The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1876-01-05
Our Flag.


papers that the flag of the stars and stripes
was first thrown to the breeze at Cambridge
on the first of January, 1776. This statement
is incorrect. The flag used on that occasion
was one of thirteen stripes alternate red and
white, with the blended crosses of st. George
and ST Andrew, in the blue union. 1t was
known as the "union flag" and was first un-
folded on a privateer by John Paul Jones in
December of the year before. Up to that time
plain crimson banner was chiefly in use,
though various devices were not uncommon.
A favorite standard in New England was the
pine-tree flag, green tree on white ground.
No banners are known to have been used at
Lexington, but shortly after that skirmish
the Connecticut troops appeared with flag
bearing the arms of the colony and the mot
to Qui trantuHt sastinet. Some say this flag
was used at Bunker Hill Others assert that
the crimson banner with "Come if you dare''
blazoned on it, flew that day. In Trumbulps
great picture in the rotunda at Washington
the troops are represented under red flag
having white canton with green pine-tree
upon it. Losing says the flag in use on the
17th of June was blue quartered with the red
cross Of St. George, in one corner of which
was the pine tree. Very likely all these flags
were borne.
The pine-tree flag was our first naval flag,
and continued in use until John Paul Jones
run up the ''union flag" with its stripes and
crosses. The "bonny blue fag' had its origin
in the South, and was for some time the fav-
orite ensign there. 1t was the flag of Ser
geant Jasper, and bore in one corner a white
crescent. The rattiesnake flag was in use
both north and south. 1t was not until 1777
that the stars and stripes came into use, dis
placing the varied standards carried by our
troops. The objection was brought against
the ''union flag" that it was almost identical
in design with the ensign of the East India
company. So on the 14th of June Congress
resolved: "That the flag of the thirteen Unit
ed States be thirteen stripes, alternate red
and white: that the union be thirteen stars
white in a blue field, representing new con-
stellation." The stars were five-pointed, af-
ter the fashion of France, though the stars on
our coins have always been six-pointed, like
the mullets of English heraldry. The earliest
suggestion of stars on the flag is TO be found
in the Massachusetts Spy, March 10th. 1774.
The stripes are thought by some to have
been suggested by the Netherland flag; by
Others to have been copied from the escutch-
con of the Washington family. The new
flag won its first victory on the 17th of Octo
Der TIT, at the surrender of Burgoyne. 1t
first waved over a foreign fortress on the 2Sth
of January, ITS, when the American sloor
of war Providence captured Fort Nassau on
the island of New Providence, and Capt.
John Rathbone hoisted the stars and stripes
on the walls.
The number of states having been increased
to fifteen by the admission of Vermont in
I791, and of Kentucky in 1892, Congress in
1904 passed an act which went into effect in
May, 1895, increasing the number of stars
and stripes to fifteen each. 1t was this flae
of fifteen stripes that was used through the
war of 1872. 1t was also the first American
flag which foated over fort in the old world
it being raised over the Tripoltan fortress Of
Derne on the 9th of April, 1905. In 1915
the states had increased to twenty in number
and some flags bore that number of stripes,
though without sanction of law it would ap-
pear. The banner was getting altogether too
cumbersome, SO Congress passed an act on
April 18th, 1918, ordering that the flag there.
after should consist of thirteen stripes, the
original number OF the states, and of as many
stars as there should be states. The banner
now bears'thirty-seven stars, and the coming
in of Colorado this year will increase the mum
ber to thirty-eight. 1t was at first the fash.
ion to place the stars in a circle, but they are
now generally senaee, that is, strewed over
the field.