Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1894-08-15
HISTORY OF THE FLAG.
The Stars and Stripes Originated by
WashingtOn'S Pencil.

teenth United States be thirteen stripes,
alternately red and white; that the uni.
on be thirteen stars, white in blue
field, representing a new constella-
tion.
This was about one year subsequent
TO the Declaration of independence.
Prior to that time colonial flags, and
those improvised by the parties using
them, were publicly displayed rs occa-
sion demanded, but there were in no
sense the national standard
The thirteen stripes had been intro
duced, in alternately white and blue,
on the upper left hand corner of
standard presented by its Captain in
the early part of 1775. Moreover, the
flag of the thirteen united colonies
raised at Washington's headquarters
at Cambridge, January 2, 1776 had
the thirteen just as they are this day;
but it also had the cross of st. George
and st. Andrew on blue ground in
the corner.
There is no satisfactory evidence, how
ever, that any flag bearing the union
OF the stars had been in public use be-
fore the resolution of June, 1777.
Some writer's assert that the first and
original United States flag, instead
OF thirteen stars, each representing
revolted colony or State, contained
only twelve stars, because Georgia was
not entitled to a vote. Such flag is
said to have been made by the ladies
OF Philadelphia from the design of the
escutcheon of the Washington family,
and it is said that Washington himself
cut out the five pointed stars.
1t is alleged that this flag was pre-.
sented to John Paul Jones, that he
sailed with it up and down the Schuy-
Kill to show the people the appearance
of the flag of their country; that it was
adopted by Congress-; That Jones car
ried it with him on the ship Bon Homme
Richard; that in his great fight the
1ag was shot away from its staff and
fell in the sea, and that Lieut.. Stafford
leaped overheard after it, brought it
safely TO the ship and nailed it to the
masthead.
The tale may be true, but the flag was
not the national flag. The act of Con.
gre of June ID, 1777, shows that no
standard was recognized by the nation
until that date.
1t has been impossible to decide with
certainty who designed the American
flag as first adopted by Congress, but
the best recorded evidence gives part
OF the credit of designing it, and all
credit of making it, to Mrs. John Ross,
an upholster, who resided on Arch
Street, Philadelphia. Her descend
ants assert that a committee of Con-
gress, accompanied by Gen. Washing
ton, who was in Philadelphia in June,
1776, called upon Mrs. Ross and en-.
gagged her to make the flag from
rough drawing. This drawing was, at
her suggestion, redrawn by Gen Wash.
ington with pencil, in her back parlor,
and the flag thus designed was adopted
by Congress.
Although the resolution establishing
the flag was not officially promulgated
by the Secretary of Congress until Sep
tember 3, TIT, it seems well authenti.
Gated that the regulation stars and
stripes were carried at the battle of the
Brandywine, September II, TIT, and
thenceforward during the battles of
the Revolution.
Soon after its adoption, the new flag
was hoistei on the naval vessels of the
United States, The ship Ranger, bear
ing the stars and stripes, and COM
manded by Captain Paul Jones, arrived
at a French port about December l,
1777. Her flag received, on February
IA, ITS, the first salute ever paid to
the American flag by foreign naval
vessels.
No further action relative to the flag
was taken by Congress until after ver-
mont and Kentucky were admitted to
the Union. Then, on January 1S, 1794,
Congress enacted:
THAT from and after the 1st day of
May, 1792, the flag of the United States
be fifteen stripes, alternate red and
white; that the union be fifteen stars,
white in blue field"
This flag was the national banner
from 1895 to 1918, during which period
occurred the war of 1912 with Great
Britain. But soon five additional
States-Tennessee, Ohio, Louisiana, In.
diana and Mississippi i-were admitted to
the Union, and required representation
on the flag. So Congress, on April 4,
1918, enacted: ,.a
81. That from and after the 4th day
of July next, the flag of the United
States be thirteen horizontal stripes,
alternate red and white; that the union
have twenty stars, white in blue
field"
"2. That ON the admission of every
new State into the Union, one new star
be added to the union of the flag, and
that such addition shall take effect on
the Fourth of July next succeeding