The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1904-09-29
THE BOOMING CANNON
RECITALS OF CAMP AND BAT.
TILE INCIDENTS.
Survivors Of the Rebellion Relate
Many Amusing and Startling Incl
dents Of Marches, Camp Life, Forag-

Although the resolution by which
the flag became a national standard
Tas not officially promulgated by the
secretary Of Congress until Sept 3,
1777 it seems well authenticated that
the regulation stars and stripes was
carried at the battle of Brandywine.
fought Sept. IL. 1777. This shows,
says the Philadelphia Record, that the
contract entered by Betsy Ross must
have been carried out with great ex-
petition, and that the flags had been
distributed among the line regiments
/ OF the revolutionary army early in
September. The flag first displayed
in battle at Brandywine Greek had
thirteen stripes, alternate red and
white. and as union thirteen white
stars were displayed on a blue field.
The flag which was carried by the
men in blue and buff during the bat
ties Of the revolution remained un-
changed until the first day Of May,
1875, when, by previous act Of Con-
gress, two additional stripes were add
ed to the body of the standard and
two stars to the union. These addi-
lions were made to represent the
States Of Vermont and Kentucky,
which had just been admitted to the
Federal union. AS no further changes
| were made in the national flag until
1913, it follows that the regimental
| colors carried during the war Of 1912
were Of this design Thus the Ameri-
can flag surrendered by General Hull,
| at Detroit and those captured by the
British at Bladenburg and Washing
ton, must all have displayed fifteen
| alternate red and white stripes, as
| well as the fifteen stars in the union.
In 1913, by an act of Congress, the
| stripes Of the national flag were again
| reduced to thirteen, and 1t was de-
| clared that the addition of a star to
| the union should henceforth represent
each new State. A newspaper of the
time. still kept in the government arch
| ives. said: "By this regulation the
thirteen stripes will represent the num-
Der Of States whose valor and re-
sources originally effected American
independence, and additional stars
will mark the increase of the States
since the present constitution" From
this time on the increase of stars in
| the constitution which formed the un-
ion was steady, and during the war
with Mexico, in 1876, Twenty-Five
white stars were displayed in the blue
| field.
The flags borne by the regiments Of
the Northern army during the four
years of the Civil War had thirty-five
stars In the union. This was the full
number of States then forming the ma
tional federation, as the United States
government had refused to recognize
the constitutional right Of State to
secede from the union. The retention
Of the stars representing the Southern
States was regarded as q serious
breach Of military etiquette by the
more punctilious Of the Confederate
leaders, and the capture of standards
was always rewarded by the authori-
lies at Richmond.
The regimental flags carried by the
regular and volunteer regiments dur
Ing the Spanish war Of 1898 displayed
forty-fve stars in the blue field Of the
union, ten new States having been
added to the federation since the
great Civil War which so nearly sew
cred the republic. This was also the
first foreign war in which State trops
Of the reunited country appeared in
the field together, and it was the first
occasion on which former Confederate
officers of high rank resumed the uni
form of the United States service. The
great garrison flag which was hoisted
over Santiago after the surrender Of
the city by the Spanish commandant
measured twenty feet In width by thir-
ty feet in length, the forty-fve white
stars which formed the union showing
distinctly against the bright blue Of
the field.-Arnerican Tribune.