Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-03-28
History Of the American Flag.

lHc Ithl CUiOTb bpOhcu OF III COnneXl0n WIFI
the American Revolution were significantly enough
called " Union Flags" No account is given 0
the devices upon them. They are frequentl,
spoken of in the newspapers of 1774.
The Connecticut troops fixed upon their drums
1 ITS, the motto Qui Irdnstult Sustinent, round
it in letters of gold, literally" God, who trans
planted US hither will support u.s." This was the
motto. Each regiment was distinguished by iii
color--blue, orange, &c.
July lS, l776, General Israel Putnan--glorious
"Old Put"-unfurled at Cambridge, Mass on tn,
joyful occasion of the reception in that town
the Declaration of independence, standard bear
ing the motto on one side, An appeal to Heaven,
and on the other "Qui Iranstulit Sastinent'
This flag was flung to the breeze amid the roar
OF cannon and the shouts of the people, 1t Il
said at the time that "the Philstines on Bunker's
Hill heard the cheers of the Israelites Qsrael Put
Manu. and being fearful, paraded themselves in
battle array" The Flag was red one--the sig
nal of defiance, or battle, since the days of the
Romans. t.4
In September, l775, Colonel Moultrie unfurled
n large blue flag, with crescent in one corner.
This was the first American flag displayed in South
Carolina, and used ut the taking Of Fort Johns
town, on James Island. The crescent is the EN-.
blem of sovereignty.
standard, with white ground, pine tree in
the middle, and the motto appeal to Heapen, z
was adopted in October, 1885, as flag of the float
ing batteries.
On January 3D. 1916, the day that gave birth
10 the new American army--the flag designated as
Tie Great Union Standard, was hoisted This
was the basis of that of the present day.
In 1T76 was adopted the standard to be used by
the COMMANDMENT Chief of the American navy
being lively representation Of the rattlesnake
in the middle, in the attitude of striking Under
meath were the words "Dont tread ON me-"
The same year the cruisers of the COLONY of Mas
aaphusatfa hoiatpd WI Will,
tree, and the motto Appeal TO Heaven"
July 18th, TIT, Congress passed the following
resolution
Rcsoiped, That the flag of the thirteen United
States be thirteen stripes, alternately red and
white, that the Union be thirteen stars, in blue
field, representing new constitution.
This was the origin of the national flag Of the
United Stars--the glorious " stars and stripes"-
which have proudly waved, since that day, over
many OF the greatest victories Of modern times ;
THAT stirs the blood of every true hearted citizen
whenever or wherever he beholds it floating on
die breeze-that waves in every part of the world
and that is everywhere respected, on sea and on
shore.
The above resolution was made public Septem-
Der 2, l777. According to Col Trumbull, the flag
made in pursuance of IL was first used at the sur
render Of Burgoyne, Oct. 18 of the same year This
was glorious beginning, truly, for this was one
Of the most important victories of the American
arms during the Revolution.
The first change in the national colors was d.
rected under the following enactment of Congress
adopted Jan. Is, 1894:
Be IL enacted, de-, That from and after the LIST
day of May, 1875, the flag of the United States be
fifteen stripes, alternate red and white That the
Union be fifteen stars, white with blue field.
This was the flag Of the United States during
the war Of lsl2-l4. =
In 1898 the flag of the United States was again
altered. On the suggestion Of Hon. Mr.. Wendo-
yer, of New York, return was made 10 the thir-
teen stripes, as 1t was anticipated that the flag
would become unwieldy IL a stripe was added on
the admission Of each State and moreover, by the
plan proposed, the Union Of the old thirteen
States, as the number of States comprising the
Union, would be represented by the flag Of the
United States Mr.. w. also proposed the arrange
ment of all the stars In the Union into the form OF
a single star.
The resolutions Of 1918 were as follows:
Resolved, That from and after the 4th day OF
July next the flag Of the United States be thirteen
horizontal stripes, alternate white and red. That
the Union be twenty stars, white in a 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 such addition should take effect on
the 4th OF July succeeding the admission
The flag planted on the national palace in the
city Of Mexico, had thirty stars in the Union. II
is now deposited in the Department of State At
Washington.
The Union Of the flag Of the United States now
contains thirty-one stars