Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1891-07-03
The History OF the Flag.


the New York Journal Of Commerce.
"egive it place in our columns ba-
cause OF its historic value. The stars
and stripes became the national flag
OF the Unite d States OF America 10y
virtue OF a resolution OF Congress
passed June IA, III:
"Resolred, That the flag OF the
thirteen United Staves be thirteen
stripes alternate red and white; that
the Union DO thirteen stars, white,
in a blue field representing a new
constellation"
This resolution appears in the Jour
nal of Congress. :, volume ,, page l65.
Although passed on the date given
above, it was not made public until
September :}rd, in the same year,
whom it appeared in the Boston Ga
zette and Country journal. The flag
seems to have been the result of the
work commenced by Washington, DR.
Franklin, Mr.. Lynch, Mr.. Harrison
and Colonel Joseph Reed. On the
Bird of January, ZIG, Washington was
in the American camp at Cambridge,
organizing the new army which was
at that day created. The committee
OF conference, consisting OF Franklin,
Lynch and Harrison sent by Congress
to arrange with Washington the de-
tails Of the army were with him. Col.
Of hn nj 10
also secretary Of the committee of
conference. The several designs for
flags had long occupied the thoughts
OF Rsed and his associates. Tho flag
in use by the army WAS plain red
field with the British union of the
crosses OF st. Andrew, st. George and
st. Patrick ON the upper left corner.
Several gentlemen OF Boston sent To
the American camp copies Of the
kings speech. 1t was received the
date mentioned above and the effect
is described in the British Annual
Register, ZIG, page LAT, thus:
1.-The arrival of the copy OF the
kings speech, with an account of the
fate Of the petition from the CONT
mental Congress is said to have ex-
cited the greatest degree Of rage and
Indignation among them; as a proof
OF which, the former was publicly
burnt i'll the camp; aud they are said,
on this occasion, To nave changed
their colors from "a plain red ground,
which they had hitherto used, To
flag of thirteen stripes, AS IL symbol Of
tho number and union OF the col
onies."
The use OF stripes TO mark the
number Of the States on the flag can
not he clearly traced, but may be &C
counted for by Il custom of the camp at
Cambridge. The army OF citizen volup-
toers comprised all grades OF men.
Very few were uniformed. 1t was al
most impossible for the sentinels TO
distinguish general officers from pri-
Yates. Frequently officers wore stop
ped at the outposts and held for iden-
LITIGATION until the arrival of the Of
ticer OF the day. Orders were issued
that the different grades OF officers
should be distinguished by stripe
of colored ribbon worn across the
breast. Washington rs Commander
in-Chief wore ribbon of light blue.
The stars on the blue field-"a new
constellation"-were suggested by
the constellation Lyra, time honOred
as an emblem of union. The thirteen
stars of the now constellation were
placed rs the circumference OF a
circle, and on a blue field, in accord
ance with the resolution al ready Civ
on. That was tho flag used at Bur
goyne's surrender October IL, LIT.
BY q resolution OF Congress-, passed
January 13, 1874, to take effect May
l, l70J, the flag was changed t. fiji
teen stars and fifteen stripes. That
was tho flag Of 1872. BY resolution
passed April 4, 1918, to take effect on
tho following July 4th, the flag was
again changed To one of thirteen
stripes and twonty stars; and new
star, to represent II new State, ordered
to be placed on tho blue field
on the 4th. OF July follow
ing the admission of such State. The
flag planted on the National Palace
OF Mexico had thirty stars. To-mor-
row "Old Glory" will kiss the breeze
with forty.four bright stars.