Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1899-07-05
IMPROVlSED FLAGS.
Ingenious Makeshift Banners of Our
FOrefathers.

Ingenious Makeshift Banners of Our
Forefathers.
In days when at the smallest occasion
for patriotic display myriads of starry
flags fill the air, from the beautiful broad
striped silken banner to the flaglets wav-
ing in tiny hands, we scarcely realize that
there was a time when to possess an
American flag often required the exercise
of ingenuity and sacrifice.
In an orderly book of the Revolutionary
army. dated short time before the stars
were placed upon our striped banner, the
following entry is found: "The colonies
are desired to provide themselves with
some colors if they are to be procured. 1t
doth not signify of what sort they are. -
The very first starry flag that waved
over military action was hastily con-
structed at Fort Schuyler. The fort was
without flag when the enemy appeared,
and there was much hurrying to and fro
within the walls in search of the coveted
red, white and blue. Soldiers offered their
| ammunition shirts of white linen to be
cut in stripes There was no difficulty
about the red, for a fine scarlet cloak of
| that color that had been taken from the
stripes for the new flag For the blue
there was much searching and stitching
| together of small pieces, but the late after
| noon sunlight gilded the flag, which,
completed in accordance with the pre-
scribed pattern. foafed from the. bastion.
| In less than week five of the enemy S
| colors were displayed beneath it, all taken
| in successful sally from the fort.
The first star strewn banner shown in
| California was also constructed from the
clothing of the persons who raised it, not
| however, in token of possession nor for
| warlike intent. Sent ashore at San Diego
| for the curing of hides, they wearied of
t.she lonely life, barren of comforts and
ikeocial joy. Two gentlemen in charge of
INhe party seized upon the idea of construct
| ing and mounting the national standard,
in hope of calling the attention of some of
the distant ships, of which, at long inter
walls, they caught glimpse. In quick
i response to their signal came the good
ship Washington, from the Sandwich Is
lands, sailing under the American colors
Sympathy good cheer and companionship
were obtained through the flag, but doubt
less none of the party dreamed of the time
when in right of possession the Union
flag should gracefully wave over the Gold
en- Gate of California.
| Undeterred by the fact that Humboldt
had tried it and pronounced it impossible,
a daring party of army and navy officers,
soldiers and sailors, attempted the ascent
of Mount Orizaba. Three only of the Al
| who started reached the summit to behold
| the wonderful panorama spread out for
| their enjoyment. A flag, constructed the
evening before from the sailors shirts,
Midshipman Rogers contributing awhile
one to complete it, was planted by them
and left floating from the heights that had
been untrodden before by the foot of man.
To bear our star spangled banner into
unbroken wilds to mark with it conquest
and achievement to grace with its waving
folds each hard won moral victory, has
been the joy of the heroes of our past. To
those who are now gaining education be-
meath its protection belongs the future.
May they devote themselves to the flag
and plant it ever higher.-Forward.