Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1917-06-29
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first American flag that came into existence after
the enactment of congress. AS evidence of the
theory they point to the IL stars instead OF ID
Had this flag had an official predecessor the mis-
take in the number Of stars would hardly have
occurred.
This historic standard kept intact by long and
loving care, shows It's age in much-frayed edges
and worn patches. The II stars, arranged IN
three parallel perpendicular rows, still stand out
stanchly on their unstable foundation, for the
blue field and the 10 red and white stripes have
grown pathetically threadbare.
The National museum contains a collection of
remnants of flags that participated in naval en-
gagements from the time Of the Revolutionary war
to the war with Mexico; also those Of foreign yes
sells of captured by the navy during those
periods. This display of fragments is quite inter-
esting. II was collected by Peter Force of Wash
ington and presented by him to the library OF
congress. which transferred it to the National
museum.
Among these remnants is piece of the Brit
lish flag of La Guerrero, used during hei' encoun-
ter with the Constitution and of the Java, worsted
by the same indomitabIe American as well as
fragment of the flag of the Algerine brig Zoura'
caDtured under Decatur.
division of the museums flag collection re-
lates to the Civil war, and the most interesting
of these Is the garrison flag of Fort Moultrie. in
Charleston harbor, South Carolina. This flag was
lowered December g. 1860, when NAL Robert
Anderson. First United States artillery, moved
his forces to Fort Sumter. The flag was secured
by his second In command, Capt. Abner Double
day. and remained in his possession until present
ed to the Smithsonian institution at Washington
In the National museum also is the United
States flag raised in New Orleans by the volunteer
flag committee after the occupation in 1862. This
was the first Federal flag raised by citizens OF any
81 +ho ,foTn 70 cfnfn off no
ment Of hostilities Here, too, is the flag Of the
United States ship Kearsarge, in use at the time
Of the surrender of the Confederate cruiser Ala
hama. also the first United States flag raised in
Richmond after the surrender. This used as
headquarters flag by Gen. e.. O. C. Ord, o. 5. A..
when he took possession of the CITY,
The history of our war with Spain Is Illus
trated at the National museum by series of flags
Of picturesque interest. There is here the Spanish
garrison flag used at Fort San Cristobal, San
Juan, Porto Rico, during the entire war, and
foated over the fort during the bombardment by
the American fleet. May T. 1893 There is, too.
the flag lowered from the customhouse at the
plaza, Ponce Porto Rico, when 1t surrendered to
the United States. The yellow stripe in this flag
painted red to give 1t chance to escape
Identification Another flag here was taken from
the trenches before Santiago. and still another is
guidon used by Spanish infantry at Porto Rico.
The museum Is also custodian of the pennant
flown by Admiral Schley the Brooklyn during
the battle of Santiago
The United States Marine corps has number
Of flags Of vital import. 1t is proud of it's tro-
phies and well it may be- for it was the foremost
in winning them The Marine corps possesses the
first American flag under fire in Cuba. This flag
was raised by the Marine battalion at Guanta-
namo, the tenth Of June. 1928 and flew during
the hundred hours of continuous fighting by the
marines at that point. After it's use in this
gagement 1t was hauled down and sent to head
quarters at Washington
Another noteworthy flag belonging to the corps
is the signal flag used by Sergeant Quick at the
battle of Cuzco. During the engagement the fleet
stationed in the bay, while firing on the enemy
was seriously endangering the unseen marines
land, who already had the Spaniards surrounded
A volunteer was requested to go out and signal
to the fleet to stop firing. Sergeant Quick i'm
enemy stood and wigwagged the Dolphin to stop
firing. The signal flag rent in several places
but the sergeant escaped injury For this act he
received a medal and honorable mention.
Among some later flags to come into possession
Of the Marine corps is the large United States
flag used by the marines dtring the siege Of the
legation in Picking at the tine of the Boxer riots
, 1t may be recalled that the guard of the Oregon
served in Picking. This WAX their post flag and
was planted on the Tartar ciEy wall, where it
iealously guarded. Later it hoisted on the
ruins of the Imperial Chen Men a signal to
the allied forces, and it has the honor of being
the first signal the latter he'd that their friends
were still living The flag shows it's hard usage
at the hands of it's enemies being torn in sew
eraI places by volleys Of shot and shell assail-
ing 1t.
Another Chinese nenento possessed by the Ma
rine corps is large imperial flag captured on the
walls of Tfentsn by the marines when they at
tackled the city This is a large pennant-shaped
affair of turkey red with enigmatical ChsueGa
characters in IT'S center.