, 1876-01-02

arms, which is not likely; Or as some think. be
flag, which is still less probable. Still others
suppose they were copied from the Tag OF
the Netherlands. However it may be, thus
s'GEASD UNION FLAG"
was raised on the camp at Cambridge ca the "a
OF January, 177G. Tho Kings speech Oh tho
trouble with the Colonies had just beon sent to
the camp, so the British III Boston thought the
new fay was raised Is token of submission.
Nothing, however, was further from the truth:
The Kings speech Was Indignantly burned, and
thousands Of eturdy hearts beat violently to >
now patriotism, as tho wind lifted the folds OF
the new banner, which few hours had mado 60
foil OF meaning to them The striped dag also
floated over tho Virgins Convention. which,
three weeks before tho Declaration, declared
tho united Colonies "free and independent
States."
Meanwhile, the cruisers at Eea were still car-
ring their Colonial or State flags. John
Paul Jones claims that no hoietod - the Flag OF
America" By his own hand on board the Alfred,
this being the nrst time it was ever displayed by
a regular man-o-war. Probably this ''Flag OF
America" was the now striped flag. though
Cooper thinks it WIS plue-tree flag. with rat
tlesnake Gnd motto. Old John Adams after.
ward disputed tho story OF Paul tonee, anu
claimed tho honor for a Nassachusotts man. II
is probable. however, that the honor belongs to
Jones. The Admirai's flag nt this time Was OF
thirteen stripes, with rattlesnake undulAting
over them. and tho usual motto, "Don't tread
on me-" Commodore Barney, OF the Hornet,
hoisted tho first Continental flag ever seen
in Maryland. He WAS in need OF crew
for his vessel, and just at that time the
new striped flag arriged from Philadelphia Tho
Commodore, at sunrise the next morning. holst-
ed it to the music OF drums and flies IN mont of
his recrutine-otice and before night his crew
we're shipped.
rur FIRST NAVAL v1crorY UNDER THE STRIPES
hv fhA J.aYfFtVt0n who.
on tho lith Of April. 1776, captured British
vessel, after severe light. of the Virginia
ehorce- In the autumn OF rs the armed brig
Reprieal, carrying Franklin to the French Court,
os1s eyes Of the European world; while in July
of the same year the brig Andrea Doris had been
the first to draw q salute from for
eign power for tho new flag. The Dutch
Governor II the harhor OF St. Eustatia
returned tho Doria's ealute, aad was removed
from Office for his indiscretion. 1t il gaid that,
aftar the capturp Of New York By the British, m
American prvatcer was taken whose dag had
only twelve stripes, because ne had lost prov
ince. ....
When tho Declaration Of Independence was
proclaimed from the State-House at PAuadel-
phia, the Kings Arms were taken down aud
burned. So the last semblance of allegiance to
ENGLAND was destroyed, aud OF course the htuEs
colors could not long remain IN the American
flag Eusigus of various devices are described
IN uE9 OuTlQE Lub lAIu-uELLGS u lAAAo $1,000.
while the "gtand union flag" was the official
banner. ..--.- ...,,
On tho 18th Of June, lit, Congress voted
that the American fag should be - thirteen
stripes, alternate red and white. thst tho
union bo thirteen stars, white In blue
field, representing new constellauon. aefe'
at last, ne have
orn STARS AND srRIPEs;
bat this, as we shall see wns ouly the o1hclal
adoption OF flag that had already been in Use
for Lear]y year. Tito origin Of the stars IN
our banner il as ob.cure as that Of tho stripes
Some think they were taken, IS was sald OF the
stripes, from Nashingtons coat-of-a arms, which,
curious enough, contains both stars and stripes.
But, il this were so. Washington would probably
have referred to it in some "ay. which lac seems
never to have done Others THINK - was 1ntenu-
ed to represent the constellation :. Lyrs, which,
contains Just thirteen stars and Is the symbol
OF harmony and unity. This. however, cannot bo
as Congsess expressly says "reFresent'ng
new constellation" Docbt}ess The stars
were chosen because they vera OF ail devices
Tho rnost appropriate to ozpress the truth aud
character OF the noT Republic. The stars on our
banner are fiye-poiuted. while those on our
coins have six points, This is becuase the do
eiccers OF cur tag followed the French. the de-
sgners Of the coins the EnElish. custom.
1t las never been discovered who designed
oCE UNION OF STARS.
They seem to have arisen AS tnyster1ovsly out OF
tho twilight as Go tho stars of evening. II III
clsimed that Mrs. Ross WAS the partial designer
and tho first nlakor of tho starB and Stripes.
thus lady waa all upholsterer in Philadelphia,
aud, in June, 177G, q committee OF Congress,
with Gen. Washington, called upon her,
and engaged her to make . f1ag from rough
drawing which they had brought with them.
especially that the sta,s Ehonld be flve,,pointed
instead Of slx-polnted aud Gen. Washington
himself drew the new sketch in her back-paror.
Mrs. Ross was appointed llag-maker to the Gov
ernment, and was succeeded By relative, who
held the position until within thirty years.
In connection with the colors OF our tag, it is
interesting to learn that the little robe in which
Washington WAS baptlzed--now In the posses
sion of Mrs. Lewis, of Woodlawn. Va.-15 made
Of wbite silk, lined with crimson Hlik, and trim
med with blue ribbons.
Tho newly-invented banner did not ut once
come INTO universal use. as We hud Cant. Rch-
ards, as late as the middle OF October, l77. ask
ing the Pennsylyania Council what cclors should
be used by tie fleet: The picture Ct Washing
ton Oh the Field of Trenton painted By Peale.
who commanded company in that battle, con-
tains the Stars and Strpes-which is good
ground for believing they were used there.
on THE FIRST 1SDEpESDEscE-pAr
Jc1J 4, 1777-this flag was displayed at the cele-
bration in Philadelphia and from that time on
ward seems to have waved in nearly al! the bat
ties By sen and land. n February, ITS. John
Paul Jones, in tho Hanger, conveyed some
American vessels into Qmberon Bay, and in
duced the Erench Admiral to aalute our col0ra.
thus being the first to win honor from foreign
power. Jones showed the Stars, and Stripes
from the first sh1p-of-the-lino built for tho new
United 5tates,-the America, launched at Ports
mouth, n. H., on Nov. S. 1882. The first mill
tary glory to gather around the new ensign was
at the British attack on Fort Schuyler on Aug.
2, 1777- When tho enemy appealed the gar
1ison had no colors but the soldiers at once tore
up their shirts for the str pes and stare, while
the blue ground was made from cloak taken
from tho ensmy ct Peekskill- Under their
roughly-made ensign the little garrison won
their victory. One day sally was made from
the fort, when fire flags wero captured from tue
british. and at once hoisted on the forts staff
under the home made victorious colors.
HAsu1Su1ox's An-.x CARRIED THE srAns AND
STR1TEa
when, in 1777, 10 repuleed CORVALLIS on
the hanks Of tne Afsnnplnk; they waved
amid tho smoke and roar Of Brandy
wine and the following buttles OF the WAT;
looked down upon BurEoyno's surrender at sar-
atoea, and that OF coruwaitts at Yorktown; and
floatod throughout that terrible winter at VAL
ley Forge, speaking OF hope and courage to the
suffering soldiers
In :Innunry. 176l. daring AID brilliant action