The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1889-07-05
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New York, Was the Man Wh0 Gave the
Stars mud Stripes the Character They
Finally Assumed,
Capt. Samuel Chester Reid, Of New
York City, was the man who gave the
United States flag its final character, and
his wife and her lady assistants made
the first one. AS is we'll known, the
original flag adopted at the formation OF
the government differed somewhat in
the arrangement OF colors from the one
now in use, and Congress, having no
adequate idea OF the rapid increase Of
States, provided for q new stripe in the
flag for each new State, The admission
Of Indiana, in 1916, brought the number
up to nineteen, and the display Of 80
many stripes evidently married the SYM
metry Of the flag; SO, on the 4th OF April,
1878, President Monroe approved the act
Of Congress fixing the number OF stripes
ut thirteen, for the original States, and a
star for each OF all the States, the whole
forming q large star in a blue field, AT
Up. m. OF April Is, 1878, this flag, made
by Mrs. Reid, was first displayed over
the hall Of the House Of Representa-
tives.
Congressman Peter II. Wendover, Of
| New York, was chairman Of the house
committee charged with the duty OF
designing the new flag, and as such con-
suited Captain Reid, then at the height
rs a naval o%tiCerj the captain naturally
thought OF u flag most suitable for naval
display, and all those who see the Stars
and Stripes streaming from the mast Of
. an American ship, must admit that his
conception was perfect. He drew the
plan of the flag exactly MS 1t Is, and Mr..
Wendover was so well pleased with it
that he commissioned Captain Reid to
have one made in New York. Mrs.
Reid daughter OF Capt. Nathan Jen.
nings, OF Connecticut, who served
through tho entire revolution at once
called in her most dett fingered lady
friends, and in a few days the lovely
silk banner was on its way to Washing
ton.
II reached there April IS, aud was, as
Aforesaid, Immediately unfurled over the
representatives. end OF the Capitol. In
his letter OF that date acknowledging tho
receipt OF the flag Congressman Wend.
over said: "Mr. Clay, tho speaker, says
it is wrong that there should be no
charge in your bill for the making Of the
flag. II pay for that will be acceptable,
on being informed | will procure IT.
OF course the revolutionary daughter and
her helpers declined all pay.
Samuel Chester Reid was born in Nor
wich, Conn.,, in 1873, and died in New
York city January 2S, 1861, only three
years after being retired from the naval
service. He had served in tho navy oil
his active life, had borne an honorable
part in many battles, ind had won what
vas perhaps the most extraordinary
naval victory Of the war, all things con.
sidered.
On the 9Gth Of September, 1914, the
American brig Gen. Armstrong, Of 24O
tons, entered the hRrbor OF Fayal, in the
Azores, and was caught there by the
British %Planlagenet, Of 74Guns, the Rota,
Of 50 guns, and the brig Carnation, OF IS
guns, AS the commodore, in command
Of the first, and the fleet, desired TO take
the American vessel without injury and
use it for q transport, he sent four armed
boats for thGpurpose, not expecting that
the Yankee would be rash enough TO re-
sist. He did, however, and repulsed the
boats with considerable loss.
That night, the sky being clear and
the moon at full, the British commodore
sent fourteen bafges and launches, con.
tanning 400 picked officers and men with
full supply Of swlyGlS, carronades, blum:
derbusses and side arms. Capt. Reid
Ihad but ninety officers and men, but he
had the advantage Of the briggs deck and
concentration OF force when the British
tried to board. The result was q battle
Of extraordinary severity and despera-
ton. Again and again boarding parties
Of British reached the deck OF the brig
and were beaten OIL. The losses on both
sides were terrible. Knowing that his
vessel must be captured Of last, Capt.
Reid exchanged n few shots with the
British next day, then fired his guns
through tho bottom Of his own vessel,
and rs 1t began to sink he and his men
Jumped over and swan ashore, The
Governor OF FayRl la. the hgurehead
Of the "Gen. Armstrong "a big image
Of the General HIMSELF placed over the
north gate OF tho town, and the people,
supposing II TO be the image Of a new
American saint, called It "El santo
Americana" and crossed themselves de-
youtly as they passed under IT,