The Yale expositor., 1908-07-03

III
The colonies, of course,
lived under the British flag. In 1850
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 a 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 a
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 new flag
was improvised with the motto of the
state OF Connecticut, viz, "Qui trans
tult 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 a red banner on Pros
pect hill with the motto can Appeal
TO Heaven" The colony of Massa
chusetts sent out cruisers in the
spring, supplying each with a white
flag on which was painted a green
pine tree. When armed vessels were
commissioned in Washington they
were 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 q
white crescent on a blue ground. This
was unfurled on the east bastion oil
the fortress in Charleston harbor, June
%, 1776, while on the opposite side
waved the flag called the Great
Union"
June II, 1777, the Continental con
gress, realizing the appropriateness
of longer using British colors, resolved
that the flag of the 10 United States
] be 13 stripes, alternate red and white
that the union be 13 stars, white in q
blue field, representing a new con
stellation."
The first national flag after this pat
tern was made by Mrs. Ross, 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
thimble, 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 10 stars of the flag of III
were arranged in a circle, although
lneT6 was nO OIHCldlly prescribed
form. In 1894. after the admission
of Vermont and Kentucky into the
union, 1t was resolved by congress
that from and after May 1, 1895. "tht
flag of the United States be Is stripes
alternate red and white, that the unior
be Is stars, white. in a blue field.
No provision was made by this ac
| for future alterations, nor were any
changes made till 1918, although
number of new states were admitted
meanwhile into the union. On Apri
of that year a bill embodying the
suggestions of Capt. Samuel G. Reid
who recommended the reduction o.
the stripes to the original 13 and the
adoption of stars equal TO the number
of the states, formed into one large
star, and a new star to be added OF
the Fourth of July next succeeding the
admission of each new state, was ap
proved by President Monroe. and the
/ nnu tins established was afterwarf