THE Flag Company

GADSDEN FLAG
The rattlesnake flags were the product of the southern colonies. One of the first of these was the Gadsden Flag, devised by Colonel Christopher Gadsden, a patriot of South Carolina, and presented to Congress with the expressed desire that it be designated as the flag of the Commander of the American Navy. Congress thanked him for the idea and discussed Benjamin Franklin’s analysis of the Rattlesnake, but declined to incorporate it into law. It is claimed that the Gadsden Flag was flown on the “Alfred” as the personal banner of commander Esek Hopkins, Commander of the American Navy. It was run up by John Paul Jones. The words “Don’t Tread on Me” were evolved from an incident of the times. Lord North had declared that he would never relax his coercive measures until he had brought America to his feet. The sentence is an answer to his Highness and a warning as well. It said, that should he accomplish his purpose, it would be as dangerous to tread on America as it would be to tread on her symbol – the American rattler.

 

GADSDEN FLAG PRICING

These flags are priced for  summer holiday decorations and tea party celebrations.  The stick flags are hemmed and stapled to a natural wood staff with a spear on top.  The 12 x 18" flags are on a 30 x 5/16th staff.  The 24 x 36" flags are on 40 x 7/16" staff.  Sold in minimum quantities of one dozen with the next price break at one gross. This flag is available in Nyl-Glo nylon finished with canvas heading and grommets.  No minimum quantities apply for the larger sizes.

FIRST NAVY JACK
Flown by the first American Navy as it assembled under Commodore Esek Hopkins, the legendary First Navy Jack has since been a symbol of both the American Navy and spirit.  The traditional thirteen stripes are crossed by a Timber Rattlesnake, which was especially significant in the American Revolution, as it became an avatar for the Colonial attitude.  The snake does not strike unless provoked, and gives warning first with its rattle, which shown on the flag has thirteen layers.  The bold words, “Don’t Tread on Me” reiterate the point and ensure that it is understood.  Currently, in accordance with the orders of Secretary of the Navy, all US ships are to fly the First Navy Jack for the duration of the War on Terrorism, in honor of those killed on September 11, 2001.

                              Historical flag pricing

The Culpeper Minutemen Flag
This is the immortal banner of the Culpeper Minute-Men, who fought bravely against the British in the American Revolution.  Like the Gadsden Flag and the First Navy Jack, it contains a Timber Rattlesnake with the words, “Don’t Tread on Me,” a powerful expression of resistance to the British.  It also contains the words of their legendary commander, Patrick Henry, whose famous slogan “Liberty or Death” inspired many Colonial Forces to fight for the former at any cost.  The Culpeper Minute-Men fought bravely under this flag, striking many decisive blows against the British Infantry.  They were a self equipped Militia, known for their irregular but effective tactics.

                              Historical flag pricing

Betsy Ross
Resolved that the flag of the thirteen states to be thirteen stripes alternate red and white, that the union be thirteen stars, white on a blue field, representing a new constellation.” With these simple words Congress created the American Flag on June 14, 1777.The stripes came from the field of the Grand Union Flag and were presumably taken from the Washington coat of arms. It is probable that the stars were also taken from that emblem, and changed to white for color harmony. It is generally conceded that General Washington had a hand in designing this flag and it is fair to assume that the idea of the stars originated with him.The first Stars and Stripes displayed in the face of an armed enemy was at Fort Stanwix, August 3, 1777. The Flag was improvised. The white stripes and stars came from the soldier’s shirts; a captain’s cloak supplied the blue of the union; and the red stripes came from the flannel petticoats of the women of the garrison, who gladly donated them for the purpose.

                              Historical flag pricing

Bennington
Burgoyne, the British General operating in northern New York, in the Revolutionary War, heard that the Americans had collected some military supplies at Bennington, Vermont. He sent an expedition of 1,000 men to capture them.Colonel John Stark, a hero of Bunker Hill, with 2,000 Americans set out to oppose the British. They fought under the Bennington Flag. When Stark saw the British advancing down the road he pointed them out to his brave troops and said: “Boys, there they are. We beat them today, or Molly Stark’s a widow.”The Green Mountain Boys, fighting Indian fashion, practically annihilated the British Regulars. Only about 100 of them ever got back to Burgoyne’s Army. It was the loss of these 900 men that contributed much to the failure of Burgoyne’s campaign, which ended in disaster with the surrender of his Army at Saratoga, New York, October 7, 1777, a death blow to the British.The Bennington Flag was presented to Colonel Stark’s Army by Nathaniel Fillmore, the father of the future President. It was made of homespun linen and hand sewed.

                              Historical flag pricing

Confederate Battle
The Battle Flag of the Confederacy was originally designed to alleviate the confusion the “Stars and Bars”(bearing strong resemblance to the Stars and Stripes) had caused on the battlefield.  To remedy this, General Beauregard used the design of Colonel William Porcher Miles for his forces.  The flag features a Cross of St Andrew and 13 stars representing the 13 states to have seceded and joined the Confederacy, though Kentucky and Missouri were officially neutral.  It was flown, in a few variations, by the armies of the South as well as its navy.  The emblem proved so popular it soon became a part of the Confederacy’s national flag, and would be used until its fall.  Known as the “Southern Cross”, it remains a powerful symbol of the South, and is generally considered the main emblem of the Confederacy.

                                          Historical flag pricing

History and pictures of other flags of the United States of America we carry

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