Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1876-01-14
r. DoDGEv11LE WISCONSIN, FRIDAY, JANUARY "A, 1876.

The origin of the stars in our banner is as
obscure as that of the stripes. Some
think they were taken, as was said of the
stripes, from Washington's coat-ofarms,
which, curiously enough, contain both
stars and stripes. But if this were SO
| Washington would probably have re-
terred to it in some way, which he seems
never to have done. Others think that il
4 was intended to represent the constella-
i ton "Lyra," which contains just thir-
teen stars, and is the symbol of harmony
and unity. This, however, cannot be, as
Congress expressly says, representing a
new constellation" Doubtless the stars
/ were chosen because they were of all de-
vices the most appropriate to express the
truth and character of the new Republic.
The stars on our banner are tive-pOinted,
while those on our coins have six points.
This is because the designers of our flag
followed the French, the designers of the
coins the English, custom.
4 1t has never been discovered who de-
signed our union of stars. They seem to
have arisen as mysteriously out of the
/ twilight as do the stars of evening. 1t is
/ claimed that Mrs. Ross was the partial
and Stripes This lady was an upholsterer
in Philadelphia, and in June, 1776, a
committee of Congress, with Gen. Wash
ington, called upon her and engaged her
| to make new flag from a rough drawing
| which they had brought with them. Mrs.
| Ross suggested some changes in the de-
sign, especially that the stars should be
| fiye-pOinted instead of siX-pointed and
| Gen. Washington himself drew the new
| sketch in her back parlor. Mrs. Ross
was appointed flag maker to the. Govern
ment and was succeeded by relative,
| who held the position until within thirty
years.
In connection with the colors Of our flag
| it is interesting to learn that the little robe
in which Washington was baptized-now
in the possession Of Mrs. Lewis, of Wood
lawn, Va.--is made of white silk, lined
with crimson silk and trimmed with blue
ribbons -,'....-~-.. .-........-..,-
| The new1y-invented banner did not at
once come into universal use, as we find
| Capt Richards, as late as the middle of
October, .1776 asking the Pennsylvania
| Council what colors should be used by
the fleet. The picture of Washington
on the Field of Trenton" painted by
Peale, who commanded a company in
that battle, contains the Stars and Stripes
which is good ground for believing
they were used there.
On the first Independence Day-July 4,
1777-this flag was displayed at the cele-
bration in Philadelphia, and from that
time onward seems to have waved in near
ly all the battles by sea and land. In
| February, TITS, John Paul Jones, in the
Ranger, conveyed some American vessels
into Quiberon Bay and induced the French
Admiral to salute our colors, thus being
the first to win honor from foreign pow
er. Jones showed the Stars and Stripes
| from the first ship-of- the line built for the
new United States-the America, launched
at Portsmouth, N. H., on Nov. 5, 1852.
The first military glory to gather around
the new ensign was at the British attack
on Fort Schuyler, on Aug. Q, TIT. When
the enemy appeared the garrison had no
| cOlors, but the soldiers at once tore up
their shirts for the Stripes and Stars, while
| the blue ground was made from cloak
taken from the enemy ut Peekskill. I'm
der their roughly-made ensign the little
garrison won their victory. One day
sally was made from the fort, when five
flags were captured from the English and
| at once hoisted on the forts staff under
| the home made victorious colors. Wash
| ington's army carried the Stars and Stripes
when, in 1777, he repulsed CORVALLIS on
the banks of the Assunpink; they waved
amid the smoke and roar of BrandyWine
and the following battles of the war;
| looked down upon Burgoyne's surrender
| at Saratoga and that of CORVALLIS at
| Yorktown, and foated throughout that
terrible winter at Valley Forge, speaking
of hope and courage to the suffering
| soldiers
In January, 1881, daring and brilliant
| action by Capt. Rathburne, of the war
sioop Providence, placed our flag for the
| first time on a foreign fortress. This
sloop, with crew of only fifty men, capt
ured Fort Nassau, in the Island of New
Providence, spiked the guns, seized the
vessels in the harbor and put to sea again
all in two days. The 25th of Novem-
| Der, 1888, is famous date in the story OF
our flag. On that day the British evacu--
ated New York, and the very flag raised
| by our army over the newly-wOn city was
preserved in the American Museum at
New York until the building was de-
stroyed by fire.
After the long war had ended, and
American independence was secured, the
Stars and Stripes were soon found waving
| in every breeze under heaven, and float
| ing on all the waters of the globe. They
were flying in the Thames, in the very
! faces of the astonished English, even be-
fore the treaty of peace had been signed.
| The honor of thus early displaying our
national flag at the gates of English roy
atty is claimed for five different vessels,
and it is perhaps impossible to settle the
| dispute 1t is enough for US that our nag
| was there.
| Even before these vessels arrived the
| American colors were shown In London
| city, and in so remarkable a manner that
| the story is well worth remembering. 1t
| is related in 1.-THE Life of Elkanah Wat
son. distinguished American, that, be-
| ing in London near the close of the war,
| he devoted 100 guineas, won in wager,
to getting a portrait of himself painted
by Copley. The painting was all done
except the background, which was to be
| filled in-as soon as peace should be de-
clared-with ship bearing to America
the joyful news, the rising sun pouring
light upon the Stars and Stripes flying
from her gaff. Everything at last was fin
ished but the flag, which the artist was
unwilling to paint, as the royal family
| often came to his studio. On the 9TH OF
December, 1884, the King made his speech
recognizing the United States as ma
ton; Copley Immediately, and before din,
| ing, went to his studio, and with rapid
| touches spread the glorious colors upon
the canvas. As socn as the Kings words
were spoken the American ensign was
| thus receiving homage under the very caves
| of his palace.
When the Stars and Stripes nrst sailed
| into the Chinese port OF Canton the IN.
habitants were greatly excited. They said
a shin had come from the farthest part of
tbo world with q fac as beallfiflIl as a