Grand Union Flag First Version of Old Glory, Raised Over Washington's Headquarters, Jan. 1, 1776

Grand Union Flag Raised Over Washington's Headquarters, Jan. 1, 1776

From the University of North Carolina News Letter, Chapel Hill, N.C., July 9, 1919

Old Glory Flag Dates

Through many years Old Glory has been having all kinds of experiences; in war and in peace, in successes and in reverses, in rejoicings and in mournings. The story of her life can be told here in only a brief, disconnected, and sketchy manner, but even so the touches of romance will appear. The red letter days in her life and the reason for them during her first century of life are given below.

January 1-2, 1776. Grand Union Flag (British Union and 13 Stripes) over Washington’s headquarters at Cambridge, Mass. This was the first real flag of the Colonies.

February 8, 1776. Colonial Congressional Committee accepted a naval flag, consisting of 13 stripes, alternate red and white, with a rattle snake diagonally across the face of it.

March 17, 1776. The first display of the Grand Union flag in Boston, on the day that town was evacuated by the British.

November 16, 1776. First foreign salute to an American flag. This was to the Grand Union Flag, and was given by the Dutch governor, DeGraaff, at the island of St. Eustatius to the brig, Andrea Doria, commanded by Captain Robinson.

June 14, 1777. First strictly American flag decreed by Congress. This flag displaced the British Union by 13 stars, and the first flag of this design was made by Betsy Ross, at her home in Philadelphia. It contained 13 stripes, alternate red and white, and 13 white stars upon a blue field.

June 14, 1777. Captain John Paul Jones appointed to the command of the Ranger. It was Jones who first displayed the Stars and Stripes on a naval vessel. It was also he who had previously first hoisted the flag of America on board the naval vessel Alfred in 1775.

August 3, 1777. First display of the Stars and Stripes over Fort Stanwix, N.J.

September 11, 1777. The American flag first carried in Battle at the Brandywine. This was the first great battle fought after its adoption by the Continental Congress.

--L.A.W.