The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1932-06-10

town" and "Flags captured from the Hessians.
taken at Trenton and two others either cap
tured at Trenton or at Yorktown" No doubt
Washington often looked upon these colors, while
they were in his possession, with particular
pride for they were relics of the two high points
in his career as seldier-of that cold Christ
mas night in 1776 when he made his historic
crossing of the Delaware for the brilliant victory
the sleepy Hessians at Trenton the next
morning; and of that october day in 1871 when
Lord CORVALLIS army marched out of York
town to the tune of 1.-The World Turned Up
side Down" and handed over to the victorious
French and Americans these flags, among the
others, surrendered on that occasion.
Reminiscent of the fierce border wars in New
York during the Revolution, when green-coated
Tory and black-painted Iroquois carried the toma-
hawk and the torch against their erstwhile neigh
bors who had espoused the Patriot cause. are
two flags close by those previously described.
One is labeled Captured English colors prob
ably Revolutionary war or War of 1872. Imita-
ton British kings colors or Union Jack Queen
Anne pattern, 1907. Probably Tory or rene
gade flag and believed to be the flag of Colonel
Buffers Rangers carried in the Susquehanna
region during the Revolution and at the Wyoming
massacre also believed to have been taken at
Fort George in Upper Canada, May q, 1873"
The other is even more historic if the following
inscription is correct: Captured British colors
Revolution or War of 1872. Imitation British
kings colors Union Jack. Queen Anne pat
tern, 1907. A Tory flag which has olive green
st. Georges Cross. May be either Sir John
Johnson's Royal Greens flag captured at Fort
George in Upper Canada May 81 1873 Or it is
possible that this flag was captured by Colonel
Willett at Fort Stanwix, New York, August g.
1777."
If the latter is true, then this is indeed his
toric flag For according to one tradition 1t was
at Fort Stanwix that an improvised red, white
and blue flag was run up to the top Of the flag
staff to wave defiance to the British, Tories and
Indians who had invested the fort. OF this flag
Colonel Willett wrote in his journal: 1.-The white
stripes were cut out of ammunition shirts fur
nished by the soldiers; the blue out of the camet
coat taken from the enemy at Peekskill; while
the red stripes were made of different pieces Of
stuff procured from one and another of the gar
rison." There has been some dispute as to
whether or not this flag was a true "Stars and
Stripes and whether or not 1t deserves the
honor claimed for it of being "the first Stars and
Stripes to float in the face Of an enemy" But
regardless Of such details, the fact remains that
it was "red, white and blue" flag of some sort
and it played a stirring part in the affair at
Fort Stanwix Tor Fort Schuyler, as It was also
called. For Colonel Willett led a gallant sortie
against the enemy on August 6, 1777 to divert
their attention from General Herkimers army,
which was even then fighting the desperate Battle
Of Oriskany, routed ST Leger's force and captured
five of their flags. Then, according to the his
torian Botta, "he led back his whole corps with
out loss and raised trophy composed Of the
conquered arms and baggage, under the Amer
can standard, which waved upon the walls of the