1.          Scott’s “Independence” Flag ,   mid-Sept. 1835:   The local committee of vigilance and safety sent out a call to arms on about 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. 28 th ) (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.”   <1>

2.          Dodson’s “Lone Star” flag , mid-Sept:. Also responding to the September 19, 1835 call for volunteers, Capt. 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. <2>

3.          Come & Take It , Oct. 2, 1835:   First flag of the revolution to see action. Designed and painted by Cynthia Burns and 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). <3>

4.          Dimmit’s “Constitution of 1824” flag , October 18, 1835:   Made by Philip Dimmit,   commander of the fort at Goliad.   On October 27 th 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 6 th Dimmit took his flag   to Bexar to participate in the final assault.   General Cos surrendered on Dec. 9 th .   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, but probably not since the government had approved the 1824 flag on November 29) after leaving the Alamo and beginning on the Matamoros Expedition in January. Meanwhile, Dimmit returned to Goliad and designed another flag by December 20, this one for independence. <4>

5.          New Orleans Grays , October :   Organized in New Orleans on October 13.   Two companies were formed.   The first 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 22 nd .   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. <5>

6.          Troutman “Lone Star” flag , also known as the Ward’s Georgia Battalion flag . Late November: Johanna Troutman 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 12 th ) 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.   <6>

7.          Alabama’s Red Rover flag , late November:   Company of 75 volunteers raised and equipped by Dr. John Schackford 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. <7>

8.          General Council’s “1824” privateer flag , Nov. 29, 1835. First official flag of the Revolution.   General Council adopted the   “1824” flag which was a modification of Philip Dimmit’s flag of Oct. 27 th .   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. <8>

9.          Dimmit’s “Bloody Arm” flag , Dec. 20 , 1835: When Dimmit returned from the Siege of Bexar where he flew his “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 the Alamo army storekeeper from Jan 24 to February 24. He arrived at San Jacinto with recruits and supplies on April 22 nd . <9>

10.        Sidney Sherman's “San Jacinto” flag , late Dec.   Brought to Texas by Sidney Sherman organized a company of 52 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. <10>

11.        Brown’s “Bloody Arm” flag ,    Flag created by William S. Brown of Velasco.   Flown possibly as early as Dec. 1835 at the Siege of Bexar but no collateral documentation.   Flown   at Velasco on Jan. 8, 1836 at the American Hotel with the Troutman flag. William S. Brown of Velasco.   T he 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 . <11>

12.     Travis' Banner: In his diary dated January 21, 1836 W. Barret Travis noted that he purchased a flag for $5.00. On December 24th Travis had been appointed a Leuitent Colonel of the Cavalry in the Regular Army on and Janurary 21st he was order by Governor Smith to raise 100 volunteers. He raised about 30 men and left on January 24 for Bexar where he arrived on February 5. He notes in his letter written from the Alamo under seige on Feb. 24 to "The People of Texas" that "our flag still waves proudly from the walls." No description is provided in any of the documents. <11.5>

            ( Santa Anna’s Alamo Red Flag:   Feb. 23, 1836) Santa Anna’s Flag   raised over the tower of San Fernando de Bexar Church as a sign of no quarter. <12>

13.        Baker’s “San Felipe” flag , Feb. 29, 1836. Flag presented Feb. 29, 1936 to the volunteer company from San Felipe 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). <13>

14. San Augustine Volunteers Banner, March 15. Captain Kimbro's company was presented with a banner made by Misses Amanda and American Holman, Mrs. Augustus Hotchkiss, and Mrs. Parks. There is no description of the flag. It was completed after the Volunteers left San Augustine and was delivered to them as they crossed the Angelina River. <13.5>

15.        National “Naval” flag, April 9. A National flag for naval service adopted April 9, 1836 at Harrisburg as the Interim 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.   <14>

16.        Baker’s “Red” flag at San Jacinto, April 21 :   Carried at San Jacinto on April 21, 1836 by Baker’s company (obviously lost the San Felipe flag, see above).   It was a red handkerchief .   It was carried until the battle commenced and was dropped and lost. <15>

17. Private Juan Lopez flag at San Jacinto, April 21: Private Lopez had joined Captain Juan Seguin's company two days before and Seguin noted Lopez was :entering boldly the fight, brandishing on one hand an old rusty sword, holding on the other a gun stick at the top of which was fastened a red kind of rag." Seguin ordered him to drop the flag and to take the gun of one of the sick soldiers. <15.5>

Footnotes:

<1>Mayberry, p. ; New Handbook, "Flags"; Southwestern, Vol. 18, p. 271>
<2>Veazey & Potter, p. 7; New Handbook Online, "Flags"; Southwestern, Vol. 18, p. 273, 274; Mayberry, p. 24
<3> Smithwick, p. 72; New Handbook Online, "Flags"; Mayberry, p. 23
<4> Pomeroy, Yates
<5>New Handbook, Vol. 2, p. 1023; New Handbook Online, "Flags"; New Handbook, Vol. 4, p. 998; Mayberry, p. 10, 27
<6> Veazey & Potter, p. 10; New Handbook Online, "Flags", Mayberry, p.25; Vinson, p.113
<7> Gilbert, p. 64; New Handbook Online, "Flags"
<8> Yates
<9> New Handbooks Online, "Flags"; New Handbook, Vol. 5, p. 1020; Pomeroy
<10> New Handbooks Online, "Flags"; New Handbook, Vol. 5; p. 1020, Mayberry, p. 26
<11> Veazey & Potter, p. 9; New Handbook Online, "Flags"
<11.5> Hansen-32; Edmondson-259, 260; Lindley-10; Lord-81; Paxton Williams
<12> New Handbook Online, "Flags"; Brown: Vol. 1, p. 584
<13> Pomeroy, New Handbook Online, "Flags"; Cox, p. 178
<13.5> Henson-88
<14> Southwestern,Vol. 59, p. 488
<15> Southwestern, Vol. 45, p. 45
<15.5> Moore-326

Flags at the Battle of San Jacinto, Bibliography or Home

3.28.04