Civil War Papers Read Before the Commandery of the State of Massachusetts (Volume 2 )

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1900. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... GENERAL JESSE LEE RENO AT FREDERICK BARBARA FRITCHIE AND HER FLAG BY COMPANION CONRAD RENO. In October, 1863, about thirteen months after the incident referred to occurred, John Greenleaf Whittier, the Quaker poet, published his Barbara Fritchie. The poem immediately attracted wide attention, and immortalized not only Barbara Fritchie, but the town of Frederick, Maryland. The opening stanzas depict a beautiful and fertile country with meadows rich with corn and with apple and peach tree fruited deep, as fair as a garden of the Lord. The poem is most remarkable for its lofty patriotism and for its heroic action. Mr. Whittier's information of the incident was derived from Mrs. E. D. E. N. Southworth, the novelist, who was then residing in Georgetown, D. C. Mrs. Southworth heard the story from friends who were in Frederick at the time, and from Mr. C. S. Bramsburg, a neighbor of hers who was a connection of Barbara Fritchie, and from Samuel Tyler, a lawyer of Maryland who afterward wrote a life of Chief Justice Roger B. Taney. Mr. Whittier received Mrs. Southworth's letter at Amesbury, in August, 1863, and within two weeks afterward he wrote his stirring ballad. It was sent to Mr. James T. Fields for publication in the Atlantic Monthly, and on August 24, 1863, Mr. Fields sent a note to Mr. Whittier expressing his great appreciation of the poem. 'Barbara' is most welcome, he wrote, and I will find room for it in the October number, most certainly. . . . You were right in thinking I should like it, for so I do, as I like few things in this world. The piece must go into your book, of course. . . . Mr. Fields's opinion of the literary excellence of the poem has held its place in the world of letters, and his estimate seems none too high. Though written by o...