The pine tree flag which was a favorite with the officers of the
American privateers, had a white field with a green pine tree in the
middle and bore the motto, “An appeal to heaven.”
This flag was officially endorsed by the Massachusetts council, which
in April, 1776, passed a series of resolutions providing for the
regulation of the sea service, among which was the following:
Resolved, That the uniform of the officers be green and white, and
that they furnish themselves accordingly, and that the colors be a
white flag with a green pine tree and the inscription, “An appeal to
heaven.”—Harper’s Round Table.
[Illustration: COPYRIGHT 1898, BY ADDIE G. WEAVER.]
The striped Continental flag opposite the pine tree flag was of red and
white stripes without a field.