Please to fix upon some particular Colour for a flag - & a Signal, by which our Vessels may know one another. .. Col. Joseph Reed, Military Secretary to General George Washington, 1775.
1. Grand Union Flag/Continental Colors, January 1, 1776: A design of thirteen stripes, alternately red and white, with
a blue field in the upper-left-hand corner bearing the red cross of St. George of England with the white cross of St. Andrew of Scotland. The "colonies" sought to govern themselves or at least have a greater control of the local government and still remain a participant in the United Kingdom. The purpose was one of reconciliation of differences. The union of the flag represented Great Britain and the 13 stripes represented the united colonies in Northern America. <H-11>
RESOLVED: that the flag of the United States be thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the Union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field representing a new constellation. .. Act of the Continental Congress, June 14, 1777.
indicate
no hope of reconciliation under the Crown. Francis Hopkinson,
not Betsy Ross, probably made the first Stars & Stripes banner.
He was on the Naval Board and had a keen interest in heraldry.
"The five-pointed star as a political symbol originated during
the American Revolution. In the Old World the icon that resembles
such a star was an insignificant emblem that British and French
heraldry labeled a "mullet." This symbol does not connote
a star of the heavens but is rather a schematic representation
of the rowel of a spur, which in heraldry adored the arms of the
third-born son in a noble family. The celestial star is the "estoile,"
with six wavy points, which by the seventeenth century had become
a common charge in heraldry. Before its incorporation into the
U. S. flag, the five-point star was rare on flags or other heraldic
devices." "Having little regard for Old World formalities,
colonial Americans opted to represent the heavenly star with five
points rather than the more proper six points of the estoile."
<H-11><M-20>
cumbersome
and in 1818 Congress reverted back to the original thirteen stripes
and added a star for each new state, on the July 4th following
admission. Until 1912 the arrangement of the stars was left to
the flag maker. <H-222>
revolution
for independence on September 16, 1810 with his declaration called
the Grito de Delores. His followers rallied behind a simple church
banner with the Virgin of Guadalupe image. The image reminded
Father Hidalgo's followers of the important role their ancestors
had played in their country's history. [Angel with wings of green,
white and red was part of the image] Within a year the rally was
put down. <M-4>
Guerrero
on February 24, 1821 for Mexico to become a "Constitutional
Monarchy." Iturbide offered a new flag that embodied the
tenets of the Three Guarantees (1. Primacy of the Catholic Church,
2. Independence and 3. Equality of Gachupines and native-born
Mexicans). The flag was designed by Jose Ocampo, a tailor. It
was a square flag with three diagonal bars of red, green &
white. This was changed in November 1821 to three vertical bars
rearranged to green, white & red. "A crowned eagle with
open wings perching on a cactus replaced the crown." Iturbide
was crowned emperor of Mexico on July 21, 1822 and shortly afterwards
disbanded the congress. <M-6>
(Plan
of Casa Mata) and Mexico became a Republic. "To represent
the republic, the imperial crown was removed from the eagle, and
the figure of a snake was added. As the traditional symbols of
strength and victory, branches of laurel and oak now wreathed
the base of the cactus." In 1916 the eagle symbol was changed
to the "Aztec Eagle" which is the image in use today.
<M-7, 8, 167n.20>
West
Florida - the area between the Pearl and the Mississippi Rivers
- in Spanish control." In September 1810, group of settlers
seized control, declared themselves a republic and offered themselves
for immediate annexation to the United States. President James
Madison obliged. "Thus, early nineteenth century Americans
adopted the five-point star as a symbol of 'enlightened revolution
against old-word monarchies - a moral crusade for the rights of
man'."<M-21>
Mexico.
Some lower South citizens thought it belonged to the United States
and organized an army under the command of Dr. James Long. The
arrived in Nacogdoches and declared the province independent from
Spain with the intention of delivering it to the United States.
They flew a silk lone-star flag. The Spanish authorities quickly
drove the filibusters back across the Sabine. <M-21>
Mexican eagle adorned
the flag like the National Flag and the name of the state was
added at the top. <DP>
was at
Saltillo until moved to Monclova on March 9, 1833. Flag made with
two stars in vertical position replacing the eagle motif. Coahuila
and Texas were joined as one state in 1825. Almonte said it was
flown at the Alamo when Santa Anna arrived. Also shown in a sketch
by Sanchez-Navarro during the siege. Assume the six pointed stars
were used since it was in the Mexican tradition. To use a five-pointed
star would indicate U. S. interests above Mexican. Some authors
show the five pointed star and it is known that the five pointed
star was used on private coinage in Bexar in 1818. <Veazy-6>
<A-162> <M-12> <DP>
September
19, 1835 in response to news that Gen. Cos planned an invasion
of Texas. About 30 men responded to the call in Lynchburg and
were fully equipped by William Scott. He decided a flag should
be made. Charles Lanco, with the assistance of Mrs. Joseph Lynch
at Lynchburg made the flag (probably before Dodson's flag) . "Four
yards of blue silk donated by Scott with a painted white star
and the word "Independence." James L. McGahey took the
flag to the battle of Concepcion (Oct. 28th) (but had put in his
nap sack at San Felipe so it might not have flown), where he gave
it to Thomas B. Bell, who flew it at the Grass Fight (Nov. 26)
and perhaps in the (final stage of the) Siege of Bexar."
<M-24> <NHBTxOL-Flags><SWHQ:18-271>
Andrew
Robinson, Jr. raised a company from the community of Harrisburg
. Made by Sarah Dodson for her husband, Lt. Archelaus Bynum Dodson
for his volunteer company. Made of calico (cotton), blue, red
and white squares of equal sizes. "The white star allegedly
symbolized that Texas was the only Mexican state in which the
star of liberty was rising." Carried at least as far as Cibolo
Creek by James Ferguson and possibly at the Battle of Concepcion
and the Siege of Bexar. However, Austin had asked him not to fly
it at Bexar for fear that it would be considered a revolutionary
flag. Probably made after Scott's flag. At Washington on March
2 (Declaration of Independence), one of two flags. Considered
the first Tri-Color Lone Star flag. <V-7><NHBTxOL-Flags><
SWHQ:18-273, 274><M-24>
Evaline
DeWitt. Two descriptions (Smithwick: "white cotton cloth
about six fee long, in the center of which was painted in black
a picture of the old cannon, above it a lone star and beneath
it the words 'Come and Take it.'" Charles Mason: "a
white ground with a black cannon in the center, and the motto
'Come and take it!' above and below.") Left Gonzales on Oct.
13. Flag left along the road to Bexar with the broken cannon (carriage).
<SW-72><NHBTxOL-Flags> <M-23>
October
27th he wrote Stephen F. Austin saying "I have had a flag
made - the colours, and their arrangement the same as the old
one - with the words and figures, 'Constitution of 24' displayed
on the white, in the center." This flag was an expression
of the "peace party" that desired a return to the Constitution
of 1824 which supported a federalist government and certain rights
to the states and their citizen. Santa Anna had suspended the
constitution when he declared himself dictator and returned to
the old Centralist form of government favored by the Church and
the military. On December 6th Dimmit took his flag to Bexar to
participate in the final assault. General Cos surrendered on Dec.
9th. The flag was left in Bexar since Dimmit changed his politics
about the struggle while in Bexar. The time for talk was over,
separation and independence was the only course of action. Grant
and Johnson, still seeking reconciliation, each lead a company
carrying an "1824" flag (don't know if "Constitution
of" was included) after leaving the Alamo and beginning on
the Matamoros Expedition. Meanwhile, Dimmit returned to Goliad
and designed another flag, this one for independence. <DP>
<Y>
under the command
of Capt. Thomas H. Breece and the second under Capt. Robert C.
Morris. They left New Orleans with in two days of each other,
bound for Texas. Breece took the northern route, overland route
and entered Texas over Gaines' Ferry. Morris and 68 men sailed
and arrived at Velasco on October 22nd. Breece's company was given
a flag "by a group of East Texas ladies." It is a blue
silk banner displaying an eagle and sunburst with the inscription
"First Company of Texan Volunteers! From New Orleans".
The eagle carries in its beak a banner with the motto "God
& Liberty." Breece took the flag to the Siege of Bexar,
arriving after Morris' company. After the fall of Bexar, all but
23 of the combined companies left with James Grant and F. W. Johnson
on the Matamoros Expedition but most then chose to stay with the
garrison at Goliad. The Grays flag was left at San Antonio with
the remaining Grays and all perished at the fall of the Alamo.
Santa Anna captured the flag and sent it as a trophy flag back
to Mexico after the fall of the Alamo. The only flag still in
existence that flew over the Alamo. Santa Anna reports that there
were more than one flag at the Alamo. <NHBTx: 2-1023> <NHBTxOL-Flags><NHBTx:
4-998><M-10, 27>
made
the flag in November 1835 in Georgia. White silk displaying a
blue embroidered lone star and the words "Liberty or Death"
on one side and on the reverse the motto "Ubi Libertas Habitat,
Ibi Nostra Patria Est" (where liberty resides, there is our
homeland). Five-point star appliquéd on each side. Presented
to William Ward's Georgia Battalion. November 1835 (well after
the 12th) in Crawford County, Georgia. Carried to Texas and unfurled
at Velasco on January 8, 1836 (anniversary of the Battle of New
Orleans) over the American Hotel. Carried to Goliad where Fannin
raised it on March 8 at Goliad to celebrate the news of the Texas
Declaration of Independence. Destroyed by high winds at Goliad
that evening. Selected on Feb. 25, 1913 over Sara Dodson as "the
designer of the Lone Star flag of Texas" by both houses of
the Texas Legislature. <V-10> <NHBTxOL-Flags> <M-
><Vinson-113>
of Courtland,
Alabama, arrived in Jan. 1836. Called the Red Rovers because its
members were uniformed in red jeans. Small, square, red battle
flag reportedly captured at Goliad and taken to Mexico City. Most
were killed at Goliad. <Gilbert-64> <NHBTxOL-Flags>
adopted
the "1824" flag which was a modification of Philip Dimmit's
flag of Oct. 27th. Using the Mexican National Flag, the tri-color
of green, white and red panels, the Mexican Eagle was replaced
with the numbers (representing the date of) 1824. The official
flag was approved for flying by privateers operating under Letters
of Marquee and Reprisal as late as Feb. 1836. Dr. Grant &
F. W. Johnson each flew a 1824 flag on their illfated Matamoros
Expedition. Popular myth holds that this flag flew at the Alamo
when it fell on March 6, 1836. It was neither captured or reported
in official journals. <Yates>
"Constitution
of 1824" flag, his politics had changed from the conservative
to the independence cause. Philip Dimmitt raised this new flag
at Goliad on Dec. 20, 1835, on the occasion of the Goliad Declaration
of Independence. Made of white cotton domestic two yards long,
one yard wide and in the center was painted with red ink or dye,
an arm and hand holding aloft a drawn sword. Dimmit remained as
commander of Goliad until removed Jan. 10 and the flag was taken
down. Dimmit was Alamo army storekeeper from Jan 24 to February
24. He arrived at San Jacinto with recruits and supplies on April
22nd. <NHBTxOL-Flags><NHBTx: 1-516> <DP>
volunteers
in Kentucky. Allegedly painted by James H. Beard and presented
to the Newport (Kentucky Rifle Company by Sherman's wife Katherine
Sherman. "The flag is made of white silk with the painted
figure of a partially bare-breasted woman grasping in one hand
a sword over which is draped a streamer with the words "Liberty
or Death". Probably based on Eugene Delacroix's painting
"Liberty Leading the People." The lady in the flag representing
liberty. Originally the (background) field was blue. The company
left Kentucky on Dec. 31 (but military service credited from Dec.
18). Not sure when they arrived in Texas. The only surviving flags
of the Texas Revolution are the Red Rover flag, the New Orleans
Greys flag and the San Jacinto flag. The former two are held in
Mexico as spoils of war and the San Jacinto flag is in Austin.
<NHBTxOL-Flags> <NHBTx:5-1020><M-26>
at the
Siege of Bexar by no collateral documentation. Flown at Velasco
on Jan. 8, 1836 at the American Hotel with the Troutman flag.
William S. Brown of Velasco. The flag consisted of thirteen alternating
red & white horizontal stripes and a blue union. The word
"Independence" was written on one white stripe (3rd
from the top, of six) and a sinewy arm and hand grasping a bloody
sword in the oversized (long) union.. One source says the flag
was flown at the Convention when Independence was declared on
March 2nd, along with the Dodson flag. However, Brown was made
captain of the schooner Liberty in January 1836, and continued
to serve until relieved of duty March 12. Do not know who would
have taken the flag to Washington. <V-9> <NHBTxOL-Flags>
under
the leadership of Capt. Moseley Baker. Presented by Gail Borden,
Jr. Based upon the design of a flag by Stephen F. Austin described
in a letter to Borden. Thought to have been made by Pamela Shelpherd
and Nina Stewart in Shelpherd's house at San Felipe.. to Baker
at San Felipe on March 2. The English Jack designated the origin
of the Anglo-Americans; thirteen stripes represented that most
of the Texan Colonist were from the US, the tri-color of red,
white & green indicated that at one time Texas was a part
of the Mexican confederation and the white, five pointed star
stood for Texas herself - only state in Mexico claiming the light
of Liberty. Baker marched his men to Gonzales and joined Sam Houston's
army there. The San Felipe Volunteers remained a unit during the
retreat and participated, under Baker, at the Battle of San Jacinto
on April 21, 1836. Unfortunately the flag disappeared along the
way and Baker substituted a red handkerchief for his company's
flag at San Jacinto (see below). <dp> <NHBTxOL-Flags>
<Cox-178>
government
was in retreat. Flown before San Jacinto. Made at the home of
Mrs. Jane Harris by the ladies of Harrisburg. It had a "union
blue, star central, thirteen stripes prolonged, alternate red
and white." Burnet felt that the Navy flag then in use (1824,
see above) was confusing and would be mistaken for a Mexican vessel,
so he had this flag designed to be clearly seen as not Mexican,
and in fact, deceptive in its confusion with the U. S. Flag at
a distance. <SWHQ:59-488>
by 60"
on the fly. Located at the Texas State Archives.
the Zacatecas
campaign the previous May. Marched with Santa Anna from Fort Bend.
Commander Col. Jose Maria Romero captured at San Jacinto. 57"
on the hoist by 67" on the fly. Located at the Texas State
Archives.
Zacatecas Campaign
in previous May. Suffered heavy casualties in the assault on the
Alamo. Only 130 survived. Arrived with General Cos in the morning
of April 21. 68" on the hoist by 54" on the fly. Currently
under restoration. On loan to the San Jacinto Museum.
Guanajuato
Territorial Regiment. These Regiments participated previously
in the Goliad Campaign. Arrived with Santa Anna from Fort Bend.
Unknown dimensions. Color enhanced. Located at the Dallas Historical
Society.
flag
of 
the Republic on March 11, 1836.
However, no evidence that it was ever flown. Amended by William
B. Scates on March 12 added a "rainbow and star of five points
above the western horizon; and the star of six points sinking
below." <SWHQ:59-487>
a
large golden star central." <SWHQ:59-489>
1839.
January 25, 1836 by act of congress as the national Standard.
Bill submitted by Senator Jones. Flag drawn by P. Krag, an artist,
and used as exhibit to the bill. <SWHQ:59-490> Subsequently
adopted as the State flag of Texas after it joined the Union.
<L-Art.6139a>
U. S. legislature approved annexation
of Texas on December 29, 1845. Texas joined the Union February
19, 1846 as the 28th state. The first U. S. flag had 27 stars
and the 28th star for Texas was added July 4, 1946. <Smithsonian
letter> When the state flag is displayed on a staff, the staff
should be at least 2 ½ times as long as the flag's hoist,
and the state flag should be attached to the staff's peak. The
staff's finial should be either a lone star or a spearhead. <L-Art.6139a>