The True Story of
The American Flag
JOHN H. FOW
Fig. 8
flag carried by the first city troop of philadelphia in escorting
washington across the jerseys on his way to
take command at cambridge
THE TRUE STORY
OF THE
AMERICAN FLAG
BY
JOHN H. FOW
PHILADELPHIA
WILLIAM J. CAMPBELL
1908
Copyright, 1908
BY
JOHN H. FOW
INTRODUCTION
I was induced to make this research bythe late William H. Egle, Librarian of theState Library at Harrisburg, whose knowledgeof the early history of Pennsylvaniawas of valuable assistance to me in preparingthe data for a history of the countryalong the Delaware river prior to 1682 (yetunfinished). Mr. Egle agreed with me thatthe claim of Mr. Canby that Betsy Rossdesigned and made the first flag was legendaryand without that foundation which is sonecessary to uphold claims of this character.Statements of such a character, when allowedto go unrefuted, do harm to the history ofany people, inasmuch as they encourageothers to build “air castles” and purchaseold portraits to be palmed off on others asour “grandfather” who “fit” in the Revolution,or our “grandmother” who carriedsupplies to the troops at Valley Forge.
[Pg 4]History is the best incentive to make menlove their country; it encourages thatpatriotism which never falters, even at thecannon’s mouth. The sight of a flag or themusic of a band merely enthuses as long asone is in sight or the other can be heard; buthistory and its knowledge are lasting and asource of pride. So, therefore, let it betrue in all its details, no matter who may fallfrom the high pedestals upon which theyhave been placed by vain-glorious descendants.
John H. Fow.
THE AMERICAN FLAG
“It will probably never be known who designedour Union of Stars, the recordsof Congress being silent upon the subject,and there being no mention or suggestion ofit in any of the voluminous correspondenceor diaries of the time, public or private,which have been published.”—Rear-AdmiralPreble.
So far as regards the adoption of the combinationof stars and stripes, the same assertioncan be safely made. As to the originof each this research, it is hoped, will proveconclusively, first, that colored stripes representinga combination for a common purposewere used nearly two hundred yearsbefore the Declaration of Independence;second, that stars were used in the union of[Pg 6]a flag in November, 1775, on a flag raisedon a Massachusetts privateer commanded byCaptain Manley (see ...