George Rogers Clark Flag The George Rogers Clark Flag is a red and green striped banner in the model of American Flag s commonly associated with George Rogers Clark , although Colonel Clark did not campaign under these colors . The “ Clark ” flag was made in Vincennes , Indiana , and likely flew over Fort Sackville even before Clark arrived . On 12 November 1778 , Vincennes resident François Bosseron recorded the following items under the heading " " 1778 fournie au Capne Helm pour les Compagne des Etats " " : This flag was designed by Captain Leonard Helm , who held Fort Sackville until forced to surrender to Lieutenant Governor Henry Hamilton . Although historians are not sure exactly what it looked like , most US flags were based on the “ stripes of rebellion . ” Helm ’ s design was clear enough that Hamilton recognized two on his approach to Vincennes , one on a boat and one on the fort . One of these may have been Bosseron ' s flag , although Father Pierre Gibault may have brought a flag with him . Captain Helm had earlier brought an American flag to Ouiatenon , so it seems likely he would have also brought one to Vincennes . When Hamilton took the fort , he allowed Helm to take down " the continental flag " before raising the British flag . The choice of a red and green flag instead of red and white flag remains a mystery . It is possible that there simply was not enough white serge available in Vincennes at the time . It is worth noting , however , that whereas Colonel Clark had offered a red ( war ) or white ( peace ) belt to Indians in Cahokia , Captain Helm presented the Wabash Indians with a red or green belt . On December 27 at Vincennes , a Piankeshaw chief presented Lt - Gov Hamilton with red and green wampum , which was said to represent the Wabash River . The stripes , themselves , were a defining feature of American flags even before the Revolution , and many military banners used by Americans featured stripes of differing colors . Records describe flags similar or identical to this in the 13 colonies . It is possible that Busseron ordered the banner for his own militia unit in Vincennes , when they declared for the Americans . Which flag Clark ’ s men actually rallied around is not known . In his memoir , he says he had 10 or 12 sets of colors when they took Vincennes . Some theorize that he probably marched under the flag of Virginia , his home state , but Lt - Gov Henry Hamilton refers to several " American " flags in his journal entries as he leads his expedition down the Wabash River , including a " rebel flag " he received at Ouiatenon on 4 December . When Clark arrived in Vincennes on 23 February 1779 , he used many banners to give the impression of a large army . Clark ' s Captain Bowman notes in his journal that an " American flag " was raised over Ft Sackville on 25 February 1778 , but does not describe it . Of all the flags which may have been used during Clark ' s Illinois campaign , the 13 - striped , red and green banner is the only banner historically documented , and was one of the first “ American Flags ” flown in the modern State of Indiana . The pattern has been flown by Indiana National Guard units deployed in both Iraq and Afghanistan . Even though Clark , himself , probably never used it , the flag bears his name and is sold by flag retailers as a " George Rogers Clark flag . " It is often flown at events in Indiana and Illinois to represent Clark ' s historic ties with those states . A red and green flag is still flown at the George Rogers Clark National Historic Park , and at the Locust Grove plantation near Louisville , Kentucky , where George Rogers Clark died .