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Title
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Barbara Fritchie, Memorial
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Biographical Text
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Stone cenotaph containing a brass marker which contains a poem about Fritchie. Above the poem is a portrait of Fritchie as an old woman.
The memorial was erected in 1914. The gravestones of Fritchie and her husband are located immediately in front of the cenotaph. Fritchie and her husband were reinterred at the cemetery in this location in 1913. The poem on the cenotaph was written in 1863 by John Greenleaf Whittier.
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Text
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[Above portrait of Fritchie]
BARBARA FRITCHIE
[Front of cenotaph]
BARBARA FRITCHIE
BY JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER
UP FROM THE MEADOWS RICH WITH CORN,
CLEAR IN THE COOL SEPTEMBER MORN,
THE CLUSTERED SPIRES OR FREDERICK STAND
GREENWALLED BY THE HILLS OF MARYLAND
ROUND ABOUT THEM ORCHARDS SWEEP,
APPLE AND PEACH TREE FRUITED DEEP.
FAIR AS THE 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
OF NOON LOOKED DOWN, AND SAW NOT ONE.
UP ROSE OLD BARBARA FRITCHIE THEN,
BOWED WITH THEIR 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 NOBLER NATURE WITHIN HIM STIRRED
TO LIFE AT THAT WOMAN’S DEED AND WORD;
“WHO TOUCHES A HEAIR ON YON GRAY HAD
DIES LIKE A DOG! MARCH ON!” HE SAID.
ALL DAY LONG THROUGH FREDERICK’S 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 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 FREDERICK’S TOWN!
[Base of cenotaph]
ERECTED BY THE
BARBARA FRITCHIE
MEMORIAL ASSOCIATION
1914
[Etched in stone of cenotaph]
BARBARA FRITCHIE
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Date Created
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1914
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Type
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English
Statue
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Project Researcher
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Bysterbusch, Hailey
