Plot

An old woman in Frederick, Maryland during the U.S. Civil War displays her American flag in defiance of the armies of Confederate general Thomas J. Jackson. Based on the folk tale that grew from the poem by John Greenleaf Whittier.

Barbara Frietchie's 18th birthday is interrupted when she sees Union soldiers, who have taken control of her hometown, Frederick, Maryland, foraging for food. Her screams bring Captain Trumbull, who arrests his men and, against her wishes, assists her. When Barbara's grandmother, who likes the Yankees, asks her to show Trumbull the flag given to her long ago by Thomas Jefferson, Barbara replies that she tore it because she hates Yankees. After Trumbull helps Barbara's brother Arthur elude capture on his return home, Barbara's attitude softens. When Barbara's father orders the courting captain away, the couple go to a neighboring town to marry, but the Confederates take the town, and Trumbull leaves. Arthur mistakenly shoots him and carries him into their home. Although Barbara prevents the Confederates from entering, she finds Trumbull dead in the morning. Enraged, her grandmother waves the flag, which Barbara mended, at the Union troops. Although Stonewall Jackson orders his men to march on, Jack Negly, Barbara's rejected suitor, fires and fatally wounds Barbara. Her grandmother covers both bodies with the flag.—Pamela Short

Barbara Frietchie is celebrating her 18th birthday in Frederick, Maryland while the town is tightly in the grip of the Northern soldiers. Her father, Judge Frietchie, insists that the party in Barbara's honor will show the Yankee invaders that no one has lost heart. But her aged grandmother, also named Barbara, is quite discomforted, as her sympathies are with the North. During a kissing game, Barbara darts out of the house and seeks to avoid a group of young men by hiding in the branches of a tree. Four hungry Union soldiers who have been foraging for food appear beneath the tree. Barbara cries an alarm, and her continued shouts bring, among others, Captain Trumbull, of the Union command. Against her wishes he assists Barbara down from the tree and orders the soldiers under arrest for their unauthorized invasion of the Frietchie home. Trumbull is invited to Barbara's party, and soon becomes the lion of the occasion. Especially is Grandma Barbara pleased with the gallant young officer, and she boasts that she once danced with Thomas Jefferson, and that he gave her a flag as a memento. She directs Barbara to fetch it. Barbara, in tears of rage, explains that she tore the flag because she hated it and hated everything Yankee. The party ends in disorder when Captain Trumbull is invited to cut the birthday cake. The boys refuse to eat it and leave the house in chagrin. Arthur Frietchie, Barbara's brother, has stolen through the Union lines, and attempts to enter his home, when he is detected by Trumbull. Union soldiers are in pursuit of Arthur and Trumbull aids him to elude them. Barbara is softened toward him, when she learns of this. Jack Negly, a young man in the neighborhood, who is in love with Barbara, spies on the couple and tells Judge Frietchie. The latter is infuriated and attempts to shoot Trumbull, but Barbara saves him. Trumbull leaves and that night gets a note from Barbara saying she will meet him at a minister's house in the adjoining town next day, and marry him. That night Barbara mends the torn flag and folds it on her breast. The couple meet at the preacher's the next day, but hostilities suddenly break out and the Confederates take the town. Barbara again saves the life of Trumbull by her quick wit and true aim with a pistol. The Union soldiers retreat to Frederick, leaving Captain Trumbull behind and separated from his command. Arthur observes an officer in hiding and fires. He is horrified to find he has shot Trumbull, the man who saved his life. That night Arthur carries the wounded officer to his home. On the way he encounters Jack Negly, who tries to kill Trumbull. At the Frietchie home Barbara secrets Trumbull in her room. Judge Frietchie comes home and announces that a searching party is coming to the house, believing that a Union soldier is hidden there. He hears the groans of Trumbull and becomes enraged. Barbara pacifies him and artfully induces him to go to "Stonewall" Jackson for papers to protect their home from the searchers. This he does, and the soldiers are forbidden to enter the home until after sunrise. Barbara keeps vigil on the stairway, while Grandma Barbara sits at the side of the wounded officer. At sunrise Barbara hurries to where Captain Trumbull lies. She finds him dead. Grandma Barbara, in a frenzy, takes the flag which Barbara had placed on Trumbull's breast and waves it defiantly at the soldiers outside. An order to fire upon her is given. "Shoot, if you must, this old gray head, but spare your country's flag," she said. Then came the memorable words of Jackson: "Who touches a hair of yon gray head, dies like a dog, march on I" he said. A single shot is fired and Barbara Frietchie, who had been standing beside her grandmother, falls, fatally wounded. Jack Negly, who has fired the shot, starts to slink away, but is caught. Barbara dies at the side of Trumbull, and the stained flag is spread over them by the aged Barbara.—Moving Picture World synopsis

An old woman in Frederick, Maryland during the U.S. Civil War, displays her American flag in defiance of the armies of Confederate general Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson. Based on the folk tale that grew from the poem by John Greenleaf Whittier.—Jim Beaver <jumblejim@prodigy.net>