diers! salute that flag," he said;
"And cheer, boys, cheer!--give three times three
For the bravest woman in Tennessee!"
OTHER DEFENDERS OF THE FLAG.
Barbara Frietchie and Hettie McEwen were not the only women of our
country who were ready to risk their lives in the defense of the
National Flag. Mrs. Effie Titlow, as we have already stated elsewhere,
displayed the flag wrapped about her, at Middletown, Maryland, when the
Rebels passed through that town in 1863. Early in 1861, while St. Louis
yet trembled in the balance, and it seemed doubtful whether the
Secessionists were not in the majority, Alfred Clapp, Esq., a merchant
of that city, raised the flag on his own house, then the only loyal
house for nearly half a mile, on that street, and nailed it there. His
secession neighbors came to the house and demanded that it should be
taken down. Never! said his heroic wife, afterwards president of the
Union Ladies' Aid Society. The demand was repeated, and one of the
secessionists at last said, "Well, if you will not take it down, I
will," and moved for the stairs leading to the roof. Quick as thought,
Mrs. Clapp intercepted him. "You can only reach that flag over my dead
body," said she. Finding her thus determined, the secessionist left, and
though frequent threats were muttered against the flag, it was not
disturbed.
Mrs. Moore (Parson Brownlow's daughter) was another of these fearless
defenders of the flag. In June, 1861, the Rebels were greatly annoyed at
the sturdy determination of the Parson to keep the Stars and Stripes
floating over his house; and delegation after delegation came to his
dwelling to demand that they should be lowered. They were refused, and
generally went off in a rage. On one of these occasions, nine men from
a Louisiana regiment stationed at Knoxville, determined to see the flag
humbled. Two men were chosen as a committee to proceed to the parson's
house to order the Union ensign down. Mrs. Moore (the parson's daughter)
answered the summons. In answer to her inquiry as to what was their
errand, one said, rudely:
"We have come to take down that d----d rag you flaunt from your
roof--the Stripes and Stars."
Mrs. Moore stepped back a pace or two within the door, drew a revolver
from her dress pocket, and leveling it, answered:
"Come on, sirs, and take it down!"
The chivalrous Confederates were startled.
"Yes, come on!" she said, as she advanced toward them.
They clea
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