The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1883-10-05
OUR SACRED THIRTEEN.
Historical Circumstance Connected With
the Origin of Our Flag.
James Parton in Youths Companion.

James Parton in Youths Companion.
IL was at Philadelphia that the present
flag of the United States was chiefly devel-
oped. The first trace of 1t occurs in letter
from secret emissary of France, who visited
Philadelphia In the latter part of IT'S. He
| reported to his government:
"The Americans have given up the En-
glish flag, and have taken for their devices
rattlesnake with thirteen rattles, and q
mailed arm holding thirteen arrows"
Thus we see the first idea peculiar to the
American flag. 1t is the use of that number
thirteen, which exercised so electric power
over the public mind, first in America, and
then in France. Thus, Congress in 1775 Or
dered thirteen armed ships to be fitted, one
for each colony, then the rottlesnake was
provided with thirteen rsttles, and the talons
of the eagle with thirteen arrows; and, final
| ly, the flag bore thirteen stripes.
The English were not slow to burlesque
the American preference for this new magic
| al number, as witness the following nom
| sense:
"Thirteen is a number peculiarly belong
| ing to the rebels. A party of naval prison.
ers says that the rations among the rebels
are thirteen dried clans per day; that the
titular Lord Stirling takes thirteen glasses of
grog every morning, has thirteen rum punches
on his nose, and that he always makes thir-
teen attempts before he can walk; that Mr..
Washington has a mottled tom-cat with
thirteen yellow rings around his tail" etc.
The first use of thirteen stripes upon an
American banner was probably upon
stand ard that still exists. belonging 10 the
Philadelphia troop of light horse. 1t is
brought out and displayed every year at the
troops anniversary dinner. When General
Washington went from Philadelphia in 1775,
to take the command at Cambridge, he was
escorted as far as New York by this troop,
and must have seen the banner every day.
The thirteen stripes appeared IN the cor
ner of the flag where the stars now are while
the middle portion is occupied by various
emblematic devices, which need not be de-
those thirteen stripes, which, seen by Gen'l
Washington and his companions for several
successive days, may have suggested that
conspicuous and significant feature of the
American flag which it now retains.
II was DR.. Franklin, Philadelphian, who
had the leading part in designing the first
American Gag which distinctly foretold the
coming nation. He was the chairman of the
committee appointed by Congress to consider
this subject. He was rare hand at emblem
attic devices.
After con:erring with Gen'l Washington at
the camp at Cambridge, the committee
adopted very ingenious and beautiful CON-
bination, expressive both of loyalty and def
ance. The ground of the flag was the thir-
teen stripes, but in the corner, where the
stars now are, they placed the old union flag
of England. Congress had not yet declared
the colonies independent, and hence there
was peculiar appropriateness in this two
fold device.
This splendid new flag was hoisted over
head. quarters at Cambridge, January ?, 1776,
much TO the contentment of the whole army;
for besides being a brilliant and beautiful
flag, .he significance of its parts must have
struck every beholder. 1t so happened that
the kings speech reached Boston that day,
containing harsh and insolent language to-
ward the agrieved colonists. The new flag
was seen by the British officers in Boston,
and they regarded it as sign of submission,
an Interpretation which much amused the
commanding general. "Farcical enough"
he wrote, "we gave great Joy to them with
out knowing or intending it." This contin-
ued to serve as the flag of the struggling
States until Saturday, June IA, 1777, when
Congress passed the following resolution:
"Resolued, That the flag of the thirteen
United States be thirteen stripes, alternate
red and white; that the union be thirteen
s.ars, white in blue field, representing a
new constellation"