Cheyenne transporter. [volume] (Darlington, Indian Terr.) 1879-1886, 1881-08-25
American Flags.

The annual celebration of the Fourth
of July, accompanied by its profuse
display of flags, renders interesting a
brief reference to the STARS and
Stripes and other flags.
During the Revolutionary period, be-
fore and after the commencement of
open hostilities between the Colonies
and Great Britain, there was a large
number of flags, emblems and devices
i'll use by the Americans. For instance,
as early as 1766 some of the New Hamp-
shire Revolutionists raised a flag where
on was inscribed the words: Liberty,
Prosperity, and No Stamps" and in
New York, after the first repeal of the
offensive stamp act, was another Oh
which were the words: "Thc King,
Pitt and Liberty" 1t is also claimed
that at Bunker Hill there was q rude
flag displayed by the patriot soldiers
inscribed with the spirited words:
"Come if You DareI' Quite a large
number of flags were inscribed: can
Appeal to Heaven" and beneath their
folds, most valiently did the rude sol
diery seek to assist the celestial powers
in granting a favorable response to the
prayer.
Not only were the inscriptions va
ried, but the designs and emblems con-
sisted of many different patterns. The
connecticut regiments were designated
by flags of different colors-yellow,
scarlet, blue, orange, crimson, white
and azure. Washington is represented
as carrying a flag with a blue field and
union Of white stars, in his famous
passage of the Delaware river. Perry's
flag in the battle of Lake Erie" is rep
resented as having thirteen stripes and
the same number of stars. The first
vessels ever commissioned by the Colo
nists displayed at their mastheads flags
bearing pictures Of a pine tree.
The first flag bearing a picture of a
rattlesnake and the significant words,
Don't Tread on Me-" was displayed
by the West Brigade, Westmort,.ad,
Pa, in 1775.
In February, l776, Gadsden present
ed to Congress ("which was to be used
by the commander-in-chief of the army
and navy'9 a yellow flag on which was
a representation of a cOiled rattlesnake,
and the words, Don't Tread on me-"
In old Independence Hall, Philadel-
phia, quite a number Of these rattle
snake flags are to be seen.
Though not elegant and classical, the
words, Don't Tread on Me-" were ter
ribly significant, and reflected the earn
est and vigorous spirit which actuated
the struggle for Liberty.
1t is said that the earliest suggestion
of the stars for an American flag is
found in The Massachusetts, Spy, of
March 10, IVA, when, in a song writ
ten for the anniversary of the Boston
massacre, We read:
Aray of bright glory now beams from afar,
The American ensign now sparkles-a star,
Which shall shortly flame wide through
the skies.
June II, 1777, Congress passed a res
olution: "That the flag of the thirteen
United States be thirteen stripes, alter
nate red and white, that the union be
thirteen stars, white III blue field, rep
%resenting a new constellation"
Who is entitled to the credit of the
device the records do not show. In
fact it was probably a combination Of
suggestions and devices. One person
may have suggested the stripes, anoth-
er the stars on a blue field, and still an
other the arrangement, number of
stars, etc. 1t matters not now who
suggested it. 1t is to-day the emblem
Of a hundred years of successful ma
tiOnal existence.
1t has become what it is by having
foated for a hundred years as the en-