As for the blue ground
for the stars, it was cut from the cloak of Captain Abram Swartwout.
The result was not very elegant, but it was a flag, and it was _the_
flag, and the besieged men were as proud of it and stood for it as
bravely as if it had been made of damask with the daintiest of
needlework. August 22, 1777, the fort was relieved, and after a few
days Captain Swartwout began to be anxious about his blue cloak.
Colonel Peter Gansevoort, who commanded the fort, had promised him a
new one to take the place of the one which he had sacrificed for the
flag, but it had not arrived. Seven days he waited. At the end of the
seventh day he sent a note from Poughkeepsie, where he then was, back
to the fort, saying: "You may Remember Agreeable to Your promise, I
was to have an Order for Eight Yards of Broad-Cloath, on the
Commissary for Cloathing of this State In Lieu of my Blue Cloak, which
we Used for Coulours at Fort Schuyler. An opportunity Now presenting
itself, I beg You to send me an Order." Broadcloth was broadcloth in
those days, and a "Blue Cloak" was not so easily obtained. It is no
wonder he wrote it with capitals. It is to be hoped that the good
captain received his order; but it must have been a very large cloak
to require eight yards of "Broad-Cloath."

Another interesting banner was that borne by Count Pulaski, a gallant
Pole, who came to help in the struggle for freedom. He visited
Lafayette when the Frenchman was wounded and in the care of the
Moravian Sisterhood in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. The embroidery of
these Sisters was very beautiful, and Pulaski engaged them to make him
a banner, which they did. On one side were the letters "U.S.," and on
the other the thirteen stars in a circle, surrounding an eye which is
rather uncomfortably set in a triangle. They made a mistake in
spelling their Latin motto, but the crimson banner, with its silver
fringe and its exquisite embroidery, was very handsome. Longfellow's
poem about this banner, "Hymn of the Moravian Nuns of Bethlehem," is
excellent poetry, but hardly accurate history. It is quite probable
that the good women sent the banner forth with their blessing, but it
is rather doubtful whether they said anything like the following:--

"Take thy banner, and if e'er
Thou shouldst press the soldier's bier,
And the muffled drums should beat
To the tread of mournful feet,
Then this crimson flag shall be
Martial cloak and shroud for th