Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 07.djvu/774

* FLAG. 696 FLAG. Rex (James, King) — surmounted by a crown. The Revolution and the pre-Revolutionary con- troversies brought in all manner of devices for flags and banners, the larger portion bearing mottoes more or less defiant of the British Gov- ernment. Soon after the fight at Lexington the volunteers from Connecticut put on their flags the arms of the Colony, with the legend Qui transtulit sustinet ( He who brought us over sus- tains us). The Colonial flag of New Amsterdam (substantially the present arms of New York City) was carried by armed vessels sailing out of New York — a beaver being the principal fig- ure, indicative of both the industry of the Dutch people and the wealth of the fur trade. A month after Bunker Hill, Putnam displayed a flag with a red ground, having on one side the Connecticut motto, and on the other side the words then rec- ognized as the motto of Massachusetts — "An Appeal to Heaven." The earliest vessels sailed under Washington's authority displayed the pine- tree flag, though a combination of that and other flags was sometimes used. Many privateers, however, adopted a device consisting of a mailed hand grasping a bundle of thirteen arrows. An early flag in the Southern States was designed by Colonel Moultrie, and was displayed at Charleston, in September, 1775. It was blue, with a white crescent in the upper corner next the staff; afterwards the words 'Liberty or Death' were added. At Cambridge, Mass., on January 2, 1776. Washington displayed a flag, designed by Franklin, Lynch, and Harrison, con- sisting of thirteen stripes of red and white, with the union jack in place of the stars, the stripes being emblematic of the union of the thirteen Colonies against British oppression. The rattle- snake flag was often used, the snake being coiled to strike, and the motto, "Don't tread on me." The snake's rattles generally numbered thirteen. No official action was taken with regard to a national flag until June 14, 1777, when the Con- tinental Congress passed a resolution, "That the flag of the thirteen United States be thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, represent- ing a new constellation." The origin of this de- sign has been the subject of much controversy, which has left the subject unsettled, though per- haps a majority of writers consider the design to have been suggested by the coat-of-arms of the Washington family, which contains both the stars and the stripes. Paul Jones claimed to have been the first to raise the new flag over a naval ves- sel, and it seems that the first use of the Stars and Stripes on land was at Fort Stanwix. where a hastily improvised flag was raised over some captured British colors on August 6, 1777. (See Fort Stanwix.) The Hag was used at the battle of Brandywine, and thereafter in all important engagements until the close of the war. On January 1.1. 1794, Vermont having been admitted to the Union in 1701 and Kentucky in 170'2. Con gre^s enacted, "Thai from and after the lirsi day of May. one thousand seven hundred and ninety- five, the flag of the United Slates be fifteen stripe- alternate red and white; that the union be fifteen stars, white in a blue field," the inten- tion apparently being to add both a stripe and a in- for each new State admitted. In ISIS, how- ever, the number of Stales having increased to twenty. Congress enacted thai the number of stripes be reduced to thirteen, to typify the orig- inal thirteen States; that the number of stars be increased to twenty ; and that "on the admis- sion of every new State into the Union, one star be added to the union of the Hag. and that such addition shall take effect on the Fourth of July next succeeding such admission." No provision was made for the manner of arrangement of the stars, and consequently there has been since 1818 much divergence in this respect. The union jack consists of a blue ground, without stripes, having the stars in white. It is used by pilots, and in the bow of boats for ambassadors and ministers. During the Civil War the seceding States had a number of distinct flags. Early in 1861, how- ever, their Congress decided upon what was popu- larly called the 'Stars and Bars,' which was com- posed of three broad horizontal bars, the two outer ones red and the middle one white, with a blue 'union' containing seven white stars in a circle. The number of stars was subsequently in- creased to thirteen. The Confederate battle-flag used throughout the war consisted of a field of red on which was a blue Saint Andrew's cross bordered with white and bearing thirteen white stars. In 1863 the Confederate Congress adopted a flag having a white field with a union or can- ton of the battle-flag. This was sometimes mis- taken for a flag of truce, so in 1865 a red bar was imposed across the end of the field. There are many flags which designate special or official position or authority, such as royal standards, the President's flag, and the Secre- tary of the Navy's flag. The President's flag, which is carried at the main of naval vessels and on boats in which he embarks, is blue, with the coat-of-arms of the United States. The Sec- retary of the Navy's flag is blue, and has a white foul anchor in the centre surrounded by four white stars. The flag of the revenue marine nas sixteen perpendicular red and white stripes al- ternating. The 'union' carries the coat-of-arms of the United States, and occupies the width of eight stripes-. The flags of the flag-officers of the United States Navy are blue, carrying white stars — four stars for the admiral, and two for rear-admirals. In case two or more rear-admirals are in company, however, the one second in rank Hies a red flag with two white stars and the junior rear-admir- als fly white flags with two blue stars. The commodore's flag shown in the illustration is no longer in use, since the grade of commodore on the active list was abolished in 1809. The revenue flag, used to indicate the jurisdiction of the Treasury Department, was adopted in 1700. It is shown in the accompanying illustration. The flag of the Secretary of War is of scarlet bunting, having upon it an eagle with outstretched wings. Garri- son, post, and storm Hags are national flags made of bunting. The flag of the Geneva Convention in connection with the national Hag is used for army hospitals. In foreign countries the royal stand- ard is displayed at ceremonies in honor of the sovereign, or at which the sovereign may be present, and it, or the national ensign of the country, is hoisted at the main of vessels aboard which such sovereign goes. When ministers, consuls, etc.. leave men-of-war that they have officially visited, the flag of the nation to which liny belong is hoisted at the fore upon (heir de- parture, during the firing of a salute in their honor. A Hag placed at 'half-mast' is a sign of mourning. A flag reversed, or with, the union down, indicates distress. When saluting is done