numerous additional facts, which were embodied in another and longer newspaper article on the same topic. His interest in the subject grew with the increase of knowledge; new facts were accumulated and sought for, wherever to be obtained. The War of the Rebellion added a fresh impulse to his inquiries, and new and interesting incidents. The result is the present volume, which, if not rendered interesting by the graces of a practised authorship, can claim to be a faithful record of facts. Following the idea of Proudhon, the writer will be glad to receive from his readers any facts, incidents, or corrections, that will enable him to complete his memorial of our grand old flag, and help perpetuate it as the chosen emblem of Liberty and Union. Collected for his own amusement and instruction, in committing these memoirs to the public the compiler hopes they may interest and amuse others as much as the collecting of them has himself. If they revive and preserve, in the least degree, a patriotic sentiment for our starry banner, his ambition will be accomplished, his end attained. More than a thousand volumes have been examined in their preparation, and an extensive correspondence has been a necessity. I may say, therefore, to my readers, considering the score of years I have spent in the pursuit, as Montesquieu remarked to a friend concerning a particular part of his writings, "You will read it in a few hours, but I assure you it has cost me so much labor that it has whitened my hair." I would express my obligations to Messrs. WIlliam J. CANBY, WILLIAM D. GEMMILL, and CHARLES J. LUKENS of Philadelphia, and Messrs. B. J. LOSSING and CHARLES J. BUSHNELL of New York, for valuable suggestions and facts, and particularly to Mr. JOHN A. MCALLISTER, who has been unwearied in searching for and completing evidences of facts otherwise beyond my reach. Other friends, too numerous to mention, who have given me their assistance, will please accept my silent acknowledgments. In 1864, the manuscript of this book, in its then incomplete state, was forwarded from Lisbon, Portugal, to the managers of the National Sailors' Fair at Boston, as a contribution to that charity, which resulted in the establishment of the National Sailors' Home at Quincy, Mass. It arrived, however, too late to be printed for its benefit. NAVAL RENDEZVOUS, NAVY YARD, CHARLESTOWN, MASS. September 10, 1872. CONTENTS. PAGE 1. The Early Discoveries of America, and the First Banner planted on its Shores, A.D. 860-1634; 2. Colonial and Provincial Flags, 1634-1766; 3. Flags of the Pre-Revolutionary and Revolutionary Periods preceding the Stars and Stripes, 1766-1777. 4. The Grand Union or Continental 1. Theories as to the Origin of the Stars and Stripes, as the Devices of our National Banner; 2. The Flag of Thirteen Stars and Stripes during the Revolution, 1777-1783; 3. The Flag of Thirteen Stars and Thirteen Stripes, 1783-1795; 4. The Flag of Fifteen Stars and Fifteen Stripes, 1795-1818 j 1. The End of the War against the Union and the Flag; 2. The Return of the Battle-flags of the Volunteer Regiments to their States; 3. The Disposition of the Trophy-flags of the War; 4. Anecdotes and Incidents illustrating the History of our Flag, 1865–1880; 5. State Seals, Arms, Flags, and Colors 535 Miscellaneous. |