The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1914-06-25
HISTORIC FLAGS IN
NATIONAL MUSEUM


most conspicuous features OF the his
torical exhibits In the United States ma
tional museum Is the nag collection
collection which includes some 20 ex-
amples of the American flag and shows
It's development In the different histor-
ical 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
Juno /, 1777, fine example Of the first
true United States ensign Ia shown.
Representative OF the stars and stripes
type. Ia a flag said to have flown on the
Bonhomme Richard, under command
of Admiral John Paul Jones' It came
into the possession Of the Smithsonian
Institution as gift from Mrs. Harriet
r. Perry Stafford.
Another flag Of the very highest his
Spangled Banner" OF Keys anthem,
which waved over Fort McHenry dur
ing the bombardment of September 13-
IA, 1914, and which was presented to the
Smithsonian institution by Mr.. Eben
Appleton. The Fort McHenry flag Ia
Of the type having IS stars and stripes
adopted in 1874. upon the addition OK
the states OF Vermont and Kentucky.
This type went into effect In 1855 and
continued to be the standard until 1878
when congress returned to. the original
10 stripes and made provision for the
addition OF a star for each new state.
Several flags recall vividly the Mex
lean war OF 1S46-47. Among them Is the
flag OF 10 stripes. with an eagle In the
field, carried throughout the war by
the battalion OF volunteers which en-
listed from Baltimore and Washington,
and hoisted In Victoria City. Mexico;
also the flag OF Mexico, hauled down at
tVan Ha - NJ q II
Fourth regiment Of Indiana volunteers,
which presented by the commanding
officer, Capt. Robert Fravel, and car
ried in the Mexican war. 10 also to b
seen.
An incident relating to our flag In
Mexico was recently brought out on
the occasion OF the presentation Of q
replica OF the Star Spangled Banner"
to the national society OF the Sons OF
the American Revolution. General ST.
mon Bolivar BuciSner stated that short
ly after the Mexican war II had been
his privilege to lead a party Of Ameri-
can Officers to the summit OF Mount
Popocatapetl, where he planted his
country's nag. in imitation Of the early
Spaniards.
Recent researches on the history OF
our flag indicate that the Stars and
Stripes" We're not carried by troops in
battle until the period Of the Mexican
war. Up to that time. although II was
used by the army as a garrison flag,
and flown on all war ships, only the
national standard. bearing the coat OF
arms OF tie United States. and the
regimental colors were carried by land
forces.
Pertaining to the civil war are nine
flags; The garrison flag Of Fort Moult-
rie, $. c., lowered when the command
evacuated that fort to assemble at Fort
Sumter. December 20. 1860; the re-
mains Of the flag carried in the three
days fight at Salem Heights. Va,
May 3-5. 1863. when three color SER
geants were killed. though the standard
never faltered or fell to the ground;
headquarters flag of Brevet Major Gen.
William Babcock Hazen. comprising a
largo white star on field half red and
blue. representative Of the rank OF
garrison flag. hoisted at Fort Meal
1 lister Ca, after the surrender OF the
fort to the union army, December IS,
1864; the flag flown on the u. s. 8.
Kearsage when she defeated the Ala
bama. deposited In the National muse
UNI by Lieutenant Herbert Winslow,
son Of Rear Admiral Winslow. COM
mander of the Kearsage, during this
| action; 35-star flag, flown after the
/ capture OF Richmond, April, 1865;
headquarters flag OF Major General Z.
/ o. G. Ord, received from his son,
II =
First Rifles. Pennsylvania volunteers,
| found In the capital at Richmond, In
1865; and the flag raised at New Or
leans, by its citizens, upon the occu-
patton of the city by the union forces,
under General b. f, Butler. May I.
1862
The museum collection contains
| flags Of many sorts and types carried
| IN the war with Spain, including sew
eral Spanish standards, flag of truce
| employed by Lieut.. r. r. Brainard for
| the release of two newspapermen from
Havana, Cuba, and later for the re-
lease Of Lieut.. Hobson and his sailors
| after the destruction OF the Merrimac;
| and Commodore SchIeys pennant,
flown from the y. s. S. Brooklyn, July
1 3, 1898
A collection from the state depart
ment includes series of 81 flags Of
| different nations.
The following miscellaneous flags are
also of interest: Flag owned by
| Admiral Charles Wilkes, u. s.. N; a
flag made Of the first silk raised In the
/ United States; the American colors
| flown at the north pole by Rear Admiral
/ Peary in 1903; also the flag of the
navy league; the flag carried by the
4 Smithsonian African EXCEPTION under
i the command Of Theodore Roosevelt in
1909-10; and many other examples Of
| the national ensign which has flown In
| 80 many notable engagements.
II "