Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1857-08-22
The American flag.

The Boston Herald complies some interest
ing facts IS regards the history Of the Stars
and Stripes. A resolution was introduced in
the American Congress, June 18th, l777--
"That the flag of the thirteen United States be
thirteen stripes, alternately red and white; that
the Union be thirteen stars, white in q blue
held, representing 9 new constellation" There
is q striking coincidence between the design of
OuV flag and the arms of Gen. Washington,
which consisted Of three stars in the upper nor.
tionp and three bars running across the escut-
cheon. 1t is thought by some that the flag
was derived from this hersldic design. History
informs as that several flags were used by the
Yankees before the present national one was
adopted. In March, 1875, q minor flag with a
red field was hoisted in New York, bearing the
inscription on one side Of "George Rex and
the liberties of America, " and upon the reverse.
N Popery." Gen. Israel Putnam raised, on
Prospect Hill, July 18th, 1775, flag bearing
on one side the motto of our Commonwealth,
NQUS trGnsrult s4stincs"-on the other. Gan
appeal to Haaven"-an appeal well taken and
amply sustained. In October, IT75, the Aoat-
ing batteries OF Boston bore s flag with the lat
Ter motto, and q pine tree upon O white field
bearing the Massachusetts emblem. Some of
the colonies used in ITS, o flag with a rattle~
snake coiled as il about to strike. and the motto.
'Don't tread on me-" On January 18th, l7g6,
the grand Union flag of the stars and stripes
was raised on the heights near Boston, and II is
said that some of the regulars made the grand
mistake Of %supposing it was a token Of sub
mission to The King, whose speech had Just
been sent to the Americans. The British
Register Of l776 says: '"They (the rebels)'
burnt she Kings speech, and changed their
colors from a plain red ground TO a flag with
thirteen stripes. as q symbol of the number and
union of the colonies" A letter from Boston,
published in the Pennsylvania Gazette, in
1T76, says 1.-THE union flag was raised on the
I'D. in compliment to the United Colonies.n
These various flags, the Pine Tree, Rattlea
snake and the Stripes, were used according to
the taste Of the patriots, until July, 1777, when
the stars and stripes were established by law,
AT first o stripe was added for each State, but
the flag became too large, and Congress redu-
ced the stripes 10 the original thirteen, and now
the stars are made to correspond in number
with the States. There is no one who lives
nnder the protection of the Stars and Stripes,
but will say as the Herald that 'the American
flag is one of the most beautiful that floats upon
any land or sea. It's proportions are perfect
when it is properly madc-one half as broad AZ
it is long. The frst stripe at the top is red.
the next white, and three colors alternate.
making the last stripe red. The blue field for
the stars is the width and square of the first
seven stripes, viz; four red and three white
The eolors OF the American flag are in beauti~
1ul relief, and it is altogether a beautiful ma
tlonal emblem. Long may it wave unfair
nished, he who would erase one stripe, or
dim one star upon it, ''acts d traitors part. and
and deserves a traitors DOOM"