The Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1859-1865, 1861-06-27

The flag Of the United States, under
which the nations freemen now rally, was
adopted June 18th, 1777, as the following
resolution shows:
.'ResozUed, That the flag of the thirteen
United States be thirteen stripes, alternate
red and white; that the Union be thirteen
stars, white in blue field, representing
new constellation"
The stars were arranged in the form of
circle. This resolve, it appears, was not
made public until the following September
Sd, I777, and, according to Col Trumbull,
the first flag made in pursuance of the act
was used on the occasion Of Burgoyne's
surrender, Oct. 18th, 1777.
1t is intimated by Captain Schuyler
Hamilton, of the United States Army, TO
whom / am indebted for these historical
reminiscences-that the stripes in the field
of the flag were not only designed original
ly to indicate the Union of thirteen colo
nies, but also to show from time to time
the number of States composing the
Union. This opinion appears to be cor
roborated by the fact that in 1874, after
the admission of two new States-V Vermont
and Kentucky-Congress passed the fol-
lowing act, to wit: ''that from and after
the 1st day of May, A. D., one thousand
seven hundred and ninety-fve, the flag of
the United States be fifteen stripes, alter
nate red and white, and that the Union
be fifteen stars, with a blue feld;" this
was approved January 18th, 1874
1t does not seem, however, that any
further change was made in this design of
the flag until 1918, although several new
States had been added to the Union during
the interval of twenty-four years-as we
are informed by Captain Hamilton, that
the above design was the flag Of the Uni
ted States in the war of 18l2-l4.
In 1918, Hon. Mr.. Wendover, mem
Der of Congress from New York, introduced
this subject, and suggested that the stripes
of the national flag be altered to their
original number as he anticipated if the
number of stripes should be increased ac-
cording to the number of States, it would
in time become unwieldly, and that the
alteration he proposed would always des-
ignate the thirteen States--While an adj
ditional star for the admission of every
new State, would show the number com
prising the existing Union. He also pro-
posed another change, which was adopted,
flag should Of themselves by arrangement,
form asingle star, instead Of circle which
was the original design. The act passed
by Congress, April 4th, 1918, reads thus:
''that from and after the 4th of July next,
the flag of the United States, be thirteen
horizontal stripes alternate red and white;
that the Union be twenty stars, white in
blue field. And that Oh the admission
of new State into the Union, one star
be added to the Union flag: and that such
additions shall take effect on the 18th
day of July next succeeding such admis
sion"
This arrangement has continued in force
until the present time, unless it is, that by
anticipation, the admission of Kansas, the
thirty-fourth State, has been acknowledged
in many of the new flags prior to the
4th Of July next, the time fixed by
Congress for the addition to be made.
There are to be found "a number of facts
and incidents connected with the origin
and adoption, as well as the meaning of
the devices embodied in our national flag,
that would prove highly interesting to
those who are fond Of yc antique. 1t may
however, be well to furnish briefly a few
items Of history more Immediately bear
ing upon the flag as it now appears, in
order that its origin may De more clearly
understood.
In 1854 the Colony of Massachusetts
had in use the ancient national flag OF
England, the red cross flag. In Win
throp's New England, an incident is re-
corded of the defacing of this ensign, by
one of the Pilgrim fathers, because the
red cross was looked upon by them as a
relic of the anti Christ This circumstance
occasoned the colonists great trouble and
the difficulty was not removed until 1907,
when the treaty between England and
Scotland was ratified, which event resulted
in the combination of the ancient red
cross of the former Ca white ground with
a red oross) and the azure flag of the lat
ler Ca blue ground with white eross)
constituting the national banner of the
Kingdom of Great Briton, and designated
in Queen Anne's proclamation at that time
as the Union flag.
The colonists appear to have been sat
isGed with the change, as we learn that
in 1920 they directed this flag Gan En-
glish Union with red field) to be used
as signal on the approach of vessels at
light house near the entrance OF Boston
harbor.
In 1775 the same flag was used in New
York, but bearing the inscription "George