Barbara Fritchie (real)
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Template:Wikisourcepar2 Barbara Fritchie (nee Hauer) a.k.a. Barbara Frietchie, and sometimes spelled Frietschie,(b. December 3, 1766 - d. December 18, 1862) was an American patriot during the Civil War. She was born in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and married John Casper Fritchie, a glove maker, on May 6, 1806.
She was a personal friend of Francis Scott Key and they participated together in a memorial service at Frederick, Maryland when George Washington died. A central figure in the history of Frederick, her house is a stop in the town's walking tour. When Winston Churchill passed through Frederick in 1943, he stopped at the house and recited the poem from memory. In stories it is said that at 95 years of age she waved the Union flag out of her window despite opposition from Stonewall Jackson's troops, who were passing through Frederick. This event is the subject of John Greenleaf Whittier's 1864 poem Barbara Frietchie.
"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 hair of yon gray head Dies like a dog! March on!" he said.
Again in a 1899 play Barbara Frietchie, The Frederick Girl Clyde Fitch takes artistic liberty and intertwines her story with that of his own grandparents' love story, which also takes place during the Civil War.
However, this event never happened, as Barbara Fritche was sick in bed that day. She told the housekeeper to hide the valuables in order to prevent looting, and to take the U.S. flag that was hanging outside. However, the flag was never moved, and as a result it was shot up by the Confederate troops. The flag currently resides at the Barbara Fritche House and Museum.
She died at the age of 96 and was interred at Mount Olivet Cemetery, in Frederick City.Template:US-bio-stub