The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1914-06-26
HISTORIC FLAGS

One of the most conspicuous features
of the historical exhibits in the United
States National Museum at Washing
ton, ID. c., Is the flag collection, which
includes some twenty examples Of the
American flag, and shows its develop
ment in the different historical periods.
While there are no early colonial
flags, such as were used by the several
colonies before the flag of the United
States was established by Congress on
June IA. 1777, a fine example of the
first true United States ensign is
shown. Representative of the stars
and-stripes type is a flag said to have
been flown ON the Bonhomme Richard,
under command of Admiral John Paul
Jones. This flag measures l0h feet
by ga feet. on December Is, 1884, il
was presented To Lieut.. James BayOrd
Stafford, u. 5. N. by the marine com
mittee of the Continental Congress, as
a reward for meritorious services dur
ing the Revolution. II came into the
possession of the Smithsonian Institu-
ton AZ gift from Mrs. Harriet II.
Perry Stafford.
Another flag of the very highest his
toric value is the original Star Spang-
led Banner" of Keys anthem. which
waved over Fort McIIenry during the
bombardment of September 1914, 1914.
and which was presented to the Smith
sonian Institution by Eben Appleton.
The Fort McHenry flag is of the type
having fifteen stars and stripes, adopt
ed in 1884, upon the addition of the
states OF Vermont and Kentucky. This
type went into effect in 1855 and con-
tinued To be the standard until 1918,
when Congress returned To the origi
nal thirteen stripes and made provis-
| ion for the addition of a star for each
new state. The original Star Spang-
led Banner" which is very large,
measuring 2S feet by 80 feet, is being
remounted on line for preservation and
exhibition.
Several flags recall wildly the Next
| can war OF lS46-47. Among them is the
| flag Of thirteen stripes. with an eagle
J in the field, carried throughout the war
| by the battalion Of volunteers which
enlisted from Baltimore and Washing
| ton, and hoisted in Victoria City, Mex
| leo; also the flag of Mexico, hauled
down at this time. The flag of Co. l.,
| Fourth regiment of Indiana volunteers,
| which was presented by the command
| ing officer. Capt. Robert Fravel, and
carried in the Mexican war, is also to
be seen.
| An incident relating to our flag in
Mexico was recently brought out on
the occasion Of the presentation of a
replica of the Star Spaneled Banner"
To the National Society of the Sons of
the American Revolution. Gen. Simon
Bolivar Buckner stated that shortly
after the Mexican war it had been his
privilege To lead "a party of American
officers to the summit of Mount Popo-
catapetl where he planted his coun-
try's flag, in imitation of the early
Spaniards.
Recent researches on the history of
our flag indicate that the STARS and
Stripes" was not carried by troops in
battle until the period of the Mexican
war. Up to that time, although it was
used by the army as garrison Nag
and flown on all warships, only the ma
tional standard, bearing the coat-of-
arms of the United States, and the
regimental colors were carried by land
forces.
Pertaining To the Civil war are nine
flags. The garrison flag of Fort Moul-
trie, s. c., lowered when the command
evacuated that fort To assemble at Fort
Sumter, December 26, 1860: the re-
mains of the flag carried in the three
days flight at Salem Heights, Va, May
3-5, 1863, wien three color sergeants
were killed, though the standard never
faltered or fell to the ground; head
quarters flag of Brevet Maj Gen
William Babcock HaZen, comprising
large white star on field half red anC
blue. representative of the rank oi
brigadier- general; Gen. HaZen's garri-
son IldB IOlSttu 1T Tpll h'Ehli''''' N''
after the surrender of the fort to tn,
Union army, December -, 1864; the
flag flown on the u. :. :. kearsarg'
when she defeated the Alabama, de-
posted in the National Museum by
Lieut.. Herbert Winslow, son of Reai
Admiral Winslow, commander of thu
Kearsarge during this action; thirty
fve-star flag flown after the capture
of Richmond, April, 1865; headquarters
flag of MAJ. -Gen. f.. O. G. ord, received
from his son, Lieut.. James 7. ord; flal
of the First Rifles. Pennsylvania vol
unteers, found i'm the capitol at Rich
mond, in 1865; and the flag raised a
New orleans by it's citizens upon tn
occupation of the city by the Uniol
forces under Gen. Il. +. Butler, May
1862.
; The museum collection contains flag
of many sorts and types carried In tn
war with Spain. including sevefa
Spanish standards; "A flag of truce EN-
ployed by Lieut.. t. X. Brainard for tn
release Of two newspaper men iron
: Havana, Cuba, and later for the re