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[Illustration]


THE STORY OF OUR FLAG,

Colonial And National, with Historical Sketch
of the Quakeress Betsy Ross

by

ADDIE GUTHRIE WEAVER.

Colored Illustrations of the Flags and Washington’s Coat of Arms
by the Author







Published by
A. G. Weaver,
Chicago.

Entered according to Act of Congress,
in the year 1898,
By Addie Guthrie Weaver,
In the office of the Librarian of Congress,
at Washington, D. C.




Preface.


For some years the Author has been interested in the history of our
First Flag and its fair maker, Betsy Ross, and fortunately, through a
family relationship with one of the descendants, became familiar with
much of the family history.

It seemed that so beautiful and estimable a lady, and one who played so
important a part in those stirring events of our early history should
be better known and appreciated by her sisters of to-day.

Fitting, it seems, that while man in defending our Flag has
accomplished his greatest achievements, and won undying fame, woman
first fashioned into “a thing of beauty” the symbol of that patriotic
devotion.

To Mr. George Canby of Philadelphia, and Mrs. Sophia Campion Guthrie
of Washington, D. C., grandson and great granddaughter, respectively,
of Betsy Ross, the author is indebted for family history that has
inspired this work, and to them and other descendants, this book is
affectionately dedicated by

                                                THE AUTHOR.

[Illustration:

Sketched by Helen Hayes.

_Flag House of Betsey Ross. 239 Arch St._ Philadelphia.]




The Story of Our Flag.

COLONIAL AND NATIONAL.


The history of our flag from its inception, in fact, the inception
itself, has been a source of much argument and great diversity of
opinion. Many theories and mystifications have gone forth, mingled
with a few facts, giving just enough color of truth to make them seem
plausible. It is for the purpose of clearing away the veil of doubt
that hangs around the origin of the Stars and Stripes that this book
has been written.

The Continental Congress in 1775 was very much disturbed over the
embarrassing situation of the colonies, and after Washington was
appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Army, it showed its independence by
appointing a committee composed of Benjamin Franklin, Benjamin Harrison
and Mr. Lynch to create a colonial flag that would be national in its
tendency. They finally decided on one with thirteen bars, alternate
red and white, the “King’s Colors” with the crosses of St. Andrew and
St. George in a field of blue. The cross of St. Andrew then, as now,
was of white, while the cross of St. George was of red. The colonies
still acknowledged the sovereignty of England—as this flag attested—but
united against her tyranny. This was known as the “flag of our
union”—that is, the union of the colonies, and was not created until
after the committee had been to the camp at Cambridge and consulted
with Washington. It was probably made either at the camp at Cambridge
or in Boston, as it was unfurled by Washington under the Charter Oak on
January 2, 1776. It received thirteen cheers and a salute of thirteen
guns.

It is not known whether Samuel Adams, the “Father of Liberty,”
was consulted in regard to this flag, but it is a well known fact
that he was looking forward, even then, to the independence of the
colonies, while Washington, Franklin and the others still looked for
justice,—tardy though it might be,—from England.

Two days later, on the 4th of January, 1776, Washington received the
King’s speech, and as it happened to come so near to the time of the
adoption of the new flag, with the English crosses of St. Andrew and
St. George, many of the regulars thought it meant submission, and the
English seemed for the time to so understand it; but our army showed
great indignation over the King’s speech to parliament, and burned all
of the copies.

In a letter of General Washington to Joseph Reed, written January 4, he
says: “We are at length favored with the sight of his majesty’s most
gracious speech, breathing sentiments of tenderness and compassion for
his deluded American subjects. The speech I send you (a volume of them
were sent out by the Boston gentry) was farcical enough and gave great
joy to them without knowing or intending it, for on that day (the 2nd)
which gave being to our new army, but before the proclamation came to
hand, we hoisted the Union flag, in compliment to the United Colonies,
but behold it was received at Boston as a token of the deep impression
the speech had made upon us and as a signal of submission. By this time
I presume they begin to think it strange that we have not made a formal
surrender of our lines.”

[Illustration]

At this time the number and kinds of flags that were in use on land
and sea, were only limited to the ingenuity of the state and military
officials. This was very embarrassing. On May 20, 1776, Washington
was requested to appear before Congress on important secret military
business. Major-General Putnam, according to Washington’s letters, was
left in command at New York during his absence. It was in the latter
part of May, 1776, that Washington, accompanied by Colonel George
Ross, a member of his staff, and by the Honorable Robert Morris,
the great financier of the revolution, called upon Mrs. Betsy Ross,
a niece of Colonel Ross. She was a young and beautiful widow, only
twenty-four years of age, and known to be expert at needle work. They
called to engage her services in preparing our first starry flag. She
lived in a little house in Arch street, Philadelphia, which stands
to-day unchanged, with the exception of one large window, which has
been placed in the front. It was here, in this house, that Washington
unfolded a paper on which had been rudely sketched a plan of a flag of
thirteen stripes, with a blue field dotted with thirteen stars. They
talked over the plan of this flag in detail, and Mrs. Ross noticed that
the stars which were sketched were six-pointed, and suggested that they
should have five points. Washington admitted that she was correct, but
he preferred a star that would not be an exact copy of that on his coat
of arms, and he also thought that a six-pointed star would be easier to
cut. Mrs. Ross liked the five-pointed star, and to show that they were
easily cut she deftly folded a piece of paper and with one clip of her
scissors unfolded a perfect star with five points. (See illustration
showing the way Betsy Ross folded the paper giving the five-pointed
star which has ever since graced our country’s banner. A, first fold of
a square piece of paper; B, second; C, third, and D, fourth fold. The
dotted line AA is the clip of the scissors.)

There is no record that Congress took any action on the national
colors at this session,—but this first flag was made by Betsy Ross
at this time, and in this way, and we find in Washington’s letter of
May 28, 1776, to General Putnam at New York, positive instructions
“to the several colonels to hurry to get their colors done.” In the
orderly