In the poem Barbara Frietchie, a brave elderly lady defies the odds to challenge a victorious army who have the nerve to ride triumphantly through her village. Just before we, as readers, join the action, a major event has happened as the soldiers are on their way from taking the federal garrison in West Virginia. Of course they are jubilant about their win at Harper's Ferry and are victoriously proceeding towards Barbara's village of Frederick.

Whittier vividly paints the landscape for the reader showing the countryside around the village. It seems to be a beautiful morning on that September day in 1862. Even though there is a war going on not far away, we hear of fruit filled orchards and golden corn meadows as the Maryland countryside enters the season of early Fall. We see in our mind's eye the church spires in the coolness of the morning, and can see apple trees and peach trees. All this is a reminder of the precious things the townsfolk hold dear and which may be threatened by the war.

The poet then swings readers into the reality of the war by quickly showing the rebel soldiers heading into Frederick. After taking the federal garrison at Harper's Ferry they are on their way to rejoin General Lee near Sharpsburg to help with the master plan to bring the war North. As the rebels march through Barbara's village they drag down every Union flag.

The second section of the poem is much longer and the poet sets out the main action. Firstly Barbara's courageous and defiant flag waving and then Jackson's reaction. As the 'famished rebel hordes' move towards her house, the frail old lady arranges her flag outside the top window. The soldiers are shooting down all the other flags and Jackson orders the soldiers to fire on Barbara's flag too. The volley 'rent the banner with seam and sash.' Barbara daringly stretches herself out over the window sill to catch it and stop it from falling down into the hands of the rebels. Then she waves her flag heartily “with royal will.” Barbara even suggests that the soldiers fire at her instead of the flag and this stops the action momentarily as Jackson thinks better of his actions. His better self wins out and he orders his men not to touch Barbara or her flag. The flag, although a bit tattered, flies high above the rebel army and continues to flutter safely in the September air for the rest of the day,