The Benson signal., 1918-06-08

1867, and it came from one of the SOL
diers of that garrison, and though
more than century has elapsed the
historic recognition. Through rela-
tiyes Of Mr.. Dawson am permitted to
give the exact version of how this ear
lier military flag Of stars and stripes
was constructed.
The soldier who was among the flag
producers was Col. Marinus Willett,
and his story is in part supported by
other members of the fort, as well
as by a recently disclosed letter in
England, in which the British soldier
refers to a banner: "Over the Fort
Stanwix built by us in 1853 and named
after the brave General Stanwix, they
(the continentals) hoisted a flag of
white and red stripes and on a can
ton Of azure there were white stars" !"
How the Flag Was Made.
"But what Of it's unique construc-
tion?" you ask. Well, the garrison de-
cided to form the national standard,
but being away from stores, 'clothshops
or homes, and being hemmed in by the
British, the task arose, how shall this
emblem Of unity be constructed? Here
is where Colonel Willett's diary and
narrative come to the surface with
the facts, and read as follows: "The
fort (Fort Stanwix) had never been
supplied with flag. The necessity Of
having one had, upon the arrival of the
enemy, taxed the invention of the gar
rison little; and decent one was
soon cOntrived. The white stripes
were cut out of an ammunition shirt {;
the blue out of the camlet cloak taken
from the enemy at Peekskill, while the
red stripes were made of different
pieces Of stuff procured from one and
another, Of the garrison"
Another witness of the garrison
states in his letter home that "the
blue ground for the stars was COM
posed Of a cloth cloak belonging to
Capt. Abraham Swartwout Of Dutch
ess county," The captain, hence, wore
the camlet cloak taken from the Brit
ish at Peekskill battle.
Victory Crowns Its Appearance.
The first battle under the improvised
American flag was a great victory, and
Col. Marinus Willett was among those
who in a hand-to-hand fight captured
five of the English colors and brought
them proudly to the fort. These Brit
ish flags, according to his diary, were
run up on the fort flagpole, but the
impromptu American banner f1oated
from the highest point of the pole.
About 80 years ago a Mr. Haven
read paper before the New Jersey
State Historical society, and in it he
was reported as having read:
"From additional reports in circula-
ton here, the first time that our ma
tiOnal flag was used after the enact
ment concerning it by congress was
by Gen. George Washington, in the
hurried and critical stand made by him
on the banks Of the Assanpink, when
he repulsed CORVALLIS, January 2,
1777. AS this conflict was the turn
ing point, in connection with what sue
ceeded at Princeton, Of the struggle
for independence, does not this sig
nal baptism of the Stars and Stripes,
with the hope and confidence regener-
ated by it, seem providential?'
This sounds good and reads equally
well-but the cold, stubborn facts de-
clare it absolutely wrong. The repell-
ing of the British was, as he states,
January 2, 1777; but our flag was not
created or adopted by the continental
congress until June IA, 1777, five
months later.
The American flag has undergone a
number of slight changes, but in prin-
ciple it has ever remained as the fore
fathers heraldically built 1t on June
IA, 1777.