THE HISTORY
OF THE
FIRST UNITED STATES FLAG,
AND THE PATRIOTISM OF
BETSY ROSS,
THE IMMORTAL HEROINE THAT ORIGINATED THE
FIRST FLAG OF THE UNION.
The History of the First United States Flag
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DEDICATED TO THE LADIES OF THE UNITED STATES.
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By Col. J. Franklin Reigart,
Author of the “Life of Robert Fulton.”
HARRISBURG, PA.
LANE S. HART, PRINTER AND BINDER.
1878.
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Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1878, by
LANE S. HART,
in the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington, D. C.
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Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1878, by
LANE S. HART,
in the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington, D. C.
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PREFACE.
IN 1824, when General Lafayette arrived at Philadelphia, andwas nobly welcomed as “The Nation’s Guest,” the writerof this book was staying several weeks at the hospitablehome of his amiable and kind relative, Mrs. Betsy Ross. The arrivalof Lafayette excited and brightened her extraordinary memory, asshe very cheerfully entertained all her friends, by relating the mostinteresting facts of the Revolution, and its Flag of Victory. Herwords we well remember. She objected, as a member of the societyof “Friends,” to sit for her portrait, nevertheless, a miniature of herin crayon was made, and is now highly prized; and at this late day,we deem it our duty to publish the true history of the origin of thefirst Flag of our Country, and the patriotism of America’s most illustriousHeroine.
The BRAVEST of the brave demands our song,
Who made the Flag so firm and strong,
Of all earth’s emblems the brightest diadem,
The Freemen’s shield, the Patriot’s gem.
Listen to her thrilling, cheering voice, her soul-inspiring, martialsong, whilst a dozen of the ladies of her household joined in the chorus,as she handed over each Flag to the gallant troops, on their way tocamp, and roused their enthusiasm to the highest pitch. The ladiesof the Revolution loved her for her magnanimous and modest Quakerdeportment, and the army of Washington applauded her dignifiedadmonitions, so full of patriotism and power of song. Quak
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