The Springfield herald., 1908-07-03

lived under the British flag. In 1851
the flag of New England was white.
charged with st. Georges cross in red
surmounted with the crown. In the
center was inscribed Jacobus Rex.
While Manhattan was in possession OF
the Dutch the ships waved flag on
which was a beaver. the then insignia
of the New Netherlands. 1907 the
colonies adopted the Union Jack Of
Great Britain. This was formed by
combination OF st. Andrews and St
Georges crosses, and Of course was
typical of the fact that the two coun
tries had become one when Queen
Elizabeth died and the Scottish king
succeeded to the English throne.
At the time of our revolt from Brit
ish authority the Union Jack was in
general use, usually bearing some
patriotic motto OF which Liberty and
Union was the favorite. Directly aft
er the battle of Lexington a new flag
was improvised with the motto of the
state OF Connecticut, viz, "Qui trans
tulit sustinet" This soon gave way
to regimental colors. each being dis
tinctive in shade. At Bunker Hill a
blue flag was chosen to designate New
England troops-the first sign we see
Of union in the colonial army. This
flag had st. Georges cross In one
corner. 1t was growing beautifully
less within our limits and soon after.
wards disappeared when Gen. Put
nam displayed red banner on Pros
pect hill with the motto IAN Appeal
to Heaven" The colony of Massn-
chusetts sent out cruisers In the
spring. supplying each with white
flag on which was painted green
pine tree. When armed vessels were
commissioned in Washington they
we're furnished with flags of similar
kind.
To Col. William Moultrie OF South
Carolina is due the honor of raising
the first republican flag. 1t had a
white crescent on a blue ground. This
was unfurled on the east bastion of
the fortress in Charleston harbor June
2S, 1875. while on the opposite side
waved the flag called the Great
Union"
June IA. 1877. the Continental con.
gress, realizing the appropriateness
that the flag Of the 13 United States
be 13 stripes, alternate red and white;
that the union be 13 stars. white in n
blue field. representing a new con.
stellation."
The first national flag after this pat
tern was made by Mrs. Ross, a lady
of Philadelphia. She had some dis
tinguished men to assist her, among
whom were Benjamin Franklin and
Gen. Joseph Reed We are not in
formed whether these men, appointed
by congress for the purpose, used the
thlmble. needle and thread that the
lady herself employed. From her gen
eral character 1t Is probable that Mrs.
Ross declined to let them boss the
Job" and proceeded In her own way.
The 13 stars of the flag of 1777
were arranged in a circle, although
there was no officially prescribed
form. In 1894. after the admission
of Vermont and Kentucky into the
union, it was resolved by congress
that from and after May 1, 1895, 'the
flag of the United States be 15 stripes
alternate red and white. that the union
be Is stars, white, in a blue field"
No provision was made by this act
for future alterations. nor were any
changes made till 1918, although a
number of new states were admitted
meanwhile into the union. On April
4 of that year a bill embodying the
suggestions of Capt Samuel G. Reid,
who recommended the reduction of
the stripes to the original 13 and the
adoption of stars equal to the number
of the states. formed into one large
star and new star to be added on
the Fourth of July next succeeding the
admission of each new state, was ap-
proved by President Monroe. and the
flag thus established was afterward
hoisted on the hall of representatives.