Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1904-10-01
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, Forax-
ing Experiences and Battle Scenes.

Although the resolution by which
the flag became a national standard
was not officially promulgated by the
secretary of Congress until Sept. 3.
III, Ii seems well authenticated that
the regulation stars and stripes was
carried at the battle of Brandywine,
fought Sept Il. 1TT7. 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 Creek had
thirteen stripes, alternate red and
white, and as a union thirteen white
stars were displayed on blue field.
The flag which was carried by the
men in blue and bun during the bat
ties OF the revolution remained I'M
changed until the first day of May.
1875, when, by a previous act Of Con
gress, two additional stripes were add
ed 10 the body OF the standard and
two stars to the union. These addi-
tions We're 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
ISIS, Ii follows that the regimental
colors carried during the war of 1912
were of this design. Thus the Ameri-
ran flag surrendered by General Hun,
hit 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 1918, by an act of Congress, the
stripes Of the national flag were again
reduced TO thirteen, and it 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 i'm
the constitution which formed the I'M
ion was steady, and during the war
nrffh In,
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 serious
breach of military etiquette by the
more punctilious OF the Confederate
leaders and the capture OF standards
was always rewarded by the authori-
ties at Richmond
The regimental flags carried by the
regular and volunteer regiments dur
ing the Spanish war of 1898 displayed
forty-five stars in the blue field OF the
union, ten new States having been
added to the liberation 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 hoistcd
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.-American Tribune.