,
On that pleasant morn of the early fall,
When Lee march'd over the mountain-wall,—
When Lee march'd over the mountain-wall,—
Over the mountains winding down,
Horse and foot, into Frederick town.
Horse and foot, into Frederick town.
Forty flags with their silver stars,
Forty flags with their crimson bars,
Forty flags with their crimson bars,
Flapp'd in the morning wind: the sun
Of noon look'd down, and saw not one.
Of noon look'd down, and saw not one.
Up rose old Barbara Frietchie then,
Bow'd with her fourscore years and ten;
Bow'd with her fourscore years and ten;
Bravest of all in Frederick town,
She took up the flag the men haul'd down.
She took up the flag the men haul'd down.
In her attic window the staff she set,
To show that one heart was loyal yet.
To show that one heart was loyal yet.
408
Up the street came the rebel tread,
Stonewall Jackson riding ahead.
Stonewall Jackson riding ahead.
Under his slouch'd hat left and right
He glanced: the old flag met his sight.
He glanced: the old flag met his sight.
"Halt!"the dust-brown ranks stood fast
"Fire!"out blazed the rifle blast.
"Fire!"out blazed the rifle blast.
It shiver'd the window, pane and sash;
It rent the banner with seam and gash.
It rent the banner with seam and gash.
Quick, as it fell from the broken staff,
Dame Barbara snatch'd the silken scarf.
Dame Barbara snatch'd the silken scarf.
She lean'd far out on the window-sill,
And shook it forth with a royal will.
And shook it forth with a royal will.
"Shoot, if you must, this old gray head,
But spare your country's flag,"she said.
But spare your country's flag,"she said.
A shade of sadness, a blush of shame
Over the face of the leader came.
Over the face of the leader came.
The nobler nature within him stirr'd
To life at that woman's deed and word
To life at that woman's deed and word
"Who touches a hair of yon gray head
Dies like a dog! March on!"he said.
Dies like a dog! March on!"he said.
All day long through Frederick street
Sounded the tread of marching feet:
Sounded the tread of marching feet:
All day long that free flag tost
Over the heads of the rebel host.
Over the heads of the rebel host.
409
Ever its torn folds rose and fell
On the loyal winds that loved it well;
On the loyal winds that loved it well;
And through the hill-gaps sunset light
Shone over it with a warm good-night.
Shone over it with a warm good-night.
Barbara Frietchie's work is o'er,
And the rebel rides on his raids no more,
And the rebel rides on his raids no more,
Honor to her! and let a tear
Fall, for her sake, on Stonewall's bier.
Fall, for her sake, on Stonewall's bier.
Over Barbara Frietchie's grave,
Flag of Freedom and Union, wave
Flag of Freedom and Union, wave
Peace and order and beauty draw
Round thy symbol of light and law;
Round thy symbol of light and law;
And ever the stars above look down
On thy stars below in Frederick town!
On thy stars below in Frederick town!
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