The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-02-13
Interesting Facts About
the National Flag.
Patriots Bore Several Devices
In Early Battles.
Restaurant That Is Made OF Paper.
vagarics of Brick Paving.

Yesterday was Flag Day in the public
schools, and the pupils no doubt learned
sll lbout the history Of the national en-
blem. There are probably, howevsr.a good
many persons whose school days ended
many years sgo, who are not very familiar
with the origin OF the flag OF this land OF
the free and home OF the brave. For sach
a brief sketch may prove of some interest
and value. In colonial days each colony
had its peculiar ensign an d the army and
navy OF the United colonies at first dis
played various fsgs, some colonial and
Others regimenta. At tho Battle OF Bun
ker Hill the Americans carried what
was called the New England flag. 1t had
a blue ground with red cross OF ST.
George in a corner, quartering white
held, while in the upper dexter quarter
ing was the figure OF pine tree. Besides
this the New Englanders bad pine tree
flag as we'll ns pine tree shilling. When
the Culpsppee minute men marched with
Patrick Henry towards Williamsburg to
demand the instant restoration OF powder
to the old magazine they carried sloft
flag with rattle snake on IL ready to
strike with Henry's words, "Liberty or
DEATH" on either side of the reptile, and
"Don't Tread on Me" underneath.
The first American flag with thirteen
red and white stripes Is believed to have
tecn presented to the Philsdelphis Light
Horse Company by Captain Abraham
Markoe, q Dane, early in l775. Mention is
also made of the display of a "Union
Flag" at a gathering OF Wings in Savan-
nan in June 1875. The earliest naval
flags had thirteen alternate white and red
strives, some with pine tree on them
ana others with rattlesnake stretched
across the stripes with the words OF
warning "Dont..rread on Me-" new
Union flag raissd at Cambridge, January
I, IT'S was made or thfrtesn alternate
red and white stripes with the Eng lish
union In one corner. The necessity for
q national flag began to be more and
more felt, especially for the marine SER
vice. This need was recognized by the
Continental Congress which on June IA,
1777, passed the following resolution:
Resolved, That the Tag OF the United
States be thirteen stripes, alternate red
and white; that the union be thirteen
stars, white on a blue field, representing
q new constellation" For some rea OF
or other this resolution was not osici ally
promulgated until September 8, though
the text was printed esrlisr In tho news
papers.
1t is generally thought that the first
displsy at military post, OF the national
flag as adopted by Congress was at Fort
Schuyler, now Rome. Oneida county, n.
Y. Tbe fort was beseigeo In the early
part Of August. 1777, aud the garrison be-
ing without nag proceeded to make enc
with such materials ss were at hand. The
men cut up sheets TO form the white
stripes and pieces Of scarlet cloth for the
red stripes. The blue ground for the
sr,rs was made of part of cloth cloak
teltn ig TO LaptainA brehsm Swartwont
of Ducness county. Tnis flag wss first
thrown to the breeze over Fort Schuyler,
August 5, i777. Paul Jones who was ap-
pointed to the command of the Ranger
June IA, 1777. claimed he was the first
to display the stars and stripes on a naval
vessel. The Ranger sailed from Porte
mouth, N. H., Nov.1, 1777. The national
flag was unfu led in battle probably for
tie first time On the banks Of the Brandy
wine, pi.Eii.l777. It.nrst foatod over q