Margaret Greenawalt, 1824-1911Catharine Bonebrake Bowman, 1821-1902

Many communities in this region boast of stories similar to Frederick's Barbara Fritchie or Middletown's Nancy Crouse, who defied the Confederates during their invasions of Maryland. Hagerstown is no exception.

Although the specific date of the event is lost to history, according to narratives written on the backs of these portraits, Margaret Greenawalt stood on the second floor porch of a building at this location "as the Confederates retreated through Hagerstown." As the rebels passed, she waived a Union flag at the troops, taunting them as traitors. Her sister, Catharine Bowman was afraid for her sister's safety. Catharine struggled with Margaret, trying to get her to come back inside the building. Imploring her sister to stop, she begged "Get back in here Maggie, they'll shoot you! They'll shoot you they will!"

The story was written on the backs of these photos by Myra L. McDade, who grew up on Broadway where Catharine and Margaret lived late in life. Myra explained that on several occasions Catharine related the story of Margaret's heroism to her and other neighborhood children.

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Show me all markers in:  Hagerstown, MD  |  Washington County  |  21740  |  Maryland  |  United States of America

A City Divided
John Brown
The Ransom of Hagerstown
Washington County Courthouse
For God and Country
Ransom of Hagerstown
Crossroads of History
Bench Mark "A"
A City Divided
Hagerstown Ransomed

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