Norwich bulletin., 1918-09-12
NATIVE OF NORWICH
 DESIGNED OUR FLAG

DESIGNED OUR FLAG
 When the American flag of stars and stripes was decreed by congress, June 1l, HIT, it bore 1S stars and 1S stripes. As new states were admitted to the union, star and a stripe were addkd for each one. Early in 1918 the original 13 states had increased to 20, how eyer, and it became evident that flag of % stripes would be rather ridiculous. The problem was referred to Capt. Samuel Chester Reid, the naval hero, and his recon1m ei1dation that the number of stripes be reduced and kept at IS. to typify the original 1S colonies which threw off the yoke of monarchy, while stars only be add 1 ed to represent new states, was adopt ed by congressional action.
 The. first flag of the new type. from which the, United States since has never varied, was made by Captain
 Reid's wife. and bearing 1S stripes and 1 of the house of representatives April 1 13, 1878. Captain Reid was born in 1 Norwich, Conn, in 17S3, and when
 only II years old left home and went to sea, Adventures came his way
 early in life, for the ship he was on l was captured by a French pfivateer
 and Reid was held prisoner for six months. He served as miishipman for several years under Commodore Trux - tun. and when the war of 1872 broke | out he took to privateering It was | while commanding the General Arm
 strong that Reid won his laurels. His 1 daring and bravery in defending his
 ship in attack from the British in the harbor of Fayal, in the Azores, make
 him one of the romantic figures of naval annals.
 Being neutral port, Reid had ex-
 pected no attack from British vessels,
 but the British commander, Comn1o-
 dore Lloyd who appeared of harbor
 with a small fleet, violated all laws and usages of neutrality, and sent
 several large and well manned launch
 es into the harbor to open fire on the
 Armstrong.
 A bright moon shone upon one of the most renarka ble battles recorded
 Fourteen launches and a brig made three separate attacks on the Ameri- can vessel, and withdrew badly dam l aged from the fire the Armstrone poured into them. Captain Reid fear , ing he could not stand a fourth en- 1 counter, ordered the ship to be scut- , tied to prevent the British from taking her. To Reid and his brave men, al though few histories record the fact : justly is due the credit of saving New
 Orleans from capture. Lloyd's squad | ron was gathering at. Jamaica, pre- pairing to invade Louisiana The pla1
 was to seize the Armstrong and us' her as an auxiliary in the work. Bu e the British had not counted on heroi
 resistance of the young commando
 of the privat ger, and his crew Tn
 British ships were 30 crippled tha
 they were 10. days late in reaehini V New Orleans, and in that time Jack son had made ample preparation |
 meet them Had there been no dela 4 at Fayal New Orleans would hay U fallen.
 . Reid returned a hero to the Statet , Enthusiastic crowds. cheering and ap . plauding. greeted him everywhere Tn = city of New York presented him wit I, it's formal thanks and a sword. II A few years later came anothe u honor when he was asked by a con d. gressionai committee to suggest V permanent design for the national ern 'i blem. Captain Reid was man { le sentiment. He had reverence for th II flag under which the heroes of th T. Revolution had fought and won lit erty, and he undertook the designin ,, with enthusiasm.
 III It is said that the flag Mrs. Rei made hore 70 stars in the blue fiel ls in the form Of a huge star. Reid ha s- recommended that this design be use pc for the flags of merchant ships ar 1e that the war vessels carry flags vii
 the stars in horizontal arrangemer 9n He also recommended that congre If designate specifically how addition at stars should be. added The pls r. ! adopted and since followed in tl D. making of American flags is to at is the stars in horizontal form.
 r. Reid was no profiteer and refus, r. 10 send in bill for the expense C. the banner he designed or the tin $. taken in making it. He informed u d. officials that it was veSy little thil e. he and his wife had, enjoyed doing f te. their country.
 lv Tn 1850 committee was appoint e. in congress tn consider the proprie st of presenting thanks to Captain Rei g. then in his 71th year for the design n- the standard that was winning hor
 age and honor the world over ar n- accordingly, the resolution Of than n- was officially rendered him in behs h. of the nation.
 s.