History of the National Flag of the United States of America

THIS RESEARCH AS TO THE ORIGIN AND MEANING OF THE DEVICES COMBINED IN The National Flag of the United States of America, IS RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED TO MAJOR-GENERAL WINFIELD SCOTT, AS A SLIGHT TRIBUTE OF RESPECT FOR HIS DISTINGUISHED SERVICES, AND AS A MARK OF PERSONAL GRATITUDE, BY HIS FRIEND AND AIDE-DE-CAMP, SCHUYLER HAMILTON, Captain by Brevet, U.S.A.
PREFACE.
As nearly as we can learn, the only origin which has been suggested for the devices combined in the national colors of our country is, that they were adopted from the coat of arms of General Washington. This imputed origin is not such as would be consonant with the known modesty of Washington, or the spirit of the times in which the flag was adopted. We have, therefore, been at some pains to collect authentic statements in reference to our national colors, and with these, have introduced letters exhibiting the temper of those times, step by step, with the changes made in the flag, so combining them as to form a chain of proof, which, we think, must be conclusive.
Should, however, the perusal of the following account of the origin and meaning of the devices in the national flag of our country, serve no other purpose than that of impressing more strongly upon the mind of the reader the importance and the prominence those who achieved our liberties and founded our government attached to the idea of Union, its preparation will not have been a futile labor.
Emblems and devices, adopted under high excitement of the public mind, are chosen as epitomes of the sentiments prevailing at the time of their adoption. Those of the days of our Revolution afford proofs far more striking than the most elaborate arguments, that, in the estimation of our forefathers, Union, and existence as a nation, were inseparable.
The prosecution of our subject has made it necessary for us to dwell upon those devices, and to develop those proofs.
INTRODUCTION.
As a not uninteresting introduction to our research, we will glance at the history of standards, from their inception to the present time. We shall find that man's faculty of imitation has here, as elsewhere, found employment, modified in its operation by some cause peculiar to the nation whose standard chances to be under consideration.