Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1853-08-24
History of the American Flag.

The Albany Express gives the following inter
estng abstract of the history ofour national colors
from an exceedingly interesting work by Captain
Schuyler Hamilton, U. s. A, recently published
in Philadelphia, and entitled I" History of the
American Flag -a. .....- -.s....-.
The first colors spoken of in connection with the
American Revolution, were significantly enough
called I" Union Flags" No accounts given o
the devices upon them. They are frequently spo-
ken of in the newspapers of IVA, -. a,.. ,..
The Connecticut troops fixed upon their stan.
dards and their drums, in IT'S, the motto, "Qu1
TRANSLATE Sustinit,'' in letters of god-literaly
"God who transplanted US hther, will support
US" This was the motto. Each regiment was
distinguished by its color-blue, orange, 60, &c.
July Is, 1775, General Israel Putnam-glori-
Gus sold Put -unfurled at Cambridge, Mass,
on the glorious occasion of the reception in that
town Of the Declaration Of independence, STAN
dard bearing this motto on one side, "An Appeal
TO Heaven," and on the other" Qui TRANSLATE S1s-
tiaat." This flag was hung to the breeze amid the
roar of cannon and the shouts of the people. It
was said at that time, that "the PhiliStiaes on
Bunker's Hill heard the cheers of the Lsraelites
selves in battle array" This flag was RED one,
the signal of defiance or battle since the days of
the Romans. a .-.. ............- 3.
In September, ITS, Col Moultrie unfurled
large blue Flag with crescent in one corner
This was the first American Flag displayed in
South Carolina, and was used at the taking of
Fort Johnson, on James Island. The crescent is
the emblem Of S vereignty .s=
A Standard, with white ground, pine tree in
the middle, and the motto, Appeal to Heauen, -
was adopted in 1775, as the flag of the Floating
Batteries.
On January I'd, l776-the day that gave birth
to the new American Army-the Flag designed
as The Great Union Standard, was hosted. This
was the basis of the National Flag of the present
day.
In 1776, was adopted the STANDARD to be used
by the Commander-in-C Chief Of the American Ma
w, "being yellow field, with lively represent
alton Of rattle snake in tie middle, in the atti-
tude of striking" Underneath were the words,
{" "Dont tread on me-" ..
The same year the Cruisers Of the Colony Of
Massa chusetts hoisted white Flag, with green
pine tree, and the motto, 'AppeaI to Heaven.''
June ID, 1777, Congress passed the following
resolution:
ResoEred, That the Flag of the Thirteen United
Staes be thirteen stripes, alternate red and white;
that the Union be thirteen stars. white, in blue
field. representing new Constit, t n
This was the origin of the National Flag of the
United States-the glorious "Stars and Stripes
which has proudly waved, since that day, over
many of the greatest victories of modern times;
AMI stirs the blood of every true hearted citizen
and wherever he behods it foating in
the breeze; that waves in every part fthe world,
and that is everywhere respected, on sea and
shore.
The above resolution was made public Septe M
her. 8, l777. According to Colonel Trumbul,
the Flag made in pursuance Of it was first used at
the surrender of Burgoyne, Oct. II, of the same
year. This was glorious beginninE, truly, for
that was one ofthe most mrortant vctores of the
American arms during the Revolution, -.
The first ch inge in the national colors was di-
rected in the following enactment of Congress,
adopted January l3, 1894: ...-:.. ....
-"Be it enacted, &c. That from and after the
first day of May, 1875. the Flag of the United
States be fifteen Stripes alternate red and white;
that the union be fifteen stars, white, in a blue
field' --..-.. ... LIZ. ....
This was the Flag of the United States during
the war Of l812-l4. - r..a. "a. ,- ....-...
In 1918 the Flag of the United States was again
altered. On suggestion o. the Hon. Mr. Wendo-
yer. Of the State of.New York, return was made
to thirteen stripes, it was antc oated the Flag
would become UNIV eildly if stripe was added OF
the admission of each State; and, moreover, by
the plan proposed, the union of the old thirteen
States, as well as the number of States compris-
ing the existing Union, would be presented by the
Flag of the United States. NJ. W., also propos-
cd the arrangement of the stars in the form of
single star. .. ......-. t....
The resolution of 1918 was as follows: Il
Reso1ped, That from and after the Fourth day
Of July next the F.ay Of the United States be thr-
teen horizontal stripes, alternate red and white:
that the Union be twenty stars, white on blue
field; and that on the admission of new State
into the Union one star be added to the Union OF
the Flag;~ and that snch addition shall take effect
on the Fourth day of July succeeding snch admiS
sion. ...-. .. -.r.... .... -..4---
The Flag planted on the National Palace in the
City Of Mexico, had thirty stars in the Union. 1t
is now deposited in the Department of State at
Washington --.- -.a ...l-.s.
The Union ofthe Flag of the United States now
contains thirty-one stars. pa.
A CURIOUS BooK.-Mr Jefferson made an
original book out of the New Testament, an ac-
count of which is given by him in Letter to John
Adams, dated Oct. 18th, 1923. when Mr.. j., was
seventy years old. He took two copies Of the