[439] in this city. Nor did she depart this life in September, 1863, but died on the 18th of December, 1862. Nor did any of the Federal soldiers from the hospital attend the old lady's remains to their last resting place. This, to my certain knowledge, was a fact, no orders to that effect having been given. Therefore, none of these convalescing invalid soldiers were at my old aunt's funeral. So much for this branch of your New York correspondent's statement. Now, a word as to the waving of the Federal flag in the face of the Rebels by Dame Barbara on the occasion of Stonewall Jackson's march through Frederick. Truth requires me to say that Stonewall Jackson, with his troops, did not pass Barbara Frietchie's residence at all; but passed up what in this city is popularly called “The mill alley,” about three hundred yards above her residence, then passed due west towards Antietam, and thus out of the city. But another and still stronger fact with regard to this matter may be here presented, viz: the poem by Whittier represents our venerable relative (then ninety-six years of age) as nimbly ascending to her attic window and waving her small Federal flag defiantly in the face of Stonewall Jackson's troops. Now, what are the facts at this point? Dame Barbara was, at the moment of the passing of that distinguished General and his forces through Frederick, bedridden and helpless, and had lost the power of locomotion. She could at this period only move, as she was moved, by the help of her attendants. These are the true and stern facts, proving that Whittier's poem upon this subject is fiction, pure fiction, and nothing else, without even the remotest semblance or resemblance of fact.
Valerius Ebert. Frederick City, Md., August 27th.
