St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1893-06-08
THE FIRST UNITED STATES FLAG.

Do orr young people know who
made the first "Stars and Stripes
FAC? Not long after our colonies
declared themselves "free and in
dependent" and started up in bust
ness by themselves, they felt the need
Of banner that should be unlike all
others, and belong to them alone.
So patriotic artist designed one
after the beautiful coat-of-arms OF
the leader, George Washington, and,
with a few slight changes, the first
flag was exactly like the one we love
today. This pattern banner was
made in the year 1777, in the city of
Philadelphia. The work was done
BY Miss Mary and Miss Sarah
Austin. The house in which they
lived is still standing, and is pointed
out to visitors today as the birth
place of "Old Glory"
1t was this flag that floated over
the ship of the gallant Paul Jones,
when he won the sea-hght off the
coast OF England Ill 80.
He carried it first on his little
vessel that ran up and down the
Schuylkill river, and grew so fond OF
it that when he was ordered to a
higher post he could not leave his
signal behind.
So when the Bon Homme Richard
fought the Scraps. the young COM
mander won his great victory under
the shadow of his dear flag. and dur
ing the battle it was more than once
picked up out of the salt water, and
saved from food as we'll as flame.
At one time the chief mast, to
which the flag was dashed, was shot
away, and down fell Old Glory" in
to the Atlantic. A brave young
officer plunged in and rescued it, and
nailed it to another mast, and there
it hung until the Bon Homme
Richard won the day. In this great
naval battle the conflict was so fierce
that Paul Jones had to lash his ship
to the Scraps, lest it should sink be-
fore the hour of victory. And he
proved himself a wise commander,
for after two more hours OF hard
fighting the enemy surrendered, and
before another sunrise the Bon
Homme Richard sank many fathoms
deep.
After this battle the flag was
borne by the United States Frigate
Alliance over many an ocean
voyage,
1t is now tattered and faded
ghost of it's former bright beauty,
but more glorious than ever in the
memories that cluster around its
folds.
There are carefully patched bullet
holes, and one entire strip has been
replaced by new. 1t had but twelve
stars, for when it was made there
were but twelve states, as Georgia,
the last of the original thirteen, had
not yet entered into the Union. A
part of one end has been torn off,
and it is now almost square, measur-
ing, perhaps, six feet each way.
This glorious old trophy now be-
longs to the descendants of the
young officer who rescued it from the
ocean at its first naval battle, and,
In so doing, was himself cut and
manned for life. When peace was
restored the flag was presented to
its gallant rescuer, who cherished it
as his chief treasure, and bequeathed
1t to his children.
In addition to it's interest as the
hrst flag made for our country, it
mas great historical value as being
the first United States banner
saluted by foreign nations on the
nigh seas, for Immediately after the
surrender of the Scraps it was
acknowledged as our emblem by the
French war-ships. :.
1t is only faded bit of cloth, but
all the same it is our blessed "Old
glory" the first symbol of a free
people to float on the breezes OF a
new world, and token of the dear
est thing on earth to the heart OF all
true Americans.-[ Churchman.
HOW THE wOprD WIFI COME TO