The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-07-16
The First American Flag.
From the Baltimore Sun.

good many things are known about the flag
of our union. Every loyal American is aware
that its coors are warranted not to run; that
person wicked and foolhardy enough to at
tempt to haul it down is liable to : Snot on the
spot without benefit of the clergy and that it is
to wave until the crack Of doom DER the land
of the free aud the home of the brave We are
all awaIe besides of the romantic story of its
creation. There probably is not schoOlboy on
the continent who cannot repeat DraAe's noble
ode
When freedom from her mountain hight
Unfurled her standard to the air,
She tore the azure robe of night
And set her stars of glory there;
She mingled W To its gorgeous dyes
The milky baldrc of the skies,
And striped its pure, celestial white
With streakings of the morning light.
Nevertheless, in spite of this general diffusion
OF knowledge in regard TO our flag. we think it
is doubt III if many of those who dote upon it
can tell what became of one that was first
dung to the breeze III defense of our liberties
If the quesn Il. wnere IS the original American
hagt we re ask ID at civil sc vice examination
the chances that it would prove too much
for at least nine out of ten OF those to whom it
was addressed. The Rome Sehttnei-meanin.,
Rome in the Mohawk valley, and not Rome-on-
the TiOer-whlle in a patriotic mood the other
day observed: 1T may not be generally known
but it is fact that the American flag the stars
and stripes, were first flung to the breeze and
first saw actual service at Fort Stanwix located
in what Is now the city of Rome, and on a
site within a stones throw of the Sentinel
office" Prompted by this interesting remI-
niscence-whIch proves that the Sentl7ae. .
although a secular newspaper, came near being
published on holy ground-the Albany Times
proceeds to state what has become of the first
Fort Stanwix flag That treasure beyond price
is now in possession of an Albany lady Mrs
Abraham Lansing 1t was bequeathed to her
by her grandfather. the gallant Col Peter
Gansevoort who commanded Fort Sianwix
wnen the flag was first hoisted The Times re-
calls the fact that Horatio Seymour, at the cen
teOllal l)rskaQV n
played the flag IN the presence of the va con
course # people assembled on that OCCASION
md that having done SO he gave this account
oft:
1t is the flag of our state which was borne
by the regiment commanded by Col Ganse-
WORT. not only here at tue beginning of the
revolutionary war, but also when it was ended
by the sure nder of the British army at York
town. The brave ldier VINO carried it through
so many contests valued it beyond all ca thly
posse sions. He left it as a precious heirloom
to his family. They have kept it with such
| faithful care that again, after a century has
rolled away, its folds can be displayed In this
valley to another generation, who will look
upon 1t with devotion equal TO that felt by
those who followed it on the batte-fields of the
revolution"
The times would seem to have forgotten that
a number of years previous to 1877, II was early
| in the war, Mr.. Seymour made q still more elo-
quent reference to the Fort Stanwix flag. The
occasion was the opening of the great sanitary
tair at Albany. and the speaker gave as one
| cogent reason why the Capitl City on hit to be
| foremost 10 patriotic deeds that the American
/ flag was first waved wnen she herself was
placed in peril by the enemy.