American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1876-01-15

It Gen. Washington himself drew the ne
sketch in her back parlor. Mrs. Ro
a was appointed flag maker to the Cover
q ment and was succeeded by a relativ
z who held the position until within thir
. years.
r In connection with the colors of our fl,
r it is interesting to learn that the little rol
S in which Washington was baptized-no
, in the possession of Mrs. Lewis, of Woo,
| lawn, Va.-is made of white silk, line
| with crimson silk and trimmed with bit
ribbons
The newly-invented banner did not
once come into universal use, as we fin
Capt. Richards, as late as the middle {
, October, 1916, asking the Pennsylvani
Council what colors should be used b
the fleet. The picture of Washingto
on the Field of Trenton" painted b
Peale, who commanded a company i
that battle, contains the Stars and Stripe
which is good ground for believin
they were used there.
On the first Independence Day-July
1777-this flag was displayed at the cele
bration in Philadelphia, and from tina
time onward seems to have waved in near
ly all the battles by sea and land. Ii
February, ITS, John Paul Jones, in tn,
Ranger, conveyed some American vessel
into Quiberon Bay and induced the French
|
the first to win honor from foreign pow
er. Jones showed the Stars and Stripe.
from the first ship Of the line built for the
| new United States-the America, launched
at Portsmouth, n. H., on Nov. 5, 1889
The first military glory to gather around
the new ensign was at the British attack
on Fort Schuyler, on Aug. 2, 1877. When
the enemy appeared the garrison had nc
colors, but the soldiers at once tore up
their shirts for the Stripes and Stars, while
the blue ground was made from a cloak
taken from the enemy Mt Peekskill. I'm
der their roughly-made ensign the little
| garrison won their victory. One day a
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 f1oated 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 a 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 flag
was there.
Even before these vessels arrived the
American cOlors were shown In London
city, and in SO remarkable manner that
the story is well worth remembering. Ii
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 a wager,
TO getting a portrait of himself painted
by Copley. The painting was all done
except the background, which was to be
filled mas soon as peace should be de-
ship bearing to America
the joyful news, the rising sun pouring |
light upon the Stars and Stripes flying |
from her gait. Everything at last was fin.
ished but the flag, which the artist was
often came to his studio. On the 9Th of
December, 1884, the King made his speech |
recognizing the United States as ma
ion; Copley Immediately; and before din
ing, went to his studio, and with rapid |
,Ouches spread the glorious colors upon
he canvas. As soon as the Kings words |
we're spoken the American ensign was
hus receiving homage under the very caves
If his palace.
When the Stars and Stripes first sailed
INTO the Chinese port of Canton the in
iabitants were greatly excited. They said
! ship had come from the farthest part of
he world with flag as beautiful as
iower--a compliment to our nag in
which all Americans can join. The &C.
estials called the vessel Kaw-kee- cheunm
the flower flag ship. This name at once
,ecame popular, and America is now
allied Kaw-kee-koh-the flower flag coun-
ry. We are told that, in Chinese, Yankee
Yongkee) means flag of the ocean; and
Washington (Wo-shintung) signifies res
ue and glory at last This is very SIN
,ular and pleasing. The ship Franklin,
# Salem, whose log book is preserved in
he Essex Institute of that city, was the
irst to show this national flag in Japan
GO MI In
hip Columbia carried our flag around the
world and gave her name to that majestic
liver on the Pacific coast, discovered by
er master, Capt. Gray, in 1902. During
he years 1792-'94 Vermont and Kentucky
oined the Union; and in 1898 Congress
hanged our flag to fifteen stars and fifteen
tripes, to take effect the following May.
his act was passed after long discussion,
lany members thinking the flag should
ways remain as it was. This altered en-
ign was the one borne by the noble
Old Ironsides" and by all our vessels
uring the second war with England.
During the sitting of the French Con-
ention at Paris on the 14th of August,
794, the Minister Plenipotentiary from
lie United States was led into the hall i.
nd received the fraternal kiss and EN-
race, amid great enthusiasm and on the
9Th of September the new American ban
er was presented to the Assembly by l
apt. Barney in behalf of the United |
tates This standard was hung In the l
gislative hall, and afterward borne in c
lie procession at the great funeral of t
ousseau, when high honors were shown ,,
the Americans in Paris. The fifteen I
ars and the fifteen stripes won our victo-
es on the lakes, at New Orleans, at &
ripoli and floated from the Essex during 7
er famous fight in the harbor OF VaiPa- t
lisn In 11H1 0ur enSirn Was disnlayed | q