n thirty years after
the Pilgrims left that country for America--was red, white, and blue,
in three horizontal stripes. The ensign of the English East India
Company was a flag of thirteen horizontal red and white stripes with a
white canton containing a red St. George's Cross; but there is no
reason to suppose that this inspired the flag of the colonies. Bunting
was scarce and Franklin was always a thrifty soul. If that committee
of three did design the flag, it is not at all unlikely that Franklin
suggested utilizing the standards they already had, and changing their
character by stitching on white stripes. To deface the flag of Britain
was a serious offense, and maybe it was thought just as well that the
name of the originator of this "Grand Union" should not be on record.
The flag was first raised on the 1st of January, 1776, in what is now
Somerville, on Prospect Hill, and was saluted with thirteen guns and
thirteen rousing cheers. It was seen by the British troops in Boston,
and for some reason they took it as a sign of submission brought about
by the King's hostile proclamation, which they supposed had been read
in Cambridge. Washington wrote:--

Before the proclamation came to hand, we had hoisted the Union
Flag in compliment to the United Colonies. But, behold, it was
received in Boston as a token of the deep impression the speech
had made upon us, and as a signal of submission. By this time, I
presume, they begin to think it strange that we have not made a
formal surrender of our lines.

The colonists had adopted a flag, but all sorts of colors continued to
be borne on both sea and land. On the sea the favorite seems to have
been a white flag displaying a green pine tree. One year after the
battle of Lexington, Massachusetts formally decreed that this flag
should be used on her vessels, and that their officers should wear a
green and white uniform. Even two years later than this, the Pine-Tree
Flag was borne by floating batteries on the Delaware River. Sometimes
the British ran up an American flag to deceive the colonial vessels,
and sometimes the colonists ran up a flag made of horizontal red and
white stripes to persuade the British that it was one of their own
signal flags. Sometimes rattlesnake flags were used.

Congress ordered the building of war vessels as promptly as possible,
five cruisers first of all. The Alfred, on which John Paul Jones was
lieutenant, became the fla