4x6" Historic Desk Flags and Sets        Civil War Flags        Development of Old Glory

Our Newest Additions Republican Party Flags "Bleeding Kansas." I find the 10 years leading up to The War Between The States more interesting than the war itself. Imagine the type of sectional violence that makes us shudder when we see it around the world today. Back in the 1850's a mini civil war was going on in Kansas. The territory was poised to become a state. Would she enter The Union as a free or slave state? Pro slavery interests, free soilers, and abolitionists all rush to settle and control the state's future. The collision of these forces leads to The Pottawatomie Creek Massacre lead by John Brown. There is the Sacking of Lawrence Kansas lead by a sitting US Senator. Two competing state governments are formed and there are two different competing state constitutions. "Popular sovereignty", pushed by Stephen Douglas, seeks to allow the voters to decide the slavery issue. In 1856 the Republican Party appears for the first time in a national election with presidential candidate John C Fremont. Kansas was a major hot button issue in that race. The political balance of congress was at stake. The Republican platform calls for no expansion of slavery into the territories. The Republicans campaign against the expansion of slavery. The Democrats warn that the Republicans are a radical sectional interest whose victory will lead to the destruction of the fragile Union. Fremont is defeated by James Buchanan. The Republicans would come back four years later and win with Abraham Lincoln upon whose victory the Union would indeed break apart. These are two flags used to support Fremont at rallies. Don't miss Fremont's personal flag.
Fremont's running mate was William Dayton of New Jersey  Free Kansas Flag #H152 $49 3x5' dyed nylon with canvas heading and brass grommets This flag was used by Fremont supporters in Ohio	Admit Me Free Flag #H153 $49 3x5' dyed nylon with canvas heading and brass grommets This flag was used in a Pennsylvania rally. The large star represents the hoped for entry of Kansas as a free state
Washington's Life Guard Flag   Three Flags More Flags of American Defiance: "First Continental Regiment Flag" Their motto: I refuse to be subjugated"	Know this man? Ever see his flag?
The Hanover Associators   #H144 $49.00 3x5' Brilliantly dyed nylon with heading and grommets A militia formed 1774 "that in the event of Great Britain attempting to force unjust laws upon us by strength of arms, our cause we leave to Heaven and our rifles." These were Pennsylvania country boys with attitude. To them, the right to bear arms was decidedly not about duck hunting. Lest anyone miss their point, the rifle and their motto "Liberty or Death adorned their flag. $49.00	The White Plains Flag #H145 $49.00 3x5' Brilliantly dyed nylon with heading and grommets The message to the British was unmistakable. The blue cap hanging on the staff is a "liberty cap." It goes back to ancient Rome where it was called a "Phrygian cap." A master would give the cap to a freed slave as a symbol of his new found freedom. The Phrygian cap was a common symbol in colonial politics. The sword speaks for itself. "These colors were captured by the Hessians either on August 27, 1776, at the Battle of Long Islands, or Oct. 28, 1776, at the Battle of White Plains. A German account, listing the earlier date, belittles the skill of the American troops who surrendered under this flag, but it was only a few weeks later that the same Hessians under Colonel Rall surrendered to General Washington at Trenton, Dec. 26, 1776. The design on the flag is taken from an undated engraving." Source: "Flags to Color from the American Revolution."
48 star Whipple Flag #H134 $49.00 3x5' dyed nylon finished with heading and grommets Historical information by Dave Martucci Martucci's Flag Pages The 48-star version of the Whipple flag is the only one ever to go into production. A 46-star design is illustrated in Wayne Whipple's 1910 book but that same book has the 48-star version on the cover. Whipple's book makes reference to the design using the name "American History Flag". He did not call it the "peace flag". Whipple's book discussed the flag in terms of design and his idea was that the central 13 stars (in a form taken from the Great Seal of the USA [look at the back of a $1 bill]) represented the States that formed the Union, then a ring of 25 stars representing the 25 States that were admitted in the first 100 years of the country and then a ring of 10 stars for the 10 States that joined in the second hundred years (up to 1912), therefore he called it the History Flag. He went on to challenge all the boys and girls who read his book to come up with their ideas for a meaningful star arrangement.	The 48 star version version made it into commercial distribution because a major flag producer like John Dettra was behind it. This version is the only one to be found. Throughout the internet, one can find photos of 48 star versions in auctions and elsewhere. But I see no 46 star versions. It seems that the 46 star version was one of those flags that gets designed but never actually gets made and distributed in a meaningful way V. L. Campbell, an agent for the Dettra Flag Company, took out a 7-year patent on March 6, 1917 that was the Whipple design in a pennant form. At about the same time, although I haven't yet proven it completely, Wayne Whipple had a second edition of his 1910 book (still bearing the 1910 date) privately published with a new cover showing the 48-star version, identical to the patent design. My guess is the money to publish the book came from Dettra in trade for using the design on flags and pennants. Dettra produced both and I think the misnomer of "Whipple Peace Flag" may have come from Dettra who advertised the design in both forms as something to celebrate the end of the War in 1919. Whipple always called it the 'History Flag'. I think the Whipple flag was one of the best latter-day Great Star Flags, basically the last in real production.
See that flag? Read its story
	Colrain Flag #H135 $49.00 3x5' finished with heading and grommets The first US flag raised over a school house. I love the whimsical abstract star field. Doesn't it seem way ahead of its time? History provided by Dave Martucci: In 1812, a US Flag was raised over a  school house on Catamount Hill in Colrain, Massachusetts. As far as  we know, this was the first known instance of such a display in  connection with a school house. As you know, the flag is universally  flown over schools today. It became a popular thing to do during the  Civil War, but the citizens of Colrain anticipated the future in  1812. At any rate, for many years the exact design of the flag was  unknown (and was erroneously described in a number of publications as  a 17-star, 17-stripe flag) but it surfaced a few years ago and has  been authenticated (I've seen it). It's a 16-star, 13-stripe US Flag.
Fort Mercer Flag #H133 $49.00 flown at Ft. Mercer, New Jersey, in 1777. 3x5' dyed nylon with heading and grommets. This flag was suggested to us by Devereaux Cannon and the following information is his: My source for information on these flags is Standards and Colors of the American Revolution by Edward W. Richardson. The source for the flags of both Fort Mercer and Fort Mifflin is a sketch made in October 1777. There are no surviving flags, nor any better depiction from an original source. The sketch shows the Fort Mercer flag having dimensions more nearly 3 x 5. Richardson’s drawing based on that sketch has the canton oblong and resting on the sixth stripe (i.e., a white stripe below the red canton). Another source reproduces the canton as more nearly square and extending one stripe lower (i.e., resting on a blue stripe, being the seventh stripe).	My own interpretation of the sketch (with the help of a magnifying glass) is that the canton is more nearly square, and almost half the width of the flag, so resting on the 7th stripe does seems right. It is impossible to make out anything from the stars. They are just rendered as dots, and there are not even a discernable number, much less pattern. They could be in rows or a circle. They could have 5 or more points. Richardson and the other (unknown) interpreter both use the 3-2-3-2-3 star pattern. Richardson’s stars have 5 points, the other uses 8 points (perhaps because they more nearly resemble dots). My inclination would be to accept the 3-2-3-2-3 pattern, and to use 5-pointed stars as Richardson did, on the chance that these flags, being flown at forts near Philadelphia, were actually made by Mrs. Ross. Note that, the Fort Mercer flag, sketched in October 1777, four months after the June 14 flag resolution, is probably the first depiction of the Stars & Stripes pattern, even if the colours are reversed from what Congress desired. So, to recap, if I were making a replica of the Fort Mercer flag, it would be 3 x 5 feet with 7 blue and 6 white stripes, with a square red canton resting on the seventh stripe (a blue one) with 13 5-pointed stars in the 3-2-3-2-3 pattern. As far as I know, the Fort Mercer flag was one-of-a-kind, and maybe had the colours reversed because the Flag Resolution was so new and someone got confused. Classroom Experiment
	Ft Mifflin Flag #H120 $42.00 3x5' This is now a nylon flag with SEWN stripes, heading and grommets. Our previous version was a printed flag. “Valiant Defender of the Delaware, The Fort That Saved America" Learn more
Suffragette Flags Flags of the National Women's Party, 19th Amendment Ratification Banner
	Join or Die Flag #H118 $49.00 3x5' #H11812 $15.00 12x18" Nylon with heading and grommets A favorite and popular political cartoon before The Revolution it was widely distributed and understood. It first appeared in Ben Franklin's Pennsylvania Gazette newspaper on May 9, 1754 and spread to other newspapers. The danger of disunited colonies was graphically illustrated in this cartoon along with his editorial making the case for colonial unity. This was never an actual flag back then but it is now. We've been asked it about it for years and are pleased to add it.
	Join or Die Flag #H118P $9.99 3x5' Polyester with heading and grommets
Songs included: In Good Old Colony Times, To The Ladies, The Liberty Song, The Destruction of the Tea, The Banks of the Dee, Robin Adair, Yankee Doodle, The Irishman's Epistle, Sir Peter Parker, Congress Minuet, The Battle of Trenton, Johnny Has Gone for a Soldier, The Riflemen of Bennington, Lovely Nancy, Katy Cruel, The Fate of John Burgoyne, Chester, Marion's Men, The Surrender of Cornwallis, The World Turned Upside Down	Do you like history and historic flags? Then I bet you'll love the Songs of the Patriots in the American Revolution. The work of Bobby Horton is just wonderful. 20 selections of songs that were played by Americans as they struggled for their independence.  These are songs written in the 1760's that chronicle battles, parodies of the British and period "pop" songs that were favored by the common folk. Each song is accompanied by historical liner notes. Bobby calls his work "Homespun" because he plays all the instruments, does all the singing and makes all the recording himself in his home production studio. These are the tunes  that meant so much to the incredible people who founded our country, our home #BHCDR $16.00; DEAL: Buy any flag on this page and we'll throw in this CD for just $12.75
Bucks of America Flag #H124 $49.75 3x5' Nylon with heading and grommets It's wonderful to have this grand old flag back in stock. Massachusetts Historical Society has a wonderful write up on the Bucks of America and a great photo of the original flag. Directly quoted from their web site: "An all-black military company called the Bucks of America was celebrated in Boston at the end of the American Revolution. Governor John Hancock presented a silk flag bearing its emblem, a leaping buck against a pine tree to the company "as a tribute to their courage and devotion in the cause of American Liberty" (Nell, 1852, p. 13) but no documentation definitively links them to a particular Revolutionary battle. The Bucks of America, an all-Black military company, seems to have operated in a military capacity in Boston. Very little is known about the service of this company except that toward the end of the American Revolution they were recognized in a ceremony in which Governor John Hancock presented this silk flag (originally white, now aged to a soft tan) to the Bucks of America. Although some interpret the initials on the flag, "J.G.W.H." as abbreviations of the names of John Hancock and George Washington in an incorrect order (for example in The Liberator, 12 March 1858, Theodore Parker wrote, "[t]hus John Hancock embraces George Washington") it is possible that the initials are the abbreviation of John George Washington Hancock (1778-1787), the son of Governor John Hancock. (In the book The Colored Patriots of the American Revolution, the historian William C. Nell wrote that the governor and his son presented a banner to the Bucks of America.)
	Presenting: The Jonathan Fowle Flag" We've Done It Again". We learned many years ago about listening to your suggestions when Earl Williams first urged us to make The Francis Hopkinson flag. Since then we've had lots of fun making available wonderful old flags that deserve to fly again. When someone requests a flag with a compelling story I find it hard to resist. When flag scholar Dave Martucci asked us about this one I said "you're on."
#H103 $59  $39 clearance 3x5' dyed nylon with heading and grommets Thought to be the first American flag to be saluted by a foreign warship. Mr. Fowle was a militia soldier stationed at "Castle William" in Boston. He is said to have presented this flag to the officers there in 1781. After The Revolution, the post was renamed Fort Independence. The first war ship to visit the new United States after hostilities ended was His Royal Brittanic Majesty's ship "Alligator" in 1791. She saluted the American flag with 13 guns and the fort returned the salute. Some accounts say the flag saluted was the very one donated 10 years earlier by Jonathan Fowle. Our reproduction captures the home made charm of the original flag now part of the Massachusetts State House collection. Some refer to this flag as the Fort Independence Flag or the Castle William Flag. We prefer naming it after the soldier rather than the fort. Click here to read a more detailed article about the flag's history. We also thank Peter Orenski, flag graphics guy extraordinaire. He also created the vector artwork needed to manufacture the flag. Check out his company TME Co., Inc. Peter has what I believe to be the world's largest selection of Native American Flags. Then, in case you miss it once you get there, you must check out his 4x6" page. If you are a collector of 4x6" desk top flags, I can not say enough about his thrilling product line. In my 25 years in this business, I have not seen a more graphically beautiful and utterly intriguing offering of impossible to find flags from across the world. I don't know how he does it. He has even explained it to me and I still don't know how he does it. You just will not believe the breadth and detail of this collection.

#H94 $49.50 The Centennial Flag 3x5' Screen dyed nylon with heading and grommets. She's a beauty.

The Centennial Flag It is 1876. Custer's entire command is wiped out at The Little Big Horn. Rutherford B Hayes wins a disputed election decided by a special commission. A War Between The States has been fought. Military occupation of The South ends.  The United States celebrates 100 years since The Revolution. This unique flag is used to commemorate the event. We've done it again! For years we've been asking for your requests of worthy historic flags that should be made available. Many of the interesting flags in our collection come from your requests. Well, here is another one. The US Postal Service had "The Centennial Flag" on a postage stamp in 2000. We recently had another request for it, so here it is.

Unless a flag is mass-produced, it is only available on a "custom" basis. A custom flag rarely costs less than a hundred bucks, and can cost many hundreds. The usual historical flags like the Betsy Ross, and the Gadsden are fine. But there is so much more to history than that. So if you know a flag that deserves to be remembered, or a regiment that ought to be honored by anyone who would like an affordable flag to fly, please share it with us. Send us a picture and the story. Maybe we'll make it available to the public. Bookmark this site as we'll be adding more historical flags.  

We have a "warehouse find" of unusual historical flags which we show below in RED. These are not a regular or continuing part of our product line. They are normally not made in the sizes or materials shown. Or they are not normally made at all anymore. Quantities may be limited. For some flags, there are hundreds. For some there are literally just a few or even just one! All the flags shown in red are available subject to prior sale. We will try to keep this list up to date. We hope you enjoy this unusual selection of values. Please pass the link on to your friends. There is some really rare stuff here. A word about materials "Cotton" means heavy cotton bunting. Dyed cotton flags are not the best choice for flying in the rain. Colors, especially reds, can bleed. You should care for these flags with more attention that you need to with nylon flags. Some folks, especially collectors, enjoy these flags for their traditional look. Of particular interest in the collection below are those intricately dyed cotton flags such as the Bedford. Years ago when we started in this business, most historical flags were manufactured in nylon AND cotton. Today, cotton has almost entirely disappeared. Such cotton flags are therefore best enjoyed with light, protected use or just saved in a collection "Light Cotton" is cotton sheeting. Its colors do much better in the weather than the heavy cotton bunting. It is not as rugged as nylon or heavy cotton bunting. But the flags offered in it are not as rare or special. For the low cost, it is a worthwhile economy choice for outdoor flying. All flags are finished with heading and grommets unless specifically stated otherwise Don't worry about an item not having an item number. We don't have an item number for every item. Just order it by name, description and price. We will know which flag you want.
Flag Name		Items listed in RED are closeout items subject to prior sale. When they are gone there are no more
Alamo Flag Historical Info		3'x5' Nylon $41 Item #ALAMON Alamo Flag 5X8' Nylon $59 Item #ALAMO58
Bedford		$39 Item 3'x3' Nylon#BEDFORDN Bedford  3'x3' Cotton $59 Item #H76
Bennington		Bennington Flag: Vast selection of sizes and prices
Betsy Ross		Betsy Ross! A vast selection of sizes and prices
Brandywine Flag #H49 As seen on the US Postage Stamp 36x34" Silk Like Nylon Finished With Canvas Heading & Brass Grommets Brilliantly Dyed Design. The original flag in the Independence National Historical Park is 54x52" & is an early rendition of the stars & stripes dated about 3 months after congress made the first vaguely defined US flag law. Thought to have been at the Battle of Brandywine, Sept 11, 1777. Our Scale version is 36x34".		36x34" $49.00
British Blue Ensign 12x18" Nylon  British Ensigns
British Red Ensign Modern version  British Ensigns #H72 2x3' Nylon Silkscreened Design $12 #H64 3x5' Nylon Silkscreened Design $19 #H73 4x6' Nylon Silkscreened Design $22
British Red Ensign Historic Version 3x5'  $42.00 British Ensigns          Nylon Silkscreened Design
British White Ensign 12x18" Nylon British Ensigns
Bunker Hill		$47 3'x5' Nylon
		California Republic (Bear Flag) $39 3'x5' Nylon If you love California or have any interest in the history of this cool old flag, you must check out the web site devoted to it. It is a labor of love:The Bear Flag Museum
Coahuila y Tejas Flag		$99.00 3x5' Nylon with sewn appliqued stars. The Coahuila flag is custom made to order. Allow about 4-5 weeks
Columbus Personal Flag		$40 3'x5' Nylon
Commodore Perry		$39 3'x5' Nylon
Confederate Flags
Continental 2x3' Fully Appliqued Nylon. Item #H61 $39 This is part of that warehouse clearance lot we found. It is a rare chance to get an sewn design which normally would only be available as an a custom job.		Also available in these two versions, both are screen printed: $59 Item #H77 Continental 3x5' Cotton   $48 3'x5' Nylon
Cowpens		$39 3'x5' Nylon
Culpepper		$39 3'x5' Nylon
Easton Flag #H54  As seen on the US Postage Stamp in the year 2000 series		$59 3'x5' Polyester
First Navy Jack		$39 3'x5' Nylon $15.00 12x18" Nylon $23 #CF1N 3x5' Polyester all with heading and grommets
Fort Moultrie		$39 3'x5' Nylon
Francis Hopkinson Flag		$47.50 #HOP35P 3x5' Nylon with silkscreened stars, sewn stripes
		John Fremont's flag #H109 $49.00 3x5' Nylon with heading and grommets At last a correct version with the white canton. Western explorer, and first Republican Party presidential candidate in 1856, Union Major General John Fremont refused to rescind his order freeing slaves confiscated from secessionists. He refused to send freed slaves back to their owners. Lincoln fired him for this unauthorized move. His wife created this flag for him to take on his early 1840's California expeditions. Made in Canada
French Fleur-de-lis blue		$39 3'x5' Nylon
French Fleur-de-lis white		$39.50 3'x5' Nylon
French Fleur-de-lis 23		$39.75 3'x5' Nylon
French Royal Standard		#H150 $49 3x5' Nylon with heading and grommets
Gadsden		Gadsden Flag
Gonzales Banner #H28 $39 3x5' Nylon With Heading & Grommets From Oct. 2,1835 in the history of The Great Lone Star State of Texas!		Santa Anna had abolished the Mexican constitution of 1824 and made himself Dictator there. In 1835 he sends forces to reclaim a cannon in Gonzales. Can't have a cannon out among the people you are trying to control! On October 2, Texan volunteers unfurl this flag and fire the first shot in their war for independence from Mexico. Good old American defiance! At the time, Texas was a Mexican province. That December, Texans take over the nearby Alamo and allow the defeated Mexicans there to leave. But in February 1836 5,000 Mexican troops arrive led by Santa Anna himself against whom 182 Texans and Tejanos, Texans of Mexican descent, hold out for 10 days before drawing their famous "line in the dust" and perishing to the man. A handful of women and children are spared. The Gonzales Banner is an emotional and spontaneous expression of a handful of Texans standing up for their freedom and democracy.
Grand Union		$39 3'x5' Nylon "The name Grand Union was retroactively created by 19th-century historians to describe the Continental Colors" quoted from end note #15 in Peter Ansoff's article "A Striped Ensign in Philadelphia in 1754" published in RAVEN Vol 15 by NAVA. Also of interest is his end note #2 from the same paper. "There is no official record of when, or by whom, the Continental Colors was created; however, the earliest known description is believed to have been written in early December, 1775."
Great Star Flag (20 star version)		$39 3x5' Nylon There were many versions of "Great Star" flags in which the star pattern itself formed a star.
Green Mountain Boys		$39 3'x5' Nylon
Guilford Courthouse		$39 3'x5' Nylon
Kings Colors		$10 Item #H66 3x5' Polyester
		$22 Item #662 2x3' Nylon
		$29 2x3' Nylon $39 3'x5' Nylon
Lewis And Clark Era Flag   Indian Presentation flag from 1803-1812, as might have been carried by the Corps. According to Howard Madaus, it was supposedly presented by President Andrew Jackson to Chippewa Chief Sheboy-way.	It has 17 stars because by 1803 four states had joined the original 13 in the Union – Vermont (March 4, 1791), Kentucky (June 1, 1792), Tennessee (June 1, 1796), and Ohio (March 1, 1803); it shows an incongruous number of 15 stripes because specifications for the number of stars and stripes were not finalized by Congress and President James Monroe until 1818	Lewis and Clark era flag $49 #H107 Nylon 17 stars, 15 stripes. There were many variations of flags throughout the 1800's. This is a typical design in use from 1803-1812. The Lewis and Clark expedition ran from 5/14/1804 - 9/261806
		Flag Of The New Orleans Greys From The Alamo
Royal Standard of Spain		$39 3'x5' Nylon Also called Lions and Castles also available in polyester: #H119 $23
Lord Baltimore		$39 3x5' Nylon $49 5x8' Nylon
Philadelphia Light Horse		$49 3'x5' Nylon
Pine Tree		$39 3'x5' Nylon
Prussia-Frederick the Great Gneisenau Regiment no. 9		#H151 $49.00 3x5' Nylon with heading and grommets
Rhode Island Regiment		$39 3'x5' Nylon The Rhode Island Regiment was a the first all black unit in America. It distinguished itself during The Revolutionary War. Among other action, it took part in the assault of Redoubt 10 at Yorktown. Just Google its name and check it out.
Russian American Company		$42.00 #H88 3x5' Nylon Lasting from 1799 to 1881, the company's flag had many slight variations over its history.
Serapis		$39 3'x5' Nylon Item #H102
		Sons of Liberty
St. George's Cross		$38 3'x5' Nylon
Spanish Cross		$39 3'x5' Nylon (Cross of Burgundy)
Star Spangled Banner
Taunton		$39 3'x5' Nylon
Union Flags
		United East India Company This flag has been discontinued, but I keep it posted for the interesting  historical information below. United East India Company Historical Info
USA 48 Star July 4, 1912- July 3 1959 3x5' Nylon with dyed stars and stripes For Our WWII Generation: Thanks Folks 48 Star American Flag 3x5' Old Glory had 48 stars from 1912 to 1959. Think of all the events she went through in that time.  All historical versions of our flag remain legal and may be properly flown at any time. Our offering is  with heading & brass grommets fit for outdoor use.		$96 #H46S 3'x5' Nylon With Sewn Appliquéd Stars and Sewn Stripes; Nylon With Heading & Grommets  MADE IN USA     Also Available: $23.00 #CF48 polyester, fully printed, made in Taiwan
USA 49 Star July 4, 1959- July 3 1960 3x5' Cotton with embroidered stars/sewn stripes		$89 Item #H78 EMBROIDERED STARS: This is a very unique find. The US flag had 48 stars for 47 years. It had 49 stars for only one year
USA 4x6" Old Glory Parade DESK SET. 27 flags showing the evolution of our flag from 13-50 stars.		$39 Item #OGP1
Viking Raven History Info		$39 Item #H30 3x5' Nylon The Viking Flag
Washington's Cruisers		$39 3'x5' Nylon

The Jonathan Fowle Flag

We thank flag scholar Dave Martucci for the suggestion and for teaching us the history of this flag. Dave has an extensive series of flag pages here: Dave Martucci. Included is an antique flag appraisal and assessment page.

By Dave Martucci

When Boston was founded in 1630, it was immediately recognized that the city was somewhat vulnerable to attack by sea. Within a few months of the first settlement, a decision was made to fortify one of the islands in the harbor, one that stood immediately next to the main shipping channel. This fortification, originally of logs, was named Castle William and it became the principal military outpost of the Bay colony.

 Old Fort Mifflin Historical Sociey

Fort Mifflin Home Page

About Fort Mifflin:Quoted verbatim from the Fort Mifflin web site: "Located on the scenic Delaware River, Fort Mifflin was originally built by the British in 1771. It is the site of the largest bombardment the North American continent has ever witnessed. In 1777, during the American Revolution, a valiant five-week battle took place when the British Navy attacked Fort Mifflin on Mud Island. The British had the garrison of approximately 400 Continental soldiers surrounded from three sides. Attempting to open the supply line for the British Army already in the Rebel capital of Philadelphia, the British shot over 10,000 cannonballs at the Fort, causing the garrison to eventually evacuate. Over 150 Continental soldiers died as a result of the battle and led Thomas Paine to write: “The garrison , with scarce anything to cover them but their bravery, survived in the midst of the mud, shot & shells, and were obliged to give up more to the powers of time & gunpowder than to military superiority.” This allowed General Washington and the Continental Army to repair to their winter quarters in a place called the Valley Forge. Too late in the season for British General Howe to chase them, the garrison at Fort Mifflin thus extended the war and allowed the American army time to regroup until the spring of 1778.

During the Revolutionary War the garrison at Fort Mifflin was ordered by General George Washington to hold off the British Navy so the Continental Army could make its way to their winter encampment at Valley Forge. Washington wrote that the defense of the Delaware River was “of the utmost importance to America.” be told

When reproducing historical flags, sometimes there is no 100% way to know their exact design. Absent an actual flag still surviving, their exact appearance is often a matter left up to interpretation. For our my research I turned to Dexereaux Cannon, author and flag scholar who writes his opinion below. As you can see, there is a case to be made for more than one stripe arrangement of the Mifflin flag. Our is of the version used at the fort today and known to have been used by American ships of the period.

<<My source for information on these flags is Standards and Colors of the American Revolution by Edward W. Richardson.

The source for the flags of both Fort Mercer and Fort Mifflin is a sketch made in October 1777. There are no surviving flags, nor any better depiction from an original source than that shown in these prints.

In the case of the Fort Mifflin flag, as best as can be made out from the sketch as reproduced in Richardson’s book, the flag’s overall dimensions are 1 x 2. In Richardson’s book, and other sources, including Fort Mifflin, show the stripes as RED/WHITE/BLUE/RED/WHITE/BLUE/RED/WHITE/BLUE/RED/WHITE/BLUE/RED, so that seems to be the accepted form, and it does correspond to a 1778 painting showing the same flag flown on four captured American merchant ships, and to the stripes on the Grand Union flag flown by the Lexington in 1777. But if I were making an independent judgment based purely on what I see in the 1777 sketch, I would shown it with stripes as WHITE/RED/WHITE/BLUE/ WHITE/RED/WHITE/BLUE/ WHITE/RED/WHITE/BLUE.

So, to recap, if I were making a replica of the Fort Mifflin flag it would be 3 x 6 feet, with WHITE/RED/WHITE/BLUE/ WHITE/RED/WHITE/BLUE/ WHITE/RED/WHITE/BLUE stripes, but I would struggle with making it the usually accepted RED/WHITE/BLUE/RED/WHITE/BLUE/RED/WHITE/BLUE/RED/WHITE/BLUE/RED stripes for purposes of commercial acceptability, and because that combination is documented as used by American ships of the period.<<

Then this further update I received 5/28/08 from a historian at the site on the history of the Fort Mifflin flag:

>>Good Morning,

You have an excellent site and I applaud your flag information accuracy or at least the attempt to get it correct as best that you can.

Which brings me to the question at hand, the accuracy of the Fort Mifflin flag and its origins. Your expert, Dexereaux Cannon is correct in his deduction that the flag would be, (in) his estimation, WHITE/RED/WHITE/BLUE/WHITE/RED/WHITE/BLUE/WHITE/RED/WHITE/BLUE. I believe he is marking his opinion on the John Paul Jones, Franklin or "Serapis" flag that is mistakenly described as the "first American flag recognized by a foreign power" when the Dutch fleet were ordered it be "recognized on the high seas as the colors of a foreign country." Or that he feels that since Fort Mifflin's sister fort, Fort Mercer had a flag that had blue stripes rather than red, the distinction by Mr. Cannon can be made about the Fort Mifflin flag. But the Fort Mifflin flag flew almost a year before Fort Mercer was even manned in the fall of 1777, so it was the first of the two that appeared.

Our information about the Fort Mifflin flag comes to us from several sources that detail the flag used by the Pennsylvania Navy, which operated on the Delaware River in 1777 around Fort Mifflin as a "thirteen striped flag of alternating red, white and blue stripes." It only serves to believe that Fort Mifflin would have adopted such a flag as their own and we have examples of one original flag that survived that shows these colors. One of the sources comes from the Pennsylvania Navy flags makers records, as well as the U.S. Government of the time. One, Elizabeth Griscom Ross Claypoole, better known to us as Betsy Ross. Ross may not have made the first flag as legend suggests, but strong evidence that Ross did in fact make flags for the government includes a receipt for her making "ship's colours" for the Pennsylvania Navy in May 1777, as well as one large garrison flag for the troops on "Mud Island Battery," better known in history as Fort Mud or Fort Mifflin. It is also probably the source of the legend that was trumped up certain members of her family in 1876 to cash in on our country's Centennial celebration, which they did mightily.

Lastly, that Mr. Cannon interprets the drawing from the siege of Fort Mifflin in the fall of 1777 as having WHITE, RED, WHITE, BLUE, WHITE, RED, WHITE, BLUE, WHITE, RED, WHITE, BLUE escapes my eyes. I have seen the actual, original water color drawing by Major John Montressor who was on one of the ships bombarding the Fort and you can clearly see that the stripes are thirteen; red, white, blue alternating stripes.

All that said, things of this nature are always up to interpretation. As an historian I have learned that you do not use two words; Never and Always. No sooner than these words are used then a another historian will come along in preceding years and prove you incorrect. Such is the case with Mr. Cannon and I someday.

Bravo Zulu on a job well done and keep up the good work.

The Viking Flag , thanks to Michael Faul, editor of Flagmaster, The Journal of The Flag Institute

" >> Pretty soon you are going to be sick of hearing from me. That is especially so with regard to the present message. Have now had a chance to view your historic listings in detail. Sorry to say, but I must challenge three of them. The first is the Viking raven flag. Yes, I know that Erik the Red (or his son, Lief Eriksson) reached "Vinland" in the mediaeval period, long before Columbus. Neither of them brought this flag with them. Sorry, but that's a fact. It is a common misconception that the Viking raven flag was a kind of national flag in the modern sense. It was no such thing. The design, which probably varied considerably, is recorded only five times, and in each case in connection with a specific leader. In one case the flag was "magic" and the raven appeared only when the flag flew in battle. Yes, well, maybe ..... Certainly the only case of the flag being recorded outside the British Isles is a reference to Harald Hardrada, King of Norway, having such a flag, known as "Landwaster". Fat lot of good it did him, as he was defeated and killed at Stamford Bridge, just outside York, in 1066. That is the last record of any of these flags.""

My reply:  >>So, thank you for your patience. Remember, I am never bothered by challenges to any flag. Instead I welcome any chance to get it right. With your permission I will even post your comments and credit you by name and provide a link to The Flag Institute. To your comments: I make no claim for the so called Viking flag to be anything in particular. It is just a cool looking flag that is available here and its distribution is not of my doing. I will be glad to offer it as what you now point it out to be.  It has been available for years from many sources. I just try to offer every flag I can. By the way, I make no claim to be a vexillologist, a scholar or a historian. I am a huge history buff and flag fan. I do consider myself to be a professional flag merchant. As the latter, I do try to provide accurate information and products.

Many of the historic flags in my product have been brought out by me for the first time as far as I can tell. Unlike flags such as the Viking Raven, those flags I bring out are based on what I consider to be careful and convincing research done by others whom I credit. Most of those flags are brought to me by others who make me aware of a cool flag with a compelling story behind it. Wait until you see what is coming out in January.>>

United East India Company thanks to Michael Faul, editor of Flagmaster, The Journal of The Flag Institute

>>The flag you show, of the United East India Company was indeed used, in the East Indies and at the Cape of Good Hope. Its only appearance in American waters, was for the original survey of the coasts of modern Long Island, New York, New Jersey and the Delaware river in about 1620.

In 1623 (if I remember correctly) the Dutch founded their settlement of New Amsterdam (today New York) when Peter Minuit bought Manhattan Island for some beads - or so the story goes. Minuit was in the service of the GWC, the Chartered West India Company. It was this company which set up New Amsterdam and also founded Dutch settlements in the Caribbean, the modern Dutch East Indies (or whatever it is they are calling themselves now!).

So the EAST India Company flag never flew over NewYork, but it was seen in the earlier survey. The flag hoisted over the settlement of New Amsterdam was that of the WEST India Company, the same design as the former flag but with the initials GWC combined in the centre.

Just to clarify matters a bit more (or confuse you completely!) The United East India Company was so-called because it was an association of six Dutch chambers of commerce in different cities. Each Chamber in the company had its own flag, in the livery companies of the particular city, with the VOC monogram surmounted by the city's initial letter. This was never the case with the West India Company, which was chartered directly by the King of the Netherlands. (See Flagmaster No 092 for all the flags of the Chambers of the EIC).

Best wishes for Christmas and the New Year. Yours in flags and friendship. Michael Faul

P.S. Just to make your life really miserable, I should add that the original G.W.C. flag, like the earlier one, was orange-white-blue. The red-white-blue colours became increasingly accepted in the mid 17th century, but it was only in about 1670 that they were fully endorsed as official.>>

Alamo Flag thanks to Michael Faul, editor of Flagmaster, The Journal of The Flag Institute

>>Finally - and most controversially - the flag of the Alamo. See Flagmaster 125 when published (soon, I promise!). Article on Mexico deals with this design. The "1824 Flag" was designated by the Texan Assembly in November 1835 for privateer vessels. There is no record of it having been used on land. Certainly, by the time the siege of the Alamo began, no-one in the fort would have accepted a Mexican-pattern flag. The "Coahuila y Tejas" flag is recorded as being raised in defiance as Santa Anna's Mexican force reached San Antonio; but it was hoisted for only about five minutes, before the hoisters took in the size of the Mexican army and decided that discretion was better than valour. Alamo commander Travis wrote that he brought "a flag" with him to San Antonio, but no description of it survives.

The only flag known for certain to have been raised over the Alamo was that of the New Orleans Greys, a volunteer unit from Louisiana. This flag was raised on the Long Barracks as the final assault began. It was captured by Lieutenants Torres and Martinez of the Zapadores Batallion, both of whom were killed in the attack. It is now undergoing restoration in Mexico City.<<

My Reply: >>And next , The Alamo. Ah, "The Alamo Flag". I already know about The New Orleans Greys flag. Apparently you never got a chance to see it on my web site. That is one of the earliest unique flags I brought to market. It was a great job and we took more than a year to get the artwork right. A customer had been urging me to do it for years, and he had a black and white glossy photo of the original badly deteriorated flag. A Canadian artist did a great job of recreating it. I had a fine write up on the web site about its history . It was on my web site and in my catalog for years. I only just recently removed it because I either now had to produce yet another batch or discontinue it. The batch I would have needed to make would have been a two year supply and I just did not want to commit that many to inventory again.
>
> I just recently sold my only remaining flag "used , as is" to a heritage organization in Texas who liked my design so much, they were willing to take my own personal display flag at a discount just to at least have one.
>
> I continue to offer the "Alamo Flag" only because that is the name everyone uses for that tri color design. But you are right, I should offer an explanation of it. The historical info offered with the Greys flag made it clear.>>

Flag design classroom experiment Dear Al,
I was looking through your website today and was interested to see a comment regarding the Fort Mercer flag by Devereaux Cannon.  He made the statement that maybe 'the colors were reversed because someone got confused'.  Being close to Philadelphia, the maker of the flag should have had correct information close at hand, but the flag resolution, being somewhat ambiguous, could have led to the maker of the flag to getting the wrong information. .... I recently gave a presentation to two local 5th grade classes on the evolution of the stars and stripes. For some time now, I've pondered the multitude of versions of the early stars and stripes and I think Mr. Cannon is correct, people just got the wrong information.  As part of my program, I gave one class specific instructions on drawing a flag with 3 white and two red stripes with three red stars in the top white stripe (the flag of Washington, DC).  To the other class, I whispered the instructions for a flag of 3 white stripes, 2 red stripes and 3 red stars to one student, who then passed the information down the line to five other students, the last student giving the entire class the instructions.  You can imagine the many versions that came out of that . . . vertical stripes, two thin red stripes at the bottom, diagonal stripes, stars sprinkled throughout the flag, etc.  I likened the exercise to the folks of 1777 getting their information from a publication, i.e. newspaper or copy of the flag resolution (class 1) to those folks more distant who got their information from a traveler, then a neighbor, then another neighbor, etc. (class 2). At any rate, the kids a had a lot of fun with it.  M.S., Avondale, PA

the url for this page is http://flagguys.com/hist.html