Even before this approval, a number of ladies in Richmond had known of the design and were preparing examples of the new battle flag. Magnus, 1864. STARS AND BARS Images of 7 Star versions of the first Confederate national flag. AWIC27 11th Virginia Regiment . A 3 to 3 1/2 wide dark blue St. Andrews cross traversed the canton bearing thirteen white, 5-pointed stars, each 3 in diameter. When the British advanced up the slope the next day, according to legend they saw a red flag, but we have no real knowledge of which American Flag was actually flown in this battle. Taylor. This unusual 13 star flag that was flown at Fort Mercer for some unknown reason reversed the normal red and blue colors. Essentially, the seventh pattern differed in only one respect from its predecessor. Miles offered the design with the St. Andrews cross he had submitted for consideration as a national flag. In Virginia, the Culpeper Minutemen from Culpeper County fighting with Colonel Patrick Henry in the 1st Virginia Regiment fought under the Culpeper . Many individual companies received splendid flags from the communities from which they were raised, but the regiments into which they were assembled did not necessarily share in this enthusiasm. The first official documented US flag had also a staggered star pattern and was used by the navy. Their St. Andrews crosses were usually between 6 and 7 wide and were flanked on each side with 5/8 wide white cotton tape. The edging of the cross only flanked the sides of the cross and did not extend around its ends. The basic design of what became known as the Army of Northern Virginia Battle Flag was a blue, white-bordered saltire cross on a red field. On November 13, 1861, the company was mustered out of service. All of these flags are essentially 48 square. The changes instituted at this time would, for the most part, affect the subsequent patterns produced to the end of the War. Virginia in the American Civil War. It was later engraved by Robert Scot of Philadelphia and published . Colors of the Eleventh Virginia Regiment 1777. Army of Northern Virginia Battle Flag Virginia Colonial and Revolutionary War Flags U.S. There is, however, no real proof, either from testimonials or diaries that mention any flag flown that day by either side, except one by a British officer (Lt. Barker), who reported that British grenadiers chopped down and destroyed a flag and liberty pole standing on a hill near Concord Center. Army of Northern Virginia Battle Flag First Bunting Issue, 1862 By Devereaux D. Cannon, Jr. 02 February 2000. The center of the Flag featured a set of Green Laurels with a large Roman Numeral I. In either September or early October, 1864, Mr. Daniel Morrison, clerk in charge of the flag manufacturing branch of the Richmond Clothing Depot, again altered the pattern of the battle flag being prepared by the depot. Nick Artimovich, 2 May 1996, image by Douglas Payne, 13 September 2013, We recently installed a display of 51 Revolutionary era and early American Each company was to consist of 68 enlisted men, with officers to include a captain, lieutenant, and ensign (second lieutenant). During the French and Indian War, the Virginia Regiment was organized and was the only colonial regiment incorporated into the British line (1754-1763) and saw action at the Battle of Jumonville Glen, Fort Necessity, and the Braddock and Forbes expeditions. With the heightened political tensions of the 1770s, the regiment was raised again, on July 17, 1775, at Williamsburg, Virginia. There, under the leadership of General Nathaniel Greene, the militiamen halted the British advance through the Carolinas and turned them back to the seaport towns. By Devereaux D. Cannon, Jr. 27 January 2000 Three young ladies of Richmond and Baltimore, sisters Jennie and Hetty Cary and their cousin Constance Cary, then living in Richmond, in particular had chosen to make battle flags for presentation to three of the most prominent general officers then at Centreville. Seventh Bunting Issue, 1864 At the time, Culpeper was considered frontier territory. #H199 $69.00 Limited to stock on hand. One of the four sizes produced was intended for field use. Bauman had carefully surveyed the terrain and battle positions at Yorktown, at the siege of Yorktown. Like the silk issues of 1861, these flags appear to have been made by ladies sewing circles. By Devereaux D. Cannon, Jr. 27 January 2000. An interesting bit of erroneous research done on this flag in 1931 resulted in it being mistakenly tied to the wrong Robert Wilson and to the 7th Pennsylvania Militia Regiment, although no actual connection between this flag and the Pennsylvanias regiment existed. Only 17 surrendered at Appomattox on April 9, 1865. At the Battle of Cowpens, General Daniel Morgan won a decisive victory against the British in South Carolina on January 17, 1781. Nevertheless, they signified the unity of the Thirteen Colonies in their struggle for independence. First Bunting Issue, 1862 Early designs tended to be modifications of British flags until the colonials took the path of independence in 1776. This flag measured 4 feet on its hoist by 6 feet on its fly. Us Army 1st Cavalry Division Vietnam Combat Veteran With Ribbon Garden Flag Outdoor Flags Double Sided Flag3x5ft $1865 $9.79 delivery Mar 6 - 27 Or fastest delivery Feb 16 - 22 2x3 1st Black Cavalry Division Army U.S. Anything with five points or less was called a spur., Ethan Allen and his cousin Seth Warner came from a part of the New Hampshire land grant that eventual became the modern State of Vermont. 1st Virginia Regiment The Regiment was authorized on August 21, 1775 in the Virginia State Troops as the First Virginia Regiment. Fayette Artillery: Capt. This page was last edited on 11 December 2022, at 09:05. Gordan, Co. H (2nd) (Richmond Greys, Company B): Capt. A group from the 2nd Corps artillery were decorated with battle honors. Why are there 13 stars on Confederate flags? In 1775, Colonel Christopher Gadsden was in Philadelphia representing his home colony of South Carolina at the Continental Congress and presented this new naval flag to the Congress. The British Ambassador demanded the ships Serapis and Alliance, and their crews, be seized as pirates because they flew no recognized flags, and turned over to them. Gathering at the headquarters of the Army of the Potomac (later renamed the Army of Northern Virginia) were generals Joseph Johnston, G.T. Vols., Commanding Army Potomac. The history of the Stamp Act flag began in about 1765, when protests of the duties and taxes and stamps required by Parliament began in the colonies. Although the Fort did not surrender to the British, eventually it was evacuated because of the extensive damage and the defenders fled to safety in New Jersey. However, despite this issue, most of the surviving battle flags of batteries and artillery battalions of the Army of Northern Virginia are in fact infantry size (4 foot square). After crossing the Delaware River, Brigadier General Adam Stephen's troops guarded the bridgehead while the remaining troops crossed. Although very similar to the original Hopkins flag, this flag replaced the six-pointed stars with the more traditional five-pointed American stars. This became the flag of the South Carolina Minute Men and the modern South Carolina State Flag still contains the crescent moon from this Revolutionary War flag. Their unusual dress alarmed the people as they marched through the country. After the war, Simcoe went on to become Upper Canadas first lieutenant-governor and probably the most effective of all British officials dispatched from London to preside over a Canadian province. Copyright 2013 Stronghold Nation. The Continental Navy, knowing they were up against the greatest naval power in the world, set sail flying a flag with an APPEAL TO HEAVEN.. Gen. Johnston suggested that it be made in a square shape to save materials as well as ease manufacture, and this was accepted. Co. C (Montgomery Guard): Capt. 3rd Arkansas Infantry 4th North Carolina Infantry 1st Virginia Infantry 4th & 5th Texas Infantry . Many flag historians believe that the flag was between Simcoe and his position at Gloucester Point and the sun, thus resulting in the strange colors he perceived. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog's author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. General William Howe, the commanding British general in Philadelphia, sent General Charles Cornwallis with 5,000 men to attack Fort Mercer, landing them by ferry three miles south of the fort. Silk Issue (First Type, Second Variation), 1861 . He had been a Lt. Today, a modern reproduction of this Washington flag still flies at his Valley Forge Headquarters, but there is no period documentation or proof to support it ever being an actual flag used during the Revolutionary War. Sixth Bunting Issue, 1864 Overall, the new flags were generally closer to 51 square rather than 48 square of the predecessors. Patrick Henry's 1st Virginia Regiment Their unusual dress alarmed the people as they marched through the country. When General Stark died, he was the oldest (last) Revolutionary War general. Their flags central symbol was a coiled rattlesnake about to strike, and below it the words DONT TREAD ON ME. At each side were the words of Patrick Henry LIBERTY OR DEATH!. Gen. Beauregard first suggested the colors be a blue field with a red cross, but Miles countered that this was contrary to the laws of heraldry. Colonel Patrick Henry was in command. F. Miller Disbanded when the regiment was reorganised in April 1862. The fifth bunting pattern of the Richmond Clothing Depot was only briefly issued and only as a replacement flag. Nov 16, 2018 - Explore Robert ambrose's board "Virginia uniforms and flags" on Pinterest. One of the first Volunteer Regiments mustered into American Revolutionary War service (1777) from the Colony of Virginia, The 1st Regiment was commanded by legendary Patriot, Patrick Henry (" Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death "). : "I received your Excellency's letter yesterday, informing of the application of Colo. Parker for the 1st Virginia regiment, by which I find a letter I wrote Colo. Harrison hath miscarried, in which I beg'd him to return your Excellency my thanks for indulging me to retire, which I now take the liberty of doing, and at the same time . The board created the 1st Virginia Battalion and re-designated the troops at 9th Regiment (formerly the 13th) one more time as the new 7th Regiment. No flags other than infantry size are known to have been made. There is, however, one flag of the second type used by the 6th Virginia Cavalry which has a pole sleeve of yellow (the cavalry branch colour). from a sketch by Howard M. Madaus, Army of Northern Virginia Battle Flag The Bedford Flag may be the oldest complete flag known to exist in the United States. flags at the Virginia Historical Society in Richmond, Va. Its 4 diameter stars were spaced at 7 intervals rather than 8 intervals on its 5 wide bunting St. Andrews Cross. This was one of the bloodiest battles of the Revolutionary War with the British losing over 25% of their troops. This article is about the unit that served in the Confederate Army. In the midst of Pickett's Charge on July 3, 1863, Private Marshall Sherman captured the flag from the 28th Virginia. Three hundred Culpeper Minutemen led by Colonel Stevens marched toward Williamsburg at the beginning of the fighting. for General Joseph E. Johnston These honors had primarily been attached to the silk issue and first and second bunting issue battle flags. Lieutenant-colonel itth Virginia, November, 1776; colonel 2d Virginia, September 26, 1777. R.M. Years later, Rebecca assisted her daughter in making an even more famous flag for our country, the Star Spangled Banner used at Ft. McHenry. Army of Northern Virginia Battle Flag Although their configuration was now closer to the square types of the earlier issues, the most prominent change was the reverting to the 8 star spacing on the arms of the cross that had typified the fourth pattern. Second National Pattern Regimental Flag The traditional version of this story gives Colonial Starks wife, Molly Stark, credit for making the flag. The field officers were Colonels Patrick T. Moore, Franklin G. Skinner, and Lewis B. Williams, Jr; Lieutenant Colonels William H. Fry and Frank H. Langley; and Majors John Dooley, William P. Mumford, George F. Norton, and William H. Palmer. Later the unit was involved in the capture of Plymouth, the conflicts at Drewry's Bluff and Cold Harbor, the Siege of Petersburg south and north of the James River, and the Appomattox Campaign. 21-02-2017 - The 1st Virginia Regiment flag. they are basically 36 square. At one point the flag was shot from the pole and two soldiers were killed raising it once more. The regimental lineage of the Colonial, the French and Indian War, and the American Revolution 1st Virginia Regiment is maintained in the Department of Military Affairs by the Office of the State Adjutant General of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the Virginia Defense Force. write us | The seventh bunting pattern battle flags were issued from the Richmond Clothing Depot devoid of decoration. The distribution of these cotton substitutes was very limited, with only three forces currently known to have received them: Hoods Brigade of Whitings Division, Elzeys Brigade from the Shenandoah Valley, and Stuarts Maryland Line. Instead of either the 6 spacing of the third pattern or 8 spacing of the fourth, the stars were set on the arms of the cross at 9 intervals. The flag he designed became known as the Grand Union Flag. This unique Flag has an elongated canton and blue and red stripes. A flag of nine red and white vertical stripes known as the Rebellious Stripes was flown from this pole. Company B, Rhett Guards, Captain W. Walker. The regiment originated from the Charles City-Henrico County Regiment of Militia founded in 1652. The regiment saw action at the Battle of Great Bridge, New York Campaign, Battle of Trenton, Battle of Princeton, Battle of Brandywine, Battle of Germantown, Battle of Monmouth, Battle of Stony Point and the Siege of Charleston. The flag of the 2nd Virginia Regiment (and used by the 1st Virginia Brigade) at First Manassas represented the ideals of self-government and state independence that Virginians valued in the 1860's. Your Historian, Miss Sarah P.S. These men formed part of Colonel Patrick Henrys First Virginia Regiment of 1775. Washington organized his army into two columns for the attack on Trenton. After a protest of the Stamp Act was held under an Elm tree in Boston, the tree became known as the Liberty Tree, and a protest group known as the Sons of Liberty was formed. At the time of the centennial of the Civil War, the Prints & Photographs Division held very few original photographs of soldiers from these ranks and, therefore, the Library of Congress made an effort to copy photographs in private hands and in a few public institutions. Inside the Canton was 13-White Stars. by Devereaux D. Cannon, Jr., 18 March 2000. Placed on the arms of the cross were stars symbolizing the states of the Confederacy. Regular price 3 View. According to legend, one day in 1775, General Washington approached Rebecca Flower Young, a Philadelphia pennant and colors maker, and asked her to make a flag for use by the troops. Many historians think the flag more likely to have been at the battle, if any, was the more common First New England Naval Ensign. [1] Field officers at Valley Forge were Colonel Richard Parker, Colonel James Hendricks, Lt. Hills Light Division in June of 1863, Edward Johnsons Stonewall Division in September of 1863, and Heths Division in the same month. Third Bunting Issue, 1862-1864 Peyton Powell (John Peyton Powell; 1760-1844), who enlisted on 22 Nov. 1776, served as sergeant in the 11th Virginia Regiment, later designated the 7th Virginia Regiment. A few regiments in the field applied unit abbreviations after receipt of the flags, but for the most part the flags were left without decoration. Flag appeared. F.J. Boggs, Co. Co. G (Gordan's Company): Capt. One of the first Volunteer Regiments mustered into American Revolutionary War service (1777) from the Colony of Virginia, The 1st Regiment was commanded by legendary Patriot, Patrick Henry (Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death). Surprisingly, the first of the new fourth bunting pattern Richmond Depot battle flags were issued, not to units of the Army of Northern Virginia, but to Ectors Texas Brigade then serving in the western theater. Moreover, it is known that four battery flags were delivered to the Washington Artillery on 2 December 1862 that conform to the artillery size, i.e. A Banneroll underneath bore the word VIRGINIA. They commanded a New Hampshire and Vermont militia brigade known as the Green Mountain Boys.. The flag was turned into the U.S. War Department and cataloged, but by the late 19th century, it was back in Minnesota. On May 23, 1861, voters ratified Virginia's secession from the United States. In June, the Richmond Depot made another wool issue for the army. Marshall Sherman from the 1st Minnesota Volunteer Infantry Regiment captured a Confederate battle flag from the battlefields of Gettysburg, Pa. His bravery that day earned him not only the keepsake of his heroics, but also the Medal of Honor. The Regiment had a storied history, fighting in many of the Revolutions major battles, including - Trenton, Brandywine and was present at Yorktown. Impressed, the three entrusted Betsy with making our first flag. Authorized July 17, 1775 under the command of Patrick Henry. by Devereaux D. Cannon, Jr., 18 March 2000. Betsy Ross Flag This is the flag design that legend says was created by Betsy Ross for George Washington. There have been several suggestions proposed to explain this inconsistency between the proposed policy and the actual practice. According to this tradition he used this flag throughout the whole Revolutionary War. Starting in late November, 1861, the new battle flags were then presented to the Confederate units at Centreville and into December for other units in nearby parts of Northern Virginia. Conclusion: The Civil War is an ugly, bloody scar in American History. View Unit / Regimental Information By State: Unit Rosters By Individual State Although Coxs North Carolina brigade received a set of the new flags with painted battle honors and unit abbreviations applied in the manner of the 1863 divisional issues, most of the flags were issued devoid of markings. It was founded to defend the interests of Massachusetts from British forces. Inside the Canton was 13-White Stars. Legend claims it is the flag carried by Bedford Minuteman, Nathaniel Page, to the Concord Bridge on April 19, 1775, at the beginning of the American Revolution. Although Picketts Division would receive their new flags only marked with white painted unit designations on their red quadrants, most of the divisional issues had their battle honors painted in dark blue lettering in chronological order on their red quadrants, starting with the top, then the staff, then the fly, and finally the lower quadrant. his family until 2006 when they were sold at Sotheby's in NYC for $17.5 million. Based on research by Howard Madaus, Devereaux Cannon, Ken Legendre, Alan Summrall, Richard Rollins, Greg Biggs, and a host of other flag enthusiasts. The results were mixed. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. To remedy this inadequacy, General Beauregard caused a number of Confederate first national flags to be made from the bunting that had been seized at the former Gosport U.S. Navy Yard near Portsmouth, Virginia. This colonial victory forced Cornwallis to come to the aid of the defeated British forces and led to another costly battle for the British against Nathaniel Greenes forces at Guilford Courthouse in North Carolina. This flag represented a group of minutemen from Culpeper, Virginia. Later in 1862 other 3rd bunting issue battle flags were similarly decorated with honors with white paint on the quadrants of the red field. While a few artillery size battle flags survive conforming to both the 2nd and the 3rd bunting patterns, NO cavalry flags agreeing with the proposed 2.5 foot square dimensions survive for either the silk issues or the 1st, 2nd, or 3rd bunting issues of battle flags from the Richmond Depot. In 1863, a Pvt. In reality, the flag was the regimental flag of the Third Maryland Regiment, and this unit had been disbanded just prior to the battle. This item is best ordered as an add-on item due to minimum $4.00 shipping charge. The Flag of The 1st was a Red Field with a Blue Upper Left Canton. 1781. On a flag book this flag, representing New England, was correctly printed with heraldic hatching clearly indicating a red field, but it was hand-colored blue by mistake. Despite the creation of this (and other) battle flags, the First National flag would not fall from use in battle. On June 14, 1777, the Continental Congress passed a resolution adopting an official flag for the Colonial forces. This error has lived on to this very day. Drum Corps: Drum Major C.R.M. The center of the Flag featured a set of Green Laurels with a large Roman Numeral "I". The flag making was contracted to some Richmond sewing circles. Silk Issue (Second Type), 1861 The 24th Infantry Regiment fought in the difficult campaigns of the Army of Northern Virginia from the Seven Days Battles to Gettysburg, then moved to Georgia with Longstreet. During the battle of Yorktown in October, 1781, this flag flew on the right flank of the American troops. The regiment was merged into the 1st New York Regiment in 1781. The flag is essentially the same as the Continental Naval Jack. The white field was made of bunting as was the 2.5 feet square red canton. The captured cannon and mortars were then transported across the snow covered mountains of New England. on your site now that was one of the three.Douglas Payne, Jr., 13 The Dont Thread on Me! and Rattlesnake Ensign has become a powerful American symbol which tradition tells us was used by the Continental Navy in 1775 and is now being used again by the U.S. Navy in the War on Terrorism. Its casualties were 12 killed and 25 wounded at Drewry's Bluff, 1 killed and 77 wounded at the Battle of Five Forks, and 40 captured at the Battle of Sayler's Creek. Four divisions received flags so marked: D.H. Hills Division in April of 1863, A.P. The New England Flags sometimes showed the British Red Ensign with the tree in the first quarter as demonstrated in the second variant of New England Flags shown here. As with the third bunting issue, the three exterior edges of the flag were finished with white bunting that was folded over the raw edges to produce a border that was 1 to 1 3/4 wide. By Devereaux D. Cannon, Jr. 02 February 2000, Links: Photos and images of ANV 1st bunting issue battle flags, Army of Northern Virginia Battle Flag Rutherfordton, N.C.: 1901. The resulting flags were about 42 square; their scarlet fields were crossed by a poorly dyed blue cotton St. Andrews cross without the usual white edging. History [ edit] Origins [ edit] The regiment originated from the Charles City-Henrico County Regiment of Militia founded in 1652. In letters to his wife, Margaret Watson, Watson discusses family news, religious subjects, homesickness, the 1862 Maryland campaign, and a wound he received at the battle of Gettysburg. Several other members of the Wilson family also served with the Chester County Militia and were present at the Battle of Brandywine. The original flag was one of three captured by Tarleton that remained in Links:Photos and images of Richmond Clothing Depot Third National Flags, BRIDESMAIDS Rejected Proposals for the Confederate Flag, Failed Contestants for the First Confederate Flag (February-March 1861), Proposals that Modified the flag of the United States, FINAL EDITION The Third Confederate National Flag, Photos and Images of Third Confederate National Flags, STAINLESS BANNER The Second Confederate National Flag, Photos and Images of Second Confederate National Flags, STARS AND BARS The First Confederate National Flag. From this bunting Ruskell assembled at least 43 flags, for which he was paid $11.50 each. During the war it participated at Trenton, Princeton, Brandywine, Germantown, Valley Forge, Stony Point, and . The term Pine Tree flag is a generic name for a number of flags used by the New England and Massachusetts colonies from 1686 to 1778. The stars are shown in contemporary illustrations either as 5 pointed or as 6 pointed in rows of three (with a single star below if there are 13) and the fleur at the top. The fourth pattern Richmond Depot battle flags appear to have been made in one size only, with at least two cavalry regiments receiving these relatively large size flags. J. Griswold, Co. E (1st) (Richmond Light Infantry Blues): Capt. Flags with the word Liberty on them came to be called Liberty Flags and were usually flown from Liberty poles. Cary Sent to Fredericksburg and assigned to the. The conversations turned around the idea of creating a special battle flag, to be used, in the words of Gen. Beauregard, only in battle for their army. The companies (with original commanders) were: It fought at the Battle of First Bull Run (First Manassas) in a brigade under James Longstreet and in August totaled 570 men. 1st Virginia Regiment Flag. AWIC16 New England Pine Tree Flag - Bunker Hill Flag. I (Taylor's' Company): Capt. Noted vexillologist Greg Biggs said "The first 120 silk battle flags were issued in November, 1861. To the contrary, the cavalry flags that do survive, including one silk battle flag from the issue of 13 December 1861 (6th Virginia Cavalry- with a YELLOW pole sleeve), one orange bordered 2nd issue bunting battle flag (7th Virginia Cavalry), and a host of cavalry battle flags conforming to the 3rd bunting issue are all basically 48 square. Later, this Liberty flag was reportedly carried by the First New York Line Regiment, who largely came from Schenectady, between 1776-1777 during the revolution. 21-02-2017 - The 1st Virginia Regiment flag. Based either on the original water color drawing or a flag made from it, a number of battle flags sufficient to supply the Army of the Potomac were then ordered. There are two variantions of the first type: one having gold or yellow fringe on the three external edges of the flag; and the other having a white border in lieu of fringe. BATTLE FLAGS CAPTURED AT GETTYSBURGH, JULY 3, 1863. The first variant of the New England flag shown here also became a frequent naval ensign for all New England ships prior to 1707. Copies were then sent to various European ports including Texel, where the harbor master showed John Paul Jones the drawing of Franklins version of the American flag. Beauregard, Gustavus Smith and Congressman William Porcher Miles, then an aide on Beauregards staff. The flag was supposed to come in three sizes 48 inches square for infantry units, 36 inches square for artillery units and 30 inches square for cavalry but as the war progressed this was not always followed. The first of these and the most famous was created in September, 1861 in Virginia. These men formed part of Colonel Patrick Henry's First Virginia Regiment of 1775. This led to a wide interpretation by those sewing flags; although hundreds of flags were made, no two were exactly alike. Her final Revolutionary War service was carrying the Marquis de Lafayette back home to France. Army Quartermaster Colin M. Selph bought the entire silk supply of Richmond for making the flags (and the only red-like colors available in bulk were either pink or rose, hence these flags being of lighter shades). This shipment had left Bermuda on 29 March 1864 aboard the Index and had arrived at Wilmington on 9 April. Why on some Southern Cross Battle Flags is the center or thirteenth star omitted? For those units who had served at Williamsburg on 5-6 May, strips of printed cotton bearing that name were also distributed to Longstreets Division and Earlys Brigade of D.H. Hills Division. One of the first Volunteer Regiments mustered into American Revolutionary War service (1777) from the Colony of Virginia, The 1st Regiment was commanded by legendary Patriot, Patrick Henry (" Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death "). The new pattern reduced the overall size and the internal dimensions of the battle flag. These limited replacement flags were first issued starting in April, 1862 and continuing into May. J.B. Smith Mustered in as Co. While the fourth pattern bunting Richmond Depot battle flag was not the most prominent used in the War, through the selective examination of the War Departments flag collection in 1903, Dr. Samuel Lewis, chairman of the United Confederate Veterans flag committee, chose its dimensions to publish in the UCVs 1907 guide to the flags of the Confederacy. source: Standards and Colors of the American Revolution [ric82] A notable victory of the Green Mountain Boys occurred on the morning of May 10, 1775, when they silently invaded the British held Fort Ticonderoga and demanded its surrender. As a result, Confederate army and corps level officers all over the South began thinking about creating distinctive battle flags that were completely different from those of the Union Army, which would help make unit identification a lot easier. This was the flag of the 36-gun Continental Navy frigate, USS Alliance, one of finest warship built in America during the Revolution. The flag has been saved and is found in the Albany Institute of History and Art. Silk Issue (First Type, First Variation), 1861 3x5' dyed nylon design with heading and grommets.