The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1905-06-29

kIIVWH 10 HISIOTy. UL
! a Saturday, June IA. 1777
Row the Continental Congress
resolved THAT the flag of the thirteen
United States be thirteen stripes, alter
nate rcd and white. that the Union be
thirteen stars, white in blue field.
representing Il new constella ton" 4
great variety of flags, in number equal.
perhaps. TO the kinds of uniforms
worn, had been carried by the patriotic
troops of the Revolution. COnspicuou:
among them WAS the yellow flag bear
iu@ a rattlcsnake and the motto. Don t
tread on me- which Paul Jones heisted
over the first flagship of the patriot
navy. more appropriate ensign for
us" while the patriots as cOlOnists were
fighting for their rights as British citi-
E"nS was that displayed on the Royal
Savage schooner. under Arnold at the
battle of Lake Champlain, for it had
thirteen stripes, alternate red and
white, with the British Union in the
corner
But once the colonies had declared
their independence new flag was
needed. and it was developed from the
old one OF the Royal Savage. Wash
ington himself. George Ross, of Pbila-
dclphia. and Robert Norris designed
the flag. and good Mrs. Betsy Ross,
at her home, No. 239 Arch street
Philadelphia, sewed the bunting. The
thirteen stripes to represent the thir-
teen States were retained. and then a
union Of thirteen white stars on blue
field. Il constellation that was to
a>tound the astronomers of politics i'll
more ways than one. took the place Of
the British Union.
The exact time when the flag was
unfurIcd over the halls Of Congress is
not matter of record. but when it was
FIRST hackened with the smoke of bat
Il" We know right well. While Betsy
f0SS WAS stitching the flag together
Burgoyna was marching down through
the wilderness by the way of Lake
Champaign to meet the BritiGh army
that WAS to come up the Hudson from
New York. TO aid in crushing the
PATRIOTS that. under Schuyler. were Op-
with 100 men. chiefly Tories and
Indians. to OswegO. whence he
marched down to the head of the Mo
hawk Valley where Rome now stands.
III" Mohawk Valley was the home of
I'll" Tories. No part of the country
could show Il greater proportion OF
them, hut the patriots had taken to
the field in surprising numbers and
with mistaken faith. Fort Stanwix,
at the site of Rome. was manned by
Gto men under Col Peter GansevoOrt.
and Col. Marinus Willett was with
him.
On August 3, III, st. Leger arrived
before this fort and demanded its sur
render under pain of the slaughter
OF the garrison by the Indians. But
GdnsevoOrt in emphatic language de-
clinpd. though short of provisions anu
ammunition How siege followed;
how the patriotic general, Nicholas
Herkimer. started up the Mohawk Val
ley to relieve Gansevoort; how he was
ambused by st. Leger's force at Oris-
kany. and how during the hot hours
That followed his men stood in circle
and fought hand to nand one of the
most bloody battles of the Revolution,
Heed not be told. But while the battle
FACED. Colonel N'illett sailed from the
Tort, drove the British from their camp,
captured flags. papers and baggage,
and returned in triumph. 1t was a
Splendid SOrtie and it was made under
tie flag \ most curious combina tiOn