New-York tribune., 1901-09-22
THE AMERICAN FLAG.
LITTLE AUTHORITY FOR THE ASSERTION
THAT 1T WAS FIRST FLOATED IN
BATTLE AT coocH's BRIDGE.
To the Editor of The Tribune

To the Editor of The Tribune
Sir: Can you inform where and at what time
the stars and Stripes were first unfurled in battle
CT the land? In issue of September IT ix
stated that the date was September s. IN and
the occasion the engagement between General
washington and General Howe at Cooch's Brtdr.
Delaware. where September 8 1901 Chief Jus
oce Lore president Of the Historical Society OF
Delaware. presided 1T the unvelling of A MANN
ment to commemorate this event. and the pre.i-
dent of the National Society Sons Of the Areri
can Revolution. was one of the orators OF the day
mao always supposed that II vas August s.
Ia, in the bloody battle Of I'riskany in this
state, that our starry banner. the American
standard. was first raised in victorious battle
And the flag .tsef was made by the unskled
but heroic hands OF the garrison at Fort Stanwix
Shirts were cut up" says the historian LOSING
TO form the white stripes. bits of scarlet clotb
were joined for the red. and the blue ground ro-
the stars was composed of a cloth cloak belong
ing to captain Abraham Swartwout. OF Dutche,s
county, who was then In the fort"
1t was underneath the folds OF this flag TIM.
brave Colonel Willett bore in triumph from the
battlefield five captured British flags as we'll a,
much baggage and provisions
Oriskany was well named in the Indian tonrus
the place of nettles. and it was out OF these
nettles of danger brave Nicholas Herkirrer p,cks1
the rose of safety for not only the Mohawk Val
ley but the whole nation.
JOSIAH c. PUMPEI.LY.
New-York, Sept. H. 1901.
This letter submitted to Mr Edward Hav,.
man Hall. secretary of the American Scenic and
Historic Preservation Society. who says:
Il do not know the basis for the claim that IN.
stars and Stripes. after their adoption BY The
ContinenIal Congress. were first used in battle at
1Loochs Bridge. Delaware. September 3 ,773- All
Fort stanwx % For sSayef @heh sHe the stood S5sd5
1se site Of the city of Rome. " Y, at the time
the principal authorities: ''7' = ''''' e'''
;, Ths Rsr Pictorial Field Book Of the Revolution"
'on the ID Of August feutenants Bird and Rrsnt ssn
commence err1s I'd the Investment of the fort The
appeared But their pride and ingenuity soon san
emit Sons 80 s Shirts Ps'1sTn wTe 3 By
form the white stripes. bits of scarlet cloth were
stars was somposed Of cloth cloak belonging 70
Additional testimony to the source OF the rcd
ana blue materials is afforded by the following
rranS nhe ons 8Tisn ,s ss the Flag by The Hon.
painstaking monosraph which gyss spsn tbs eor Srs
Stanwix incident as authentic and quotes letter
Ganseyoort by Abraham swartwout. dated August
| ~ lis, In which he says: Agreeable 10 YOUR
Broad cloth in lieu Of my Blue coat WHICH vSs q,
Ssssd ssa for eolors at Fort Schuyler" a. e, Fort
a@,5S 9aF Satess1 sa1rs By SCHUYLER
sddress delivered before the New-York Historical
Society: June ~ 1871. recites the Fort Stanwix
displayed in battle the stars and Stripes Nv
agsa pSi5In daughter Of MaiorGenera
| furnished by the scarlet cloak OF one Of tbs
| women of the beIeaguered garrison. Such coaks
Our Flag by George Henry Preble u n
Joel Munsell. 1SI2D. gives valuable testimony not
! only on account of the authorship. but also on
account acc unit Of the authors method q procedure and
| publication. Following Proudhon's exarnp. ha
| hrst published newspaper article, which
! developments. during which he collected proved
| and revised his materials before venturing TO
print thsm - in per permanent form During that tms
Quoted extensive correspondence on the sub.
| ject- and il he had had occasion to doubt the
! would not have repeated 1t In his own book IN
almost the same words that Losing used. He be-
| gins his account of the Fort stanwix incident 81
| the flag we have to relate occurred the "a ot
| August, when Lieutenants Bird and Brant M
/ ed by Colonel Peter Gansevoort'' ..
Our Conntry's Flag" by Edward 8. Holden.
LID Ii, D. Cd Appleton & Co 1888 says: ~ n is
stripes was displayed az the Siege of Fort stanwiu
| in August, IITI.
The Stars and Stripes Were adopted as thu ma
| IA. III. :
| The Tribune Sunday Supplement- jus: prior 10
Gle the flag. which tried hard to relate the Fort
Stanwix incident: but put 1t in these words; The
original flag made by Mrs. Ross hoisted over
Sound. on August g. III" In The Tribune Of No.
venaber 6, 1885 you will see letter from me- stat
ing that the Fort Schuyler at which the flag was
Neck but Fort Stanwix. The flag not. either.
the original flag made by Mrs. Ross. but made
The inscription the monument dedicated at
Cooch's Bridge, Delaware, September 3. 1901. reads
follows:
| THE Stars and Stripes Were
! First Unfurled In Battle at
Cooch's Bridge
/ September g. 1TIl-