The clustered spires of Frederick stand Round and about them orchards sweep, Fair as a garden of the Lord On that pleasant morn of early fall Over the mountains winding down,
Green-walled by the hills of Maryland.
Apple and peach tree fruited deep,
To the eyes of the famished rebel horde;
When Lee marched over the mountain wall,
Horse and foot into Frederick town.
Forty flags with their silver stars, Flapped in the morning wind: the sun Up rose old Barara Frietchie then, Bravest of all in Frederick town, In her attic window the staff she set, Up the the streecame the rebel tread, Under his slouched hat left and right "Halt!"--the dust-brown ranks stood fast.
It shivered the window, pane and sash; Quick, as it fell, from the broken staff She leaned far out on the window sill, "Shoot, if you must, this old grey head, A shade of sadness, a blush of shame, The nobler nature within him stirred "Who touches a hair of yon grey head All day long through Frederick street All day long that free flag tost Ever its torn folds rose and fell And through the hill-gaps sunset light
Forty flags with their crimson bars,
Of noon looked down, and saw not one.
Bowed with her fourscore years and ten;
She took up the flag the men hauled down;
To show that one heart was loyal yet.
Stonewall Jackson riding ahead.
He glanced; the old flag met his sight.
"Fire!"--outblazed the rifle-blast.
It rent the banner with seam and gash.
Dame Barbara snatched the silken scarf;
And shook it forth with a royal will.
But spare your country's flag!" she said.
Over the face of the leader came;
To life at the that woman's deed and word;
Dies life a dog! March on!" he said.
Sounded the tread of marching feet:
Over the head of the rebel host.
On the loyal winds that loved it well;
Shone over it with a warm good-night.
On a 1943 car trip to the Camp David (called Shangri-La during World War II), Winston Churchill recited this entire poem from memory to President Franklin D. Roosevelt, Eleanor Roosevelt and Harry Hopkins as they traveled through Frederick, Maryland.
The 35-Star Flag: This would be the flag that Barbara Frietchie supposedly waved from an upper window to show her devotion to the Union as the Confederate troops, under General Stonewall Jackson, marched north through the town of Frederick, Maryland in the Civil War.
This Flag became the Official United States Flag on July 4th, 1863. A star was added for the admission of West Virginia (June 20th, 1863) and was to last for 2 years. The two Presidents to serve under this flag were Abraham Lincoln (1861-1865) and Andrew Johnson (1865-1869).
