The New era. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1865-1871, 1866-03-01
The 1Anericon Fycg.

An interesting history Of the Ameri
can Flag has been given in connection
with an essay upon the Origin and Use
OF Seals, by Albert Wadharns, ESD,
lately published.
! Previous to the battle Of Bunker Hill
the colonists used flag combining the
crosses of st George and st. Andrew
The battle of Bunker Hill was fought
under a red flag bearing the motto
"Come ii you dare"
The first regular army flag Of TIE Rev
oiution was a red flag with the notices
"Qui transtulit sustinetn and {: An APP
peal to heaven" one motto on each
side.
This flag was carried until the Grst Of
January, 1776, when Il Union flag Was
first unfurled by General Washington
over the American camp at Cambridge,
composed of thirteen stripes, alternane
red and white symbolising the thirteen
on blue field the crosses of St. George
and st. Andrew were blended as they
are in the British Union Jack. The
idea of the stripe was derived from the
crest Of tho Washington family. DR..
Franklin, Mr.. Lynch, and Mr.. Harri-
son devised this flag, which was called
IN camp and elsewhere "The Great
| Union Flag In June, 1777, the stars
were substituted by law, or the British
crosses on the field of blue, and the COM
mon name the Stars and Stripes be-
came general. BY three acts of Con-
gress the Flag has reached its present
and permanent character.
The first has been already noticed !;
the second enacted that the flag should
be formed of fifteen stripes, alternate
red and white, and fifteen white stars in
blue field. This act was passed in
1874. The third enactment made in
April, 1918, established the present
Flag. 1t discarded the two stripes
which had been added to recognize the
admission of Vermont and Kentucky to
the Union, and as it was evident that
the addition Of a stripe for every new
State would speedily destroy the sym
metry and proportion of the Flag, it
confirmed the recognition of new States
to the addition Of a star for each State
admitted to the Union. The Stars and
Stripes We're first unfurled in October,
TIT, at the surrender of Gen. Burgoyne,
the law establishing the Flag not hav-
ing been promulgated till the Septem-
Der previous.
The stars represent the constellation
of States, the idea having been taken
from the Constellation Lyra which sig
mites harmonious action. The blue
field was taken from the Covenanter's
banner in Scotan ], and was significant
Of the league and covenant of the United
Colonies against oppression. The stars
We're arranged in Il circle, the symboiof
eternity and signitied the perpetuits OF
the Union. The stripes showed the
original number Of the United Colonies,
and, joined with the stars. the suboftll-
nation to and dependence upon the
Union, as we'll as equality among them
selves. The red color denotiag daring.
the white purity, and the blue harlno-
ny. In the Revolution the Flag had
thirteen stars. in the war of 1912 fifteen,
that Flag which was planted la the ma
tional palace Of Mexico had thirty stars,
and the one ON the capitol at Richmond,
after its occupation by Grants army.
counted thirty-siX stars upon It's field Of
blue.
Every true American views this en-
sign of his country With gratitude and
pride, regarding it as a memorial OF the
servers of the nation, and the symbol
Of the unity, equality, and perpetuity
ofthe great brotherhood of States in this
fair land. That it may exist, h0norea
at home and abroad, the banner of Il
great, and glorious, and good nation,
while time endures, is the heartfelt wish
OF every patriot as he beholds its wav-
ing folds in the free air and sunlight of
his native Or adopted land
Long may ii wave. Let it be the aim
and purpose Of parents in the North aud
the South, i'll the East and the West, *
teach their children to honor, defend
and love that glorious flag: to count
him an enemy to his country who
speaks lightly Of the Stars and Stripes
and to cherish it as thesymbolo OF nation
al honor and power, the Flag Of every
true hearted American in the redeemed
and indiVisible Union.
The Newspaper.
Without my newspaper, life would
IN No .,f