The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1886-09-01
IiiE \ tTIONtL GRIDIRON.

U'tom the Virginia (Ncv) En,erprisoJ

N'fom the NirginiG (Ncv) Enterprise)
IN response to communication of in
qmry We give the following, compiled
from the most authoritative aud reliable
sources. In the beginning of the Rcvo-
luton variety of flags were displayed
IN lc rcvotcd colonies. After the bat
Tie # Lexington the Connecticut troops
displayed OH their standards the arms of
thc colony with the motto: Qui transtulit
SuS' act; and later, by act of the Pro-
NncI@t Congress, the regiments were dis
ungu,shcd by the various colors Of their
lia8s. 1t is uncertain what flag, if any,
was used by the Americans ut thc battle
OF Bunker Hill. The first armed vessels
commissioned by Washington sailed un-
der the flag adopted by the Provincial
Congress OF Massachusetts as the one to
hc borne on the flag of the cruisers of
that colony 81 white flag with green
Ilnc tree. The first Republican flag
m'Wlcd in the Southern Statcs-bluc,
with Il white crescent in the upper cor
ncr ncNt to the staii'-was designed by
Col. NlLllnm MOuitric, of Charleston,
,. g., AT the request of the committee of
safety, and was hoistcd on the fortifica-
toms ms OF that city in September, l775.
The official origin of the "grand
V. ~
the time of its adoption Mt Cambridge
the colonies still acknowledged the legal
rights of the mother country, and there
fore retained the blended crosses of ST
George and St. Andrcw changing ONLY
the field OF the old ensign for the thir-
teen stripes cmblcmatic of their union.
The color OF the stripes may have been
suggested by the red flag of the amy,
and the white flag of the navy, previous
Iy in use. Congress resolved, on June
II, lItT, 'that the flag of the thirteen
United States be thirteen stars, white in
4 blue field, representing new oonstcl-
iatIon. This is the first recorded lcgis-
lailvc action for the adoption of nation.
III flag. The thirteen stars were arrang-
ed IN circle, although no form was pl e.
Scnhrt officially. The flag thus adopted
remained unchanged till 1874, when, ON
motion OF Senator Bradley, of New
York, it was resolved that from and after
May |, 1913, ''thc flag OF the United
States be fifteen stripes, alternate red
ana white, that the union be fifteen
stars, white III bike field" This was
the llaG used IN the war of 1912 ii. The
act made no provisions for future altcra.
tons, and none were mado until 1918,
although several new States had mean
While been admitted into the Union,
IL 1916, on the admission Of Indiana.
Il committee was appointed "to inquire
INTO Inc cNpcdicncy Of altering the flag. ;"
4 bi'i was reported on January 2. 1918,
but was not acted on, which embodied
the suggestions OF Captain Samuel C.
Reid, distinguished naval officer, who
recommended thu reduction of tbe
strlpca TO the original thirteen, and the
adoption OF stars equal to the number of
States, formed into one LARGE star ond a
new star TO be added on tho Fourth of
July next succeeding .he admission of
cach new State On April 4, 1918, a bill
cmhCdying these suggestions, with the
exception Of that designating the man
nor of arranging the stars, was approved
by the President, and on the 18th of tho
same mouth the flag thus established
was hOlStcd over the hall of Roprcscnta
uYcs at Washington, although it's legal
existence did not hcgin until the follow
ing Fourth OF July.
AL 1929, Wlch Congress passed vote
oi tilahhs TO Captain Rod, tho designer
ol inc nag, 1T was suggested that the
mode OF arrangement OF the stars should
DE prescribed by law, but the matter was
overlooked. The stars in the unions of
liags used III the war department. of the
government arc generally arranged in
ono large star; in The navy flags they are
Invariably set in parallel lines. The blue
union Of stars, when used separately, is
called the union jack. The United States
revenue flag, adopted in 1899, consists
of 10 perpendicular stripes, alternately
red ana white, the union whito, with the
national arms in dark blue. The union
used separately constitutes the revenue
union. The American yacht flag is like
the national flag with the exception of
the union, which is a white foul anchor
in circle of l3 stars. in blue field.