The American Flag

The Army of the American Revolution formally formed on 14 Jun 1775 when the 2nd Continental Congress authorized its creation. That day holds two patriotic meanings.  It is the birthday of the US Army and it is the celebration of the adoption of the American Flag in 1777.

During the American Revolution, multiple flags were flown. Here are some of the more well-known flags. 

- The Grand Union Flag: Early compromise that displayed Britian's Union Jack in the canton section.

- Green Mountain Boys Flag: Flown by Ethan Allen's Vermont Militia

- Bedford Flag: Carried at Concord

- Taunton Liberty Flag: Red Field with "Liberty and Union" in white letters

- Rhode Island Regiment Flag: Much like today's State flag of Rhode Island

- Philadelphia Light Horse Flag: Carried by elite calvary that escorted George Washington

- Gadsden Flag: Yellow, "Don't tread on me" flag

These flags flew before Congress formally defined a national standard. On June 14, 1777, the Continental Congress 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.

That wording left room for ambiguity and variability.  Consequently, there were at least three variations shortly after the adoption of the standard.  (This reminds me of a saying a co-worker of mine often quipped:  Our Standards is, "We have no standard.")

The commonly remembered flag is the Betsy Ross Flag. This flag contained thirteen stars arranged in a circle on a blue square accompanying thirteen alternating red and white stripes. This flag may or may not have actually been originally designed and produced by Betsy, but it is purported to have existed since June of 1776, a year before the adoption by Congress.  Betsy would have been twenty-four and a recent widow.  Her husband of three years, John Ross, was killed (probably in Philadelphia) while on guard duty in a gunpowder explosion.

It may be that Congress attempted to describe the Betsy Ross Flag - but the description was insufficient to preclude variations.

The Cowpens Flag appears in this fragment of the artwork shown on this blog by Robert Windsor Wilson. It is displayed at the Ninety-Six National Historic Site and titled Siege of Ninety-Six. The Cowpens Flag was similar to the Betsy Ross version except that it contained twelve stars in a circle with a single star in the center of the circle. It was used regularly by the 3rd Maryland Regiment. It is said to have been carried into the Battle of Cowpens, but the 3rd Maryland Regiment wasn't at that battle. The artist was probably influenced by this tradition, though. Ninety-Six is not far from Cowpens.

The Hopkinson Flag staggered the arrangement of the star in a 3-2-3-2-3 pattern.  The design is attributed to Francis Hopkinson. If it sounds familiar - it is similar to what has been done since - arranging stars in patterns to approximate a square. 

The imprecise standard specification permitted a wide variability of US Flags until President Howard Taft's executive order in 1912 specified that the pattern should be of horizontal rows and the stars were to point upward.

I'm glad we have a standard. I'm glad it was designed to tell a story.  The flag's 13 red and white stripes represent the original colonies; its white stars on a blue background represent the number of states; and, its colors are meant to represent:

• Red: valor and bravery (or hardiness)
• White: purity and innocence
• Blue: vigilance, perseverance, and justice

Howard Schnauber described in his poem titled: "I Am Old Glory"

“I am your symbol of freedom, I am your reminder of opportunity, I am your guarantee of justice, I am your flag.”

Remembering the 250th Anniversary of this nation - when we look at our flag, consider these words that it represents. Remember it is these things that made and make us great. Consider what it took to obtain it. Consider, what it takes to keep it. 

 

American Revolution - Along the Shore

 Rhode Island's Newport Harbor 

Newport Harbor was occupied by British forces during the American Revolution from December 1776 to October 1779. This created a constant threat to patriot militias in the region. It was a short distance across these waters along the shores of Warwick Neck and East Greenwich that my wife's seventh great grandfather, Matthew Manchester, assured those militia were provisioned.

Matthew was approaching sixty years of age when the Continental Congress declared its independence from British rule. Born in Rhode Island and living in Cranston - Matthew would have been very much aware of the pre-Tea Party, Gaspee Affair in 1772, where Colonist set fire to a British Customs Schooner in Narragansett Bay.

Matthew was conducting land transactions in the region as early as the 1760s and was respected in the community. That respect grew as he served to review lists of men eligible for the militia, tax collection and financial accountability for the town, represent at the Rhode Island General Assembly, and deciding upon public health initiatives such as Smallpox inoculation plans.  He held the title of Captain so he was likely in the militia at one point - though the title was probably more honorary by the time of the American Revolution. Even so, we might speculate whether he had prior knowledge or involvement in the Gaspee Affair.

After the war, Capt. Matthew Manchester became an early participant in Northwest Territory land speculation, acquiring shares within two years of the Ohio Company’s formal land grant phase in 1792. By 1794, he was conducting transactions involving hundreds of thousands of acres—land originally entrusted to Rufus Putnam (who turns out to be my 4th cousin) and others for distribution. His grandson, also named Matthew, later managed the business end of these holdings in the region that would become Marietta, Ohio.

Matthew appears to have prospered substantially during his lifetime. He also fathered twenty children most of whom remained in Rhode Island. Some of those children prospered well, and others faced harder times during their lifetimes. My wife's third great grandfather, Sanford Manchester, was Matthew's great-great grandson. Sanford was making his living as a coachman in the shadow what would soon be a playground of the Gilded Age elite.

Fortunes and fame of families are won, lost, and diluted as time, opportunities, and choices transpire. Matthew wasn't famous.  Newport affairs associated with the American Revolution are not well known or publicized.  And yet, like everything, each event, each opportunity, and each choice collectively and somewhat unwittingly shapes the future. In every case, choices matter.

Unsung American Revolution Civilians

I've spent some time focused on stories of the Revolution looking at my family history connections. The following blogs will look at the contributions of some of my wife, Tammy's, ancestors. Like many of my ancestors several of hers are noted for their willingness to contribute to the cause in ways that did not involve direct combat. The circumstances and details of those contributions are often lost to history, but here I will tease out probable involvements based upon location, time, and any finds I've uncovered. 

Tammy's sixth great grandfather (through her biological father), Mathew Myatt, furnished supplies in North Carolina in 1781. Matthew had nearly 400 acres in Wake County, NC and would likely have contributed to Nathaniel Greene's party that ultimately encountered Cornwallis' forces at Guilford Courthouse on 15 Mar 1781. Matthew's father-in-law, William Utley, in his mid-sixties at the time is also credited with assisting the Revolutionary cause through his actions during the tumultuous period as a Grand Juror and Road Supervisor. 

Like my ancestors, Benjamin Brown and Edward Richardson, Tammy's seventh great grandfather, Matthew Manchester, served on a committee in Rhode Island. While he likely served on many committees, in July and August 1780, he served as Second Deputy to the Rhode Island General Assembly and participated in town meetings that implemented the state’s classing system for military enlistment. His committee work contributed directly to Cranston’s wartime mobilization.

Benjamin Norris, Tammy's seventh great-grandfather, was in New Hampshire during the time of the American Revolution. His contribution to the war effort was associated with his civic roles as an Assessor, Auditor, Constable, Coroner, Culler of Lumber, and Doomer. Benjamin's sons, Andrew (Tammy's sixth great-grandfather), and Eliphalet also served as soldiers in the conflict.

Tammy also had ancestors through her adoptive father's lineage who contributed to the patriot cause through civilian roles.  John Chappell, provided services in North Carolina for which he received some financial compensation. Nathaniel Lancaster, despite being born in England, rendered material aid, in Virginia. Sadly, Nathaniel contributed more than just material aid, as his son, William, died at Valley Forge in May of 1778.

The tales of these ancestors don't make it into the history books. Their actions don't evoke moments of terror or excitement in the heart of some pivotal battle. Nonetheless, each contribution was part of the cumulative efforts of the many others that ultimately gave the patriots the victory. 

Next time I'll look at Tammy's soldier ancestors.

 

Revolutionary War - Women and War

Monument at Valley Forge

 In a previous post I introduced some of my grandmothers that contributed to the efforts of the American Revolution at Valley Forge.  These grandmothers contributed because they lived in the valley where George Washington decided to winter his weary warriors. 

Priscilla Stephens, one of my sixth great grandmothers embraced her Christian duty to be hospitable to the soldiers. According to Burk's Guide to Valley Forge,  

 An officer hastily rode up to the farmhouse of Abijah Stephens and chalked on the door "Headquarters of General Weedon," and ordered the family to make ready to receive its uninvited guests. Mrs. Stephens had a large quantity of buckwheat and at once mixed a tub full of batter. While others baked cakes she prepared soup, roast beef, etc. Much to the rage of the General those who first reached the house did not stand upon ceremony, but satisfied their hunger before he arrived.

Her daughter, Mary "Elizabeth" Rossiter, also played a role in hosting guests at their home during the encampment. The guests included recognizable names such as: Benedict Arnold, Marquis de la Fayette, Nathaniel Greene, and Henry Knox.

Other more prominent women have been recognized in publications. No doubt many more women participated in the American Revolution in ways that have not been documented.  Here are three women known to have participated directly in the battles.

On June 28, 1778, during the Battle of Monmouth near Freehold, New Jersey, a woman known as Molly Pitcher (likely Mary Ludwig Hays McCauley) earned her place in legend. Initially serving water to overheated soldiers (hence the nickname), she took over her husband’s cannon after he collapsed, continuing to fire through the heat and chaos of battle. Though her exact contributions at Brandywine and Valley Forge are debated, her presence at Monmouth is well documented. Her courage became a rallying image for female patriotism, and she was later granted a pension for her service.

Born in Massachusetts in 1760, Deborah Sampson disguised herself as a man and enlisting in the Continental Army under the name Robert Shurtliff. (The alias does invite speculation about her wit as well as her grit.) She served for over a year, participating in skirmishes and enduring wounds she treated herself to avoid discovery. Her story was later chronicled in a memoir titled The Female Review, written by Herman Mann (Wikipedia), which preserved her legacy as a real-life counterpart to the fictional Mulan. Sampson was eventually honorably discharged and later received a military pension, one of the few women to do so.

On November 16, 1776, during the Battle of Fort Washington in New York, Margaret Corbin’s life changed forever. Her husband, John Corbin, was killed while manning a cannon. Rather than retreat, Margaret stepped into his place, declaring, “I know all about it, Jack has shown me.” She continued firing until she was severely wounded. Margaret became the first woman to receive a military pension from the United States, and her bravery is commemorated at West Point, where she is buried among fellow soldiers.