TO General Putnam, desiring him in the most pressing terms, to
give _positive orders_ to all the Colonels to have “Union Colors”
immediately completed for their respective regiments; and Colonel
Kitzema received the two first regimental silk “stars and stripes” from
the secret committee of Congress, through General Putnam, and Colonel
Curtenieus; whilst the brilliant Banner of the Union floated from the
top of Washington’s headquarters in New York City.
The real truth was, that previous to the “Declaration of Independence,”
the leaders of our armies, the Governors of the thirteen colonies, and
the Continental Congress were afraid to publicly unfurl an INDEPENDENT
UNION FLAG; even Washington’s combined crosses were discountenanced,
disapproved of, and treated with indifference; but, the boldness of
Colonel George Ross and John Ross, with the dashing, daring seamanship
of PAUL JONES, the firm patriotism, industry, and energy of that
devoted friend of Independence, the IMMORTAL BETSY ROSS, who forced the
“Flag of Liberty” forward, as true patriots of America, bid defiance
to all Tory opposition, and flaunted the Stars and Stripes from the
highest pinnacles of our land, the “UNION STANDARD,” that was never
styled a “REBEL FLAG,” or Flag of any single Colony or State, but was
styled “THE APPEAL TO HEAVEN,” made the cherished Flag of Independence,
the triumphant Flag of Earth!