Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1914-07-17
AMERICAN FLAGS
Twenty Historical Specimens Exhibit
ed in National Museum.


flag collection, which includes some
twenty examples of the American flag
and shows it's development in the diff
ferent 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 flag said to have
flown on the Bonhomme Richard, un-
der command of Admiral John Paul
Jones. This flag measures 1O3 feet by
61 feet. On December 13, 1884, it was
presented to Lieut.. James Bayard
Stafford, U. S. N, by the marine COM
mittee of the Continental congress, as
ing the Revolution. 1t came into the
possession of the Smithsonian Institu-
ton as a gift from Mrs. Harriet R.
Perry Stafford.
toric value is the original Star Span
gled Banner of Keys anthem. which
waved over Fort McHenry during the
bombardment of September 1914, 1914
and which was presented to the Smith
sonian Institution by Mr.. Eben Apple
ton. The Fort McHenry flag is Of the
type having fifteen stars and stripes,
adopted in 1884, upon the addition of
the states of Vermont and Kentucky.
This type went into effect in 1885 and
continued to be the standard until
1918, when congress returned to the
original thirteen stripes and made pro-
vision for the addition Of star for
each new state. The original Star
Spangled Banner" which is very large,
measuring 90 feet by 80 feet, is being
remounted on linen for preservation
and exhibition.
Several flags recall vividly the Mex
lean war of 1S46-47. Among them is
the flag of thirteen stripes, with an
eagle in the field carried throughout
the war by the battalion Of volunteers
which enlisted from Baltimore and
Washington, and hoisted in Victoria
City, Mexico; also the flag of Mexico,
hauled down at this time. The flag OF
Company /, 4th regiment Of Indiana
volunteers, which was presented by the
commanding officer Capt. Robert Fra
vel 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
replica of the Star Spangled Banner
to the National Society of the Sons OF
the American Revolution. Gen. ST.
mon Bolivar Buckner stated that short
ly after the Mexican war it had been
his privilege to lead q party of Ameri-
can officers to the summit of Mount
Popocatapetl, where he planted his
country's flag, in imitation of the ear
ly 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 fag'
and flown on all warships, only the
National 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
remains of the flag carried in the three
days fight at Salem Heights, Va, May
3-5, 1863, when three color sergeants
were killed, though the standard never
faltered or fell to the ground; head
quarters flag of Brevet Major Gen.
William BabcOck HaZen. comprising a
large white star on field half red and
blue, representative of the rank OF
brigadier general; Gen. HaZen's garrl-
son flag. hoisted at Fort McAllister,
Ga, after the surrender Of the fort to
the Union army, December l3, 1864;
the flag flown on the L. ). >. kear-
sarge when she defeated the Alabama,
deposited in the National Museum by
Lieut.. Herbert Winslow, son of Rear
Admiral Winslow, commander of the
Kearsarge during this action; a 30
star flag flown after the capture of
Richmond, April, 1865; headquarters
flag of Major Gen. f. O. G. Ord, receiv-
ed from his son, Lieut.. James 7. Ord;
flag of the First Rifles, Pennsylvania
volunteers, found in the Capital at
Richmond. in 1865, and the flag raised
at New Orleans by its citizens upon the
occupation of the city by the Union
forces, under Gen. b. +. Butler, May !,
1862
The museum collection contains flags
of many sorts and types carried In the
war with Spain, including several
Spanish standards; flag of truce en-
ployed by Lieut.. +. r. Brainard for the
release of two newspaper men from
Havana, Cuba, and later for the re-
lease of Lieut.. Hobson and his sailors
after the destruction of the Merrimac;
and Commodore Schley's pennant flown
from the L. s. S. Brooklyn, July 3,
1898.
A collection from the state depart
ment includes Il series of siNty-seVen
flags of different nations.
The following miscellaneous flags
are also of interest: Flag owned by
Admiral Charles Wilkes, L. S. A.; a
flag made of the first silk raised in the
United States; the American Colors
flown at the North Pole by Rear Ad-
mral Peary in 1909; also the flag of
the Navy League the flag carried by
the Smithsonian African expedition
under the command of Col. Theodore
Roosevelt in 1909-10, and many other
examples of the national ensign which
has flown in so many notable engage
mcnts Exchange.
Praise.-EpictetuS the philosopher,
was lame When he was Il young man
his master had twisted his leg until ii
broke EpiCtctuS writes: "DO you