These were the colors selected by Franklin, Harrison and Lynch, and
unfurled by Washington under the Charter Oak, January 2, 1776, and
hereafter described.
The flag of the Richmond Rifles follows with the one used at Moultrie.
The latter was of blue with white crescent in the dexter corner and was
used by Colonel Moultrie, September 13, 1775, when he received orders
from the Council of Safety for taking Fort Johnson on James Island,
South Carolina.
In the early years of the Revolution, a number of emblems were in use
which became famous. The standard on the southeast bastion of Fort
Sullivan (or Moultrie, as it was afterward named), on June 28, 1776, by
Colonel Moultrie, was a blue flag with a white crescent in the upper
left hand corner, and the word “Liberty” in white letters emblazoned
upon it.
This was the flag that fell outside the fort and was secured by
Sergeant Jasper, who leaped the parapet, walked the whole length of the
fort, seized the flag, fastened it to a sponge staff and in sight of
the whole British fleet and in the midst of a perfect hail of bullets
planted it firmly upon the bastion. The next day Governor Rutledge
visited the fort and rewarded him by giving him his sword.
Then comes the flag of White Plains, October 28, 1776, with little
historical importance.
The flag made by Betsy Ross, under the direction of General Washington,
Robert Morris, and Colonel George Ross, consisted of thirteen bars,
alternate red and white, with a circle of thirteen stars in the field
of blue.
[Illustration: COPYRIGHT 1898, BY ADDIE G. WEAVER.]