Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1872-12-12
History of Our Flag.


The column of "Notes and Queries, -
recently had a history of the French
Tricolored Flag. The following ac-
count of the origin and history Of the
United States Flag is given in the
Journal Of Commerce
The stars and stripes because the
national flag of the United States of
America by virtue Of resolution
Of Congress, passed June 18th,
1777: "Resolved, 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, represent
ing new constellation. This rcsolu-
ton appears in the Journal Of Con
gress, volume 2, page lG5. Although
passed on the date given above, it
was not made public until September
3, in the same year, when it appeared
in the Boston Gazette and Country
Journal. The flag seemsto have been
the result of the work commenced by
Washington, DIR, Franklin, Mr. Lynch
Mr.. Harrison and Colonel Joseph
Reed. On the I'd January, 1919,
Washington was in the American
camp at Cambridge, organizing the
new army which was that day created,
The committee of conference, consist
ING of Franklin, Lynch and Harrison,
sent by Congress to arrange with
Washington the details of the army,
were with him. Col. Reed, one of
the aides-de- camp, was also secretary
of the committee Of conference. The
flag in use by the army was plain
red field, with the British union Of the
crosses Of St. Andrew, and St. Pat
rick on the upper left corner. Sew.
eral gentlemen Of Boston sent to the
American camp copies Of the kings
speech. 1t was received on the date
mentioned above, and the effect is
described in the British A,,nwM Re
gister, 1776, page 147, thus:
"The arrival Of the copy of the
kings speech, with an account Of the
fate of the petition from the Continen-
tai Congress, is said to have excited
the greatest degree Of rage and indig-
nation among them: as a proof of
which, the former was publicly burnt
in the camp; and they are said, on
this occasion, to have changed their
colors from q plain red ground, which
they had hitherto used, to u flag of
thirteen stripes, as symbol Of the
number and union of the colonies"
The use Of stripes to mark the num-
ber of States on the flag cannot be
clearly traced, but may be accounted
for by a custom of the camp at Cam
bridge. The army Of citizen volun-
teers comprised all grades Of men.
Very few were uniformed. 1t was al
most impossible for the sentinels to
distinguish general officers from pri-
Yates. Frequently officers were stop
ped at the outposts and held for iden
tifcation until the arrival of the officer
of the day. Orders were issued that
the different grades Of officers should
be distinguished by stripe of colored
ribbon worn across the brest. Wash
ington, as cOmmander-in-chief, wore a
ribbon of light blue. The stars on the
blue field-"a new constellation Il
were suggested by the constellation
Lyra, time-honored as an emblem of
union. The thirteen stars of the new
constellation were placed as the Cir
Of a circle, and on blue
field, in accordance with the resolu-
ton already given. That was the flag
used at Burgoyne's surrender October,
1777. BY a resolution Of Congress.
passed January 13, 1874, to take eff
feet May l, 1895, the flag was chang
ed to fifteen stars and fifteen stripes
That was the flag Of 1912. BY re-
solution, passed April 4, 1918, to take
effect on the following July 4th, the
flag was again changed to one Of
thirteen stripes and twenty stars; and
a new star, to represent new State,
ordered to be placed on the blue field
on the 4th of July following the ad-
mission Of such States. The flag now
carries thirty-seven,