Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1872-11-08
Origin and History of tie Stars AMI
stripes.

The stars and stripes became The IA
tioial flag of the United States of America
by virtue Of a resolution of Congress,
passed June II, 1777: 'ltesoived, That
the flag Of the thirteen United States be
thirteen stIiTeS, alternate red and white
that the union be thirteen stars, white, ia
a blue field, representing 4 new constelll-
ton"
This resolution appears in the journal Of
Congress, volume 2, page 100. Although
passed on the date given above, il was not
made public until September I'd, in the
same year, when it ap feared in The Boston.
Gazette and Country journal. The flag
seems TO have been the result Of the wolk
commenced by Washington, DIR. Franklin,
Mr.. Lynch, Mr.. Harrison and Colonel .Jo
seph Reed. On the ID of January, 1876,
Washington was in the American camp al
Cambridge, organizing the new army
which was that day created. The com
mittec Of conference, consisting Of Frank
lin, Lynch and Harrison, sent 10y Congress,
to arrange v it'll Washington the details Il
the army, were with him. Colonel Reed,
one Of the aidsdc-camp, was also secretary
of the committee of conference.
Tie several designs for flags had long
occupied the thoughts OF Reed and his as
sociatcs. The flag in Use 10y the army Was
IL
the crosses Of st. Andrew, st. George and
st. Patrick on the upper left corner. Sev-
cral gentlemen Of Boston sent TO The Amer
lean camp copies Of the Kings speech. II
was received on the date mentioned above,
and the effect is described in The British
Animal Register, l77G, page 147, thus
The arrival Of the copy Of the Kings
speech with an accOtI.t Of the fate of the
pc. tion from the Continental Congress, is
said to have excited the greatest degree
rage and Indignation among them; AS :,
proof Of which the former WAS publicly
burned in the camp; and they ~ said, "i.
this OCCASION, to have changed their cooI>
from plain red ground, which they had
hitherto used, to a flag Of thirteen stripes,
as a symbol of the number and union Of
the Colonies"
The use Of the stripes 10 mark the num-
Der of the States on the flag cannot be
clearly traced, but may be accounted Tor
by a custom Of the camp at Cambridge
The army Of citizen volunteers comprised
all grades Of men. Very few were uui-
formed. 1t was almost impossible
for the sentinels to distinguish gen
eral officers from privates. Ere
quently officers were stopped at tie
outposts and held for Identification
until the arrival Of the officer Of the day.
| OTuGIS AGIt ISSItA IiJilL ulhrltllb ttti'.
! of officers should be distinguished by a
stripe Of cOlored ribbon across the breast
! Washington, as Chief, wore
ribbon Of light blue. The stars Oh the
blue ficid-"a new constellation" ~, r.
suggested by the constellation LyrA, time
| IGNORED as an emblem of union. Tn"
thirteen stars Of the new constellation were
placed rs the circumference of a circle, and
on blue field, in accordance with the res
oluliOn already given. That was the ila&
used ut BurgOyne's surrender, Octohcr
| 18th, 1777. by resolution Of Congress,
passed January 18th, 1904, to take effect
May LIST, 1875, the flag was changed 10 If
teen stars and fifteen stripes. That WAS
the flag Of 1912. by = resolutson passed
| April 4lh, 1918, To taleeflcct Oh the follow
ing July 4th, the flag Was again changed Ia
one Of thirteen stripes and twenty star;
and "A new star to represent new Stale
ordered to be placed OIL the blue field on
the 4th of July following the admission Of
such State. The flag planted Oh the VA
| tional Palace in Mexico had thirty stiis.
1t now carries thirty:seven.