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Monterey Elks Lodge #1285
Presents
Historical Colonial Flags
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| "WE OWE ALLEGIANCE TO NO CROWN" | ||
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Bedford The original of this flag is in the town library in Bedford, Massachusetts. Tradition has it that it was carried by Bedford Minuteman Nathaniel Page at the battle of Concord. The Latin motto "VINCE AUT MORITE" means: "VICTORY OR DEATH". |
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Bennington On August 16, 1777, at Bennington, Vermont, General John Stark defeated a large raiding force sent by Burgoyne to capture American supplies stored there. This presaged the great British defeat at Saratoga. Note that this is the only American flag to begin with a white stripe. The original may be seen in the museum in Bennington. |
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Betsy Ross
The flag created by Betsy Ross which was to become our National Flag |
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Bunker Hill On the morning of June 17, 1775, as the British advanced up Breeds' Hill in the early morning light they saw this flag above the American fortifications |
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Continental Believed to have been carried at Bunker Hill, this is a blending of the Meteor flag and the Pine Tree Flag. Sometimes referred to as the New England Battle Flag |
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Culpeper One of the companies in Patrick Henry's First Virginia Regiment, the Culpepper Minutemen under Colonel Stevens were a fierce-looking group of backwoodsmen who wore "Liberty or Death" emblazoned in red on their hunting shirts. They preferred rifles to muskets, and went into battle with tomahawks and scalping knives. |
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First Navy Jack The earliest of the national "rattlesnake flags", this one flew over the Navy's first ship, the ALFRED, in January, 1776 |
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Fort Moultrie Named for Colonel William Moultrie, this flag flew over Sullivan Island in Charleston Harbor during the battle on June 28, 1776. Sergeant William Jasper risked life and limb several times to replace the flag after it was shot down, inspiring the Americans by his heroism. The British were beaten so badly they didn't renew the war in the south again until 1778. Look for a crescent moon the next time you see the present day state flag of South Carolina. |
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Gadsden First used by Commodore Esek Hopkins when his fleet put to sea in February, 1776, the design was "borrowed" by Colonel Cristopher Gadsden of South Carolina and presented to the Continental Congress. |
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Grand Union This was first raised at sea on December 3, 1775 by John Paul Jones; and on land on January 1, 1776, on Prospect Hill (then called Mount Pisgah) in Somerville, Massachusetts, when the Continental Army was mustered into formal existence. It received its' name from a reference as the "Grand Union Flag" in one of George Washington's letters. Curiously, this flag was never officially sanctioned by the Continental Congress. Flying aboard a patriot ship, it received the first foreign salute to an American flag from Governor De Graaff of St. Eustatius Island on November 16, 1776. |
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Guilford Courthouse One of the bloodiest battles of the war occurred March 15, 1781 at Guilford Courthouse, North Carolina. Under American General Greene, the British inland advance was hurled back to the seacoast by the American militia units, with the British losing a quarter of their troops |
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Philadelphia Light Horse This troop was formed by wealthy Philadelphians who supplied their own uniforms, horses and equipment. In June of 1775 they escorted Washington from Philadelphia to Cambridge, Massachusetts to take command of the Army assembled there. The flag was later carried into battle at Brandywine, Germantown, Princeton and Trenton |
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Pine Tree Contrary to what many think, this isn't a revolutionary flag, but was in use a hundred years before then, as a symbol of New England in general and Massachusetts in particular. Once war broke out, it was swiftly adapted by the Americans in various forms, and in April of 1776, it became the official flag of the Massachusetts Navy. |
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Rhode Island Regiment Another example of design elements that we also see in todays' state flag, the anchor has been a symbol of Rhode Island since at least 1647. This flag is in the Statehouse in Providence. Among the first to join the Minutemen outside Boston at the outbreak of war, the Rhode Islanders were also among the first to practice the equality they preached by fielding an entire regiment of Black Patriots. |
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Taunton The Sons of Liberty were in the habit of meeting under a large tree (most village greens had one), which was called the "Liberty Tree". In cities or towns that lacked a tree big enough, the rebels would erect a tall pole as a symbolic tree. This flag was raised on one such "Liberty Pole" in Taunton, Massachusetts on October 21, 1774. |
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Washington's Cruisers George Washington owned his own private navy with six schooners outfitted at his personal expense in the autumn of 1775. Ever the diplomat, Washington chose the New England pine tree motif as a gesture of solidarity and friendship between the northern and southern colonies. |
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Washington's Flag 1775
This was the personal flag of the Commander-In-Chief during the Revolutionary War. A reproduction of this flag flies today at Washington's Headquarters, Valley Forge. |
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The Serapis Flag
Designed with 13 stripes alternating red , white and blue. This flag was raised by Captain John Paul Jones on the British frigate Serapis during the most famous Revolutionary naval battle. |
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