TEXTEL FIRST STARS AND STRIPES (HOPKINSON LAG AY After leaving his own Bon FLAG) F D Homme Richard sinking, John Francis Hopkinson, a delegate Paul Jones accompanied by the to the Continental Congress JUNE 14 American ship Alliance, reached from New Jersey and signer of Textel in the Netherlands on the Declaration of Independence, urged a new fl ag be October 3, 1779. The Dutch had an artist draw the fl ags adopted for the new United States. As a member of the of each ship. The fi rst drawing shows the Alliance fl ying Marine Committee of the Continental Congress and the Stars & Stripes. The second depicts the captured the Navy Board, Hopkinson designed a new fl ag that Serapis fl ying Jones’ rendition of the American fl ag. would erase all connection to Great Britain. His design WASHINGTON’S CRUISERS was adopted by Congress on June 14, 1777 with the This ensign was hoisted by resolution, “Resolved that the fl ag of the United States the six warships that General be thirteen stripes alternate red and white, that the union Washington fi tted out in 1775. be thirteen stars white on a blue fi eld representing a new Since the General fi nanced these vessels at his own expense, Constellation.” the fl eet and later its ensign came to be known as Washington’s Cruisers. Compliments of The Georgia Society BEDFORD FLAG First fl own in 1775, it bears the Sons of the American Revolution words vince aut morire, meaning www.sar.org/gassar • 770.952.1776 conquer or die. Used at Lexington Green in 1775. The Sons of the American Revolution are engaged in a variety of programs to promote the patriotic, educational and historical interests resulting from the American RHODE ISLAND FLAG Revolution. Programs include Essay Contests for both This fl ag was carried in battle High School students and Eagle Scouts, presentation from 1776 to 1781 by the Rhode Island Regiment. A white fl ag, it of medals to College and High School ROTC students, contained a blue canton with 13 Poster Contests for Elementary School students, stars. This fl ag is preserved at the American Revolution presentations to Elementary and Rhode Island statehouse. Middle School students, presentation of medals to Public CULPEPPER FLAG Safety offi cials, Revolutionary War Grave Dedications, On June 14, 1777, the Continental Congress Used by the Culpepper Minute Volunteer work with Veterans, presentation of Flag passed the following resolution: Men of Culpepper County, Certifi cates to deserving organizations and schools, Virginia, part of Patrick Henry’s First Virginia Regiment. participation in historic battle sites observances and others. “Resolved, that the flag of the THE VALLEY FORGE FLAG For Information Contact: thirteen United States be made of This fl ag fl ew near Washington’s headquarters when the Continen- thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; tal Army was camped at Valley that the union be thirteen stars, Forge in the winter of 1777-1778 The 13 stars represented the 13 white in a blue field, colonies united in their struggle representing a new constellation.” for independence. It is possible that this fl ag was either associated with the Continental Army’s Artillery or with

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TAUNTON FLAG THE GUILFORD BENNINGTON FLAG This fl ag was raised in 1774, in COURTHOUSE FLAG Although a family tradition the town of Taunton, Massachu- The Guilford claims this fl ag was carried at setts, as a protest against the “In- Courthouse fl ag the battle of Bennington on tolerable Acts” passed earlier that was believed to have been used during the American August 16, 1777, recent textile year by the British Parliament to Revolution, but examination by textile experts strongly analysis has discredited this. punish Bostonians for their “Tea Party” in Boston Harbor. suggest that it was not made until decades later. Three It probably was made in the 19th century - perhaps on The colonial protesters simply took the British Red En- th sign and added the defi ant phrase, “Liberty and Union.” stripes and two stars, which was part of the original the 50 anniversary of the Declaration of Independence design were later torn off or cut off. The fl ag was later in 1826. The original fl ag can be seen on display at the GRAND UNION FLAG donated to the North Carolina Museum of History. It Bennington Museum in Vermont and is the oldest Stars & Flew over General George is now preserved at the Guilford Courthouse National Stripes in existence. Washington’s headquarters in Military Park in Guilford, North Carolina. Boston. It was the fi rst American CONTINENTAL FLAG fl ag to receive a salute from Displayed in the famous portrait another country. FORT MOULTRIE FLAG by John Trumbull depicting the The fl ag is named for Fort death of Dr. Warren at the battle FIRST NAVAL JACK Moultrie in Charleston Harbor, of Bunker Hill. This is one of the fi rst fl ags South Carolina, the site of designed for use by the fi rst a Revolutionary War battle. GREEN MOUNTAIN Continental Navy fl eet under the command of Commodore Colonel William Moultrie (after whom the fort was Appeared at the Battle of Esek Hopkins. Long used as a named) created the fl ag while in command of the two Bennington and named for the symbol of resistance to British repressive acts in Colonial regiments of the Colonial Militia responsible for the famous Green Mountain Boys America, the rattlesnake image became even more defense of Charleston. The navy blue fi eld of the fl ag led by Ethan Allen. prominent during the Revolutionary War. It appeared on matched the uniforms of his troops and the crescent currency, fl ags, drums, and uniforms. In 1976, US Navy design was taken from the silver crescent they wore on PHILADELPHIA LIGHT HORSE ships displayed a version of this historic fl ag during the their caps. The fl ag was fi rst displayed during the June 28, Used by the First Troop, bicentennial celebration of the signing of the Declaration 1776 attack by the British on Fort Moultrie. Philadelphia Light Horse that of Independence. escorted General Washington to Cambridge where he assumed GADSDEN FLAG Presented in January 1776 THE FIRST STARS AND STRIPES command of the Continental by South Carolina delegate, (BETSY ROSS FLAG) Army. Colonel Christopher Gadsden, According to the popular story, to the Continental Congress, the Betsy Ross, a Philadelphia seam- SONS OF LIBERTY fl ag was designed to be used by stress, designed and sewed the Used by the Sons of Liberty in the Commander in Chief of the Continental Navy. The fi rst offi cial Stars and Stripes fl ag in June of 1776, at the Boston and may have been used rattlesnake was often used as a symbol of resistance to request of a select committee from the Continental Con- during the Boston Tea Party. British authority before and during the Revolutionary gress, one of whose members was George Washington. War. It was seen as a symbol of virtue and vigilance as it Historians have raised many serious challenges to these never strikes until it has given fair warning to the enemy claims. Although the facts of the story have never been FIRST CONTINENTAL REGIMENT of the danger of treading on it, it never surrenders once verifi ed, it is one of American history’s most enduring Used by the First Pennsylvania it is engaged, and its wounds seemingly small, are fatal. Rifl e Regiment. The rattle snake is also indigenous to the North American legends. This fl ag is probably the most widely recognized Continent. from the American Revolutionary era.