Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1876-01-12
s.. CLEARFIELD, Pa. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 70, 1876.

alive, who held the positionuntil with
in thirty years.
In connection with the colors Of our
flag, II is interesting TO learn that the
little robe in which Washington was
baptized--now in possession Of Mrs.
Lewis,of Woodlawn, Virginia-is made
Of white silk, lined with crimson silk,
and trimmed with blue ribbons.
The newly.invented banner did not
at once come into universal use, as we
find Captain Richard, as late as the
middle of October 177G, asking the
Pennsylvania Council what colors were
TO be used by the feet. The picture
Iof"Washington on the field ofTrenton,'
painted by Peale, who commanded
company in that battle, contains the
starsand stripes-which is good ground
for believing they were used there.
On the first Independence day-July
Il, 1777--this flag was displayed at the
celebration in Philadelphia, and from
that time onward seems to have waved
in nearly all the battles by sea and land.
In February, l77s, 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 power. Jones showed
the stars and stripes from the first ship
of the line built for the new United
States-the America, launched at Ports
mouth New Hampshire, on November
5, 1882. The first military glory to
gather around the new ensign was at
the British attack on Fort Schuyler,
'on August 2, l777. When the enemy
appeared, tho 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 at Peeksllill.
Under their roughly made ensign the
little garrison won their victory. One
day sally was made from the fort
when fUe flags were captured ffom the
British and at once hoisted on the forts
staff, under the victorious homemade
colors. Washington's army carried the
stars and stripes when, in 1777, he re-
pulsed Cornwallis on the banks of the
Assunpink; they waved amid the roar
and smoke Of Brandywine, and the
following battles of the war looked
down upon Burgoyne's surrender at
Saratoga, and that Of CORVALLIS at
Yorktown and hoated throughout that
terrible winter at Valley Forge, speak
ing OF hope and courage to the suffering
soldiers.
In January, 1881, daring and bril-
liant action by Captain Rathburne, Of
the war sloop Providence, placed our
flag for the first time on foreign for
tress This sloop, with a crew Of only
fifty men, captured 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 November, 1888, is IA
nous date in the story Of our flag On
that day the British evacuated 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. af HA.i
After the long war had closed, aud
American independence was secured,
the stars and stripes were soon found
waving in every breeze under heaven,
and floating on all the waters Of the
globe. They were flying in the Thames
IN the very faces of the astonished Eng
lisb, even before the treaty Of peace
had been signed. The honor of thus
carly displaying our national flag at
the gates of English royalty is claimed
for five different vessels, and il is per-
haps impossible to settle the dispute
now. 1t is enough for us that Our tag
icas there
Even before these vessels arrived,
the American colois were shown in
Londcn city, and in so remarkable a
manner that the story is well worth
remembering. Ii is related in "The
Life of Elkanah Watson, "a distinguish
cd American, that, being in London
near the close OF the war, he devoted
one hundred guineas, won in wager
to getting portrait of himself painted
by Coploy The painting was all done
except the back ground, which was to
be filed in-as soon as peace should be
dcclarcd--with a ship bearing to Amer
lea the joyful news, the rising sun pour
ing light upon the stars and stripes
flying from her gafl. Everything at
last was finished but the flag, which
the artist was unwilling TO paint, as
the royal family often came to his
studio. On the 9th of December 1882,
the king made his speech recognizing
the United States as nation Copley
Immediately and before dining, went
to his studio, and with rapid touches
spread the colors upon the canvas. As
soon as the kings words were spoken,
the American ensign was thus receiv.
ing homage under the very caves Of
his palace.
When thestars and stripes first sailed
into the Chinese port at canton the in
habitants were greatly excited. They
said ship had come from the farthest
part OF the world, with flag as beau
iiful as hower--a compliment TO our
flag in which all Americans can join.
The Celestials called the vessel Kaw-
keo.cheum-thc flower flag ship This
name at once became popular, and
America is now called Kaw-tee- -koh--
the flower flag country. We are told
that in Chinese Yankee Yonghec)
means flag of theocean and Washing
ton IPo-shm-timg) signifies rescue aud
glory at last. This is very singular
and pleasing, The ship Franklin, of
Salem, whose log book Is preserved in
the Essex Institute, in that city, was
the first TO show fhc national flag in
japanese waters, July, 1899. In l776
30 the ship Columbia carried our flag
around the world, and gave her name
to that majestic river on the Pacific
coast, discovered by her master, Capt.
Gray, in 1892 During the years 1902
81, Vermont aud Kentucky joined
the Union andin '0i Congress changed
our nagtofifteen starsand fifteen stripes
to take effect the following May. This
act was passed after long discussion,
many members thinking the flag should
always remain as it was. This altered
ensign was the one borne by the noble
"Old lronsidcs,' and by all our vessels