The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1900-06-22
SOME FAMOUS FLAGS.
HISTORIC SHREDS THAT TELL AN IN
TERESTlNG STORY.
These Bits of Bunting Are Eloquent
i. Reminders of Our Early Naval
: Victories From the Time of the
Revelation Down to 1914.

These Bits of Bunting Are Eloquent
Reminders OF Our Early Naval
Victories From the Time of the
Revelation Down to 1914.
There is an interesting historical collec-
ton in the library OF congress 1t con-
sists Of remnants of flags which were
flown from the vessels that are famous in
the history of the country. This collec-
tion was found among the possessions,
which included all sorts old literary oddi-
ties and valuable collection Of auto
graphs. left by the late Peter Force, q ma
tive Of New Jersey, whose father was a
veteran Of the Revolution. Force held
many military and civil offices in Wash
ington. He died there in 1868.
The.bits of flags have been carefully
preserved in a large album between
brown paper leaves, each leaf bearing the
record and something Of the. history Of
the patch Of bunting attached to it. The
most striking part of the exhibit is that
devoted to Perry's captures on Lake
Erie in September, 1913. There is a
piece of the flag which was flown from
Perry's flagship in the contest made
memorable by his warning, Don't give
lid IUG SulD. 1utlc uiC uiSO PASSSS VI
the flags of the ships of the enemy cap
tured on that occasion-the Queen Char
lotte, Little Belt, Lady Provost, Manton
and Chippeway.
Another interesting remnant is that Of
the Tag of the Alliance, the ship which
was of the feet John Paul Jones formed
in France, with the Bonhomme Richard
ms flagship, the purpose of which was the
attacking of British ships during the
Revolution. 1t was the Alliance which
took an insignificant part, to the discred-
it of her eccentric commander, French
man named Landais, in the fight with the
Scraps. The bit of flag is of that car
ried during the fight.
Another interesting flag represented is
that OF L'Insurgente. This flag was cap
tured by Trlxtun, who commanded the
Constellation in an engagement on Feb.
8, 1890. 1t was the first opportunity that
had occurred since the close of the Reyo-
luton for an American naval vessel to
get alongside Of an enemy, and the hopes
Of the American officers and men for q
spirited combat were realized, for the
French frigate, under Captain Rarreault,
promptly replied to the CONSULTATIONS
fire. In this contest q young midship-
man, David Porter, performed his first
act of gallantry. He was in command Of
the foretop of the Constellation and, act
ing on his own responsibility, prevented
the fall of the topmast and all its ham,
per. The victory achieved by Truztun
produced great joy in America and estab-
lished faith in the navy which has re-
manned mistaken to this day.
A bit of flag which is also memorable
Is that Of lie Berceau, captured by the
Boston, under Captain Little. The Amer
ican ship wrought great havoc on board
the French coryet, which had the rep
utation of being one Of the fastest ships
in the French marine.
4 celebrated shred is that of the flag
of the Guerrero, taken in the famous
fight with the Constitution, under Hull.
This was the contest where each side
displayed the supreme art of seamanship
and naval strategy, and Dacres, COM
mander of the Guerriere, suffered no loss
of professional fame by the defeat, so
signal was his efficient handling of his
vessel. 1t was the first serious conflict
in the war of 1872. The flag was taken
down by Lieutenant George Campbell
Read, who was in command of the prize
crew and who, on finding the Guerrero
was sinking, set fire to the wreck.
The English ship Macedonian, which
was captured by Decatur in October,
1872, is also represented in the collection.
The capture Of the Macedonian added to
the glory of Decatur, who had carried the
ship into New York with another Brit
ish vessel captured at the same time. The
flag of the Frolic. captured in November.
1872, by the sloop Wasp, under Jacob
Jones, is also represented. In the ex.
hiblt are also two pieces Of flags Of tie
Reindeer and Avon. captured by the
Wasp, under Blakely, the former in July
and the latter in September. 1914.
The Constitution in December. 1912,
cambridge having succeeded Hull, cap
tured the Java, and the flag Of the latter
ship contributes a strip to the Force col
lection. There is piece of the flag of
the Peacock, captured in February, 1913.
by Lawrence on the Hornet. This was
the flag which, after half an hours fight
ing. was not only lowered, but rehoisted,
union down, In the forerigging as n sig
nal of distress. The Peacock suddenly
sank, and the two American prize officers
and most Of the men saved themselves
only after great exertion. The American
ship Peacock. under Captain Warning
ton, captured the British frigate Epcr-
Vier in April, 1914, and the flag of the
defeated ship is represented in the col
lection. In September Of the same year
Burrows, a somewhat eccentric but pop
MAR officer of great courage, captured the
Boxer. He forfeited his life in the en-
gagement. being but % years old. A
piece Of the flag Of the Boxer is in the
exhibit.
Macdonough's victories on Lake Cham
plain. achieved in 1914. are represented
by the remnants Of the flags of the Con-
fance, Linnet and Chubb. The last of
the naval flags in the exhibit is that Of
the Levant, which terminated the mar
velous exploits of the Constitution. "OId
Ironsides," as she had come to be endear-
ingly termed. She was then under Stew
art.
Many Of the actions which these flags
represent established the fame of our
naval officers. Congress in many in
stances bestowed medals for the gal
lantry there displayed.-Chicago Inter
Ocean.
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