Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1904-07-14
AMERICAN FLAG IN BATTLE.
Record Of the Union Standard from
the Battle Of Brandywine to
.- That Of Santiago.

Although the resolution by which The
nag became national standard was not
ofdcially promulgated by the secretary
OF congress until September 3, 1777, 1t
seems well authenticated that the regr-
lation stars and stripes was carried ct
the battle Of Erandywine, fought Sep
TENDER II, 1777 This shows. says the
Philadelphia Record, that the contract
entered into by Betsy Ross must have
been carried out with great expedition,
and that the flags had been distributed
among the line regiments Of the revo-
lutionary army early in September. The
flag first displayed In battle at Brandy
wine Creek had Is stripes, alternate red
and white, and as union 10 white stars
were displayed on blue field.
The flag which was carried by the men
in blue and buff during the battles Of the
revolution remained unchanged until
the first day OF May, 1895, when, by
previous act Of congress, two additional
stripes were added to the body of the
standard and two stars to the union.
These additions were made to represent
the states Of Vermont and Kentucky,
which had just been admitted to the fed
eral union. Az NO further change was
made in the national flag until 1918, it
follows that the regimental colors car
Red during the war of 1872 were Of this
design. Thus the American flags sur
rendered by Gen. Hull at Detroit, and
those captured by the British at Bladens-
burg and Washington must all have dis
played Is alternate red and white stripes,
as well as the Is stars in the union.
In 1878, by an act of congress, the
stripes Of the national flag were again
reduced to 10, and 1t was declared that
he addition of star to the union should
henceforward represent each new state.
newspaper of the time. still kept In
he government archives, said: by
his regulation the 10 stripes will repre-
emit the number of states whose valor
nd resources originally effected Amer I
an independence, and additional stars
I'LL mark the increase Of the states since r
be present constitution" From this s.
me on the increase of stars In the con- q
which formed the union was
.eady, and during the war with Mexico, CT
1846, 20 white stars were displayed In @
le blue field. M
The flags borne by the regiments Of tr
e northern army during the four years
the great civil war had 30 stars In the Pi
lion. This was the full number Of er
ates then forming the national feder- X
ion, as the United States government Al
d refused to recognize the constitu-
1nal right Of state to secede from the of
lion. The retention Of the stars rep M,
senting the southern states was re- dr.
rded as serious breach Of military stl
quette by the more punctilious OF the
moderate leaders. and the capture Of tn,
Q Of the federal standards was always Su
III rewarded blythe authorities ct Rich gie
md. ist
The regimental flags carried by the Oh
yular and volunteer regiments during ~
} Spanish war Of 1898 displayed Is
~ in the blue field Of the union, ten
" states having been added to the fed ma
tion since the great civil struggle 4
ich % nearly severed the republic.
is was also the first foreign war IN 70
ich the state troops Of the reunited ant
ntfy appeared IN the Geld together at!
It was the nrst occasion on which tat