History of the Flag : History of the Flag A brief outline of the History of the Flag of the United States
Slide2 : Flown first on October 21, 1774 on the Liberty pole in Taunton, Massachusetts. Here’s an example of a modified British Red Ensign. There are versions of this flag without the word “Liberty” or “Liberty and Union” on it but rather Pine Trees and rattlesnakes. Taunton Ensign Flag (1774) First Navy Jack “First Nay Jack” also known as “The Continental Navy Jack” or “The Culpepper Flag”. This flag is believed to have flown aboard the Continental Fleet’s flagship ‘The Alfred’ in January 1777 Sons of Liberty Flag 1777 This was the flag of the resistance group of colonist who had joined forces in the protest against British Policies such as the “Stamp Act”.
Slide3 : The “Colonel Christopher Gadsden” flag or South Carolina Rattlesnake” was used on Revolutionary ships as the Captain's flag. It was presented to the Continental Congress by Colonel Christopher Gadsden. Gadsden Flag (Congress) Gadsden Flag (South Carolina) This is a version of the “Colonel Christopher Gadsden” flag or “South Carolina Rattlesnake” which was used on Revolutionary ships as the Captain’s flag. This is an example of one that is displayed by South Carolina’s Historical Centers. Grand Union Flag The Grand Union Flag, also known as the Continental flag and Cambridge flag. First Flag of the Continental Army. Raised on January 1, 1776 at Prospect Hill in Boston.
Slide4 : Alliance Flag (1779) The “Alliance” flag. This is the flag flown on the US Alliance in October 1779 when the ship accompanied John Paul Jones and the captured ship, the Serapis, to the Netherlands. Notice that this flag starts and ends with white stripes Serapis Flag (1779) John Paul Jones raised a flag of his own on the captured British ship, “The Serapis” Yorktown Simcoe Flag (1781) During the battle of Yorktown in October 1781, this flag flew on the right flank of the American troops. British commander John Simcoe painted this from his station across the river.
Slide5 : When the Flag Resolution of June 14, 1777 was issued, it was rather vague as to how a flag should look. The resolution only stated:
“Resolved: that the flag of the United States be made of thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the union be thirteen stars white in a blue field, representing a new constellation.”
Because of this there are many variations of the early American flag. If they conform to the stated resolution, and verified as flying either on American soil or an American battleship, they are often considered official American flags and are shown equal respect.
Only a handful of versions of the 13 star flag are positively known. Because of the vague wording of the flag rules prior to 1912, it was more or less left up to the flag maker as to size and placement and thus hundreds of variations have been recorded. While the exact style of some may be lost in time, we have many fine examples of this period preserved in our history
Slide6 : 13 Star Bennington Flag 1777 One of the first flags to be used on American soil after the Flag resolution by Congress on June 14, 1777 (our first Flag Day) was at the Battle of Bennington in August 1777. This flag starts and ends with white strips and has ‘76’ on it to identify the year of this nation’s birth. 1st Navy Stars & Stripes (1777) Original 13 stars or “1st Navy Stars and Stripes” (1777-1795). The first documented U.S.A. flag was this staggered star pattern. Old Glory / Betsy Ross Flag (1776) This version of the Colonial flag is the most well known and you are going to be hard pressed to find an American who does not consider Old Glory THE founding flag of our nation.
Slide7 : 13 Star Hulbert Flag (1775) This version is said to have been made in 1775 by Captain John Hulbert. While this flag was found in a home once owned by Captain Hulbert, there is no reference to this flag in his otherwise rather detailed diaries. 13 Star “Cross” Flag (1796) This flag has the stars making a St. Andrew Cross in such a way that when the flag is hung as a banner, it looks like an hourglass Vertical Star Flag (1796) This flag was one of many different takes on the ‘stars without a field’ idea. The designer is unknown and its use is as well. The only records have come from a French paper published in 1796
Slide8 : Trumbull Flag (1780) This 13 star flag has 12 of the stars forming a square with the 13th star in the center. Revolutionary War officer turned painter, John Trumbull, sketched this version of Old Glory. Easton PA Flag (1812) One different version is the Easton, Pennsylvania flag. This flag is confirmed as being carried during the War of 1812. Blue Star Flag (1776) This flag was used during the Revolutionary War. What military units might have carried it is unknown. Beside the reversed color canton, the stripes start out with white and there are only 12 of them.
Slide9 : Fort Mercer Flag (1777) This most unusual 13 star flag was flown at Fort Mercer starting in October 1777. This flag was clearly inversed with red and blue switching places. The designer, and reason for the color changes are unknown. Fort Independence Flag (1781) This version of the “Stars and Stripes” flag was said to have been the flag at Fort Independence, in Boston during 1781. 3rd Mountain Regiment (Cowpens Flag) (1781) The battle flag of the Third Mountain Regiment of South Carolina was used in the battle of Cowpens in January 1781. Possibly modeled after the Betsy Ross flag, this is considered a regimental flag.
Slide10 : Guilford Courthouse Flag (1781) Battle Flag of the North Carolina Militia in the Battle of Guilford Courthouse, North Carolina, March 15, 1781. The First Flag Act of January 13, 1794 The first Flag Act, passed on January 13, 1794 was nearly as vague as the original resolution. Basically this made the official flag 15 stripes and 15 stars. 17 Star / 13 Stripe Flag While to ‘official’ standard for the flag was one stripe for each star, this flag returned to 13 stripes, still having 17 stars. There were 17 stripe flags as well in use. This only further proves the continued support for the idea to keep the stripes at 13.
Slide11 : 18 Star / 18 Stripe Flag (1817) The Second Flag Act of 1818 For a short time in 1817 this flag flew above our U.S. Capital building. This was keeping with the pattern set in 1794 of adding one star and one stripe for every state. This gave the flag 18 stars and 18 stripes. The Second Flag Act of 1818 changed things again. The stripes were returned to 13 to forever represent the original 13 states with a star added with each additional state on the following 4th of July. This act still allowed a rather wide variation of flag versions. Still, the most popular one is one that followed after the “Stars and Stripes” model. Great Star Flag (1818) This flag flew over the Capitol dome for at least six months of 1818 and is recognized as an official flag of the United States of America.
Slide12 : Examples of some exotic Flags in history Great Star Flag This beautiful ‘upside down’ star - within - a - star design is a fine example of early design variations. A kin to the “circle within a circle” design, this one has a large star in the center, with five stars forming a star pattern around it and the remaining 20 stars forming a large star around them. The “General Fremont” Banner During the 1840’s it was not yet common for the U.S. Army to carry the official flag. Each unit was known to have their own regiment banner or garrison flag. This flag was designed and made by the wife of General John Fremont for use during his explorations of the far western parts of the continental United States. This flag can be seen at the Southwest Museum in Los Angeles
Slide13 : 31 Star “Trumbull” Flag (1850) This flag was used by the Navy. The basic format of this flag, with the large single star in the middle, was used from around 1778 to 1880. This version is from the 1850’s. This design is based on the ‘square’ canton flags as recorded by the painter John Trumbull in 1778 and 1781. “Scattered Star” Flag Little is know about this flag from the mid - to - late 1850’s. It may well be the case of a flag needed quickly and no professional flag maker was in the area. While the stars appear to be just scattered like they were just dropped and smoothed out, the stitching appears to be rather professional which suggest some design in mind Fort Sumter Flag (1861) The 33 Star Garrison Flag that flew over Fort Sumter has been called the flag that started a war.
Slide14 : “Scattered Star” Flag (1850) Honoring the addition of Oregon as our 33rd state in 1859, this flag was patterned after the Reid “Great Star” of 1818. Abe Lincoln Campaign Ad Not an official flag by any means, this campaign advertisement is a sample of the type of use of our flag that was later to be banned. Notice the choice of one star in each corner and the “Betsy Ross” Circle of stars. Great Flower Flag (1861) The “Great Flower” flag, also known as “The Candy Stripe” flag because of the red and white “candy stripe” running down the left side. The designer and locations that used this flag are unknown (1861-1863).
Slide15 : Duel Circles Flag (1861) This flag again used the Betsy Ross style of an inner circle of 11 stars with an outer circle of 19 stars and one star in each corner of the canton. This flag appears in several drawings of the period showing that it was used rather widely Cross Flag (1861) Five cluster of six stars each with the final four stars being on the top, side and bottom, centered. This flag shows great care in its design and in the making of it. The five clusters of stars form a St. Andrews cross and the other four form a St. George Cross. The designer is unknown 36 Star Bomb Flag (1865) A rather mixed canton makes a very different design here. Could this be an Ariel bomb? A Bugle? This flag was not use widely with only a few confirmed uses as a garrison flag.
Slide16 : Wagon Wheel Flag (1865) This Wagon Wheel design is another sample of a circle of stars with an inner design. A close look will reveal a circle of stars within the outer circle with a five - point - ‘star cluster’ in the middle. “Medallion” Flag (1867) The “Betsy Ross” circle of 13 stars are in the inner ring to identify the original 13 colonies, and an outer circle of 24 stars identify the states that have joined the union since that time. This flag was one of many that was made to celebrate the upcoming First Centennial. The “Colorado - Centennial” Flag (1876) Once again, the inner ring of 13 stars are to identify the original 13 colonies with all the other stars standing for the states to join after that time. -Except for the center star, which is for the 38th state, Colorado! This short lived flag was introduced on the day they became a state, August 1, 1876.
Slide17 : “Centennial Hourglass” Flag (1876) Here is an example of a well thought out tribute to our First Centennial. Flying normally, the stars form the St. Andrew Cross. However, drape the flag from a stand or on a wall and the stars form an hourglass with two stars going into the bottom, representing two centuries. The “Full Canton” Centennial Flag (1876) Another example of a tribute to our First Centennial shows an attempt to plan the size of the stars so that they fill as much of the blue canton as possible. “Unfilled Canton” Flag Now here’s a design with the future in mind. Could this have been planned to add another 5 stars to the same flag? Or could it have been a case of adding two stars to a 42 star flag? This hand made flag was one of the last variations as the executive orders of 1912 began to settle in as the standard across the land.