First Navy Flag = Liberty Tree Flag, or"Appeal to Heaven" Flag, orWashington Cruisers Flag

Attempted to place as new masthead for this site, twice failed to post

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Liberty Tree at Tea Party Rally in Washington on Fox News Sean Hannity @ 1:58 in 5:06 YouTube video

2009-11-06T13:07:00.002-05:00

See the Liberty Tree Flag - Washington Cruisers Flag - true First Navy Flag, with the motto Appeal to Heaven flying proudly at the front of the new Army of Americans fighting to restore this Republic.

Liberty Tree at Tea Party Rally in Washington, US Capitol in background

2009-11-05T13:17:00.003-05:00

The Liberty Tree Flag - Washington Cruisers Flag - Appeal to Heaven - true First Navy Flag flies amidst the mass of Citizens who rally to Restore this Republic.

The Spirit of George Washington LIVES! with his principles based on His principles leads this His people even today.

First Navy Flag "pattern" and "DNA" bits of History supporting replica design or "Re-Creation"

2008-07-04T23:43:00.000-04:00

Liberty Tree Flag in 4th of July Parade in Washington, DC & many others

2008-07-04T19:33:00.009-04:00

In 2008 Independence Day Parade is the first time the First Navy Flag, Liberty Tree Flag (re-created) flew as its bearer marched in the parade. A few weeks later the Washington Cruiser Flag flew in front of the Statue of Washington in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda...

It flew again in the Labor Day Parade in Buena Vista, Virginia, the Governor Jefferson Thanksgiving Parade in Charlottesville (the Saturday before Thanksgiving), the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City, and later at the Federal Building on Wall Street.

Later that year after Christmas, the flag traveled to the Birthplace of the American Navy to Marblehead, Massachusett where it "flew" in front of the original "Spirit of '76" painting.

The Washington Cruisers "Appeal to Heaven" Flag also flew on the pier in front of the USS Constitution, in front of the Massachusetts Capitol on Beacon Hill in Boston, and in Trinity Church, Newport, Rhode Island where General Washington attended prayer services when in Newport, a few blocks from Washington Square.

8Feb2008Ltr_PresidentBush

2008-02-09T15:29:00.000-05:00

"Fake Snake" current Navy Jack flag - myth exposed!

2008-02-09T15:28:00.002-05:00

"Fake Snake" current Navy Jack flag - myth exposed!

1stNavyFlag_TwoBitsDNA

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RebelsUnderSail

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1stNavyFlagDNAp1

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1stNavyFlagDNAp2

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1stNavyFlagDNAp3

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1stNavyFlagDNAp4

2008-02-09T15:24:00.000-05:00

1stNavyFlagDNAp5 Paine Poem - LIBERTY TREE

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NHF_LoC_Laube_FirstNavyFlag

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8Feb2008Ltr_Bill_Middendorf

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4Feb2008Ltr_AmbMiddendorf

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6Jan2006Ltr_SECNAV_Winter

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18Jan2008Ltr_FirstLadyB

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Updated America-England descriptions of First Navy Flag

2008-02-02T17:08:00.000-05:00

Naval Historical Foundation book "The NAVY" shows first ship Hannah with Liberty Tree Flag

2008-02-02T17:07:00.000-05:00

12th Revision, (maybe "Final") of "DNA and re-creation of First Navy Flag" article

2008-02-02T14:39:00.000-05:00

Dear Gary,

I have made a few additions, including your black and white diagram of the Connecticut 5th Regiment "Pine Tree" flag from the Flag Bulletin #206.

Put it on the right side of the quote from your other article with David Martucci, yet had to reduce the font size to make everything fit.

Also added to images of paintings of the first Continental Navy ship, Hannah, and another of the Washington Cruisers, the Continental Navy ship Lee.

The Continental Navy ship Lee picture was mailed to me by an aide to the former Secretary of the Navy Gordon England about the time he was named Deputy Secretary of Defense.

The first Navy ship Hannah picture is from the big "coffee table" book "The NAVY" published by the Naval Historical Foundation.

I learned from reading James Fenimore Cooper's History of the Navy that a "Providence packet" ship named "Hannah" eluding the British ship Gaspe' was able to cause the British ship with a deeper draft to run aground on a sand bar the Hannah knew about and was able to sail over due to its more shallow draft. Really clever!

Later the marooned Gaspe' exploded, presumably by other Patriot attacks, so that was an early Navy "victory" for the Americans.

That probably happened pretty close to where you live. Do you know of that Hannah-Gaspe' "battle"?

I am very curious if that "Hannah" might by some stroke of good fortune also be the Hannah of Colonel John Glover, that became America's first ship commissioned in the Continental Navy according to the big "coffee table" book "The NAVY" published by the Naval Historical Foundation.

Both ships were from or commissioned in Marblehead, so I believe the Continental ship Lee was most likely named for Jeremiah Lee of Marblehead who died on 10 May 1775 from injuries sustained on 19 April, the same day as the Battle of Lexington and Concord when the
British also tried to capture Jeremiah Lee, John Hancock and Samuel Adams, who were the organizers of the "Rebels", or chief rabble rousers.

Those "Marvelous Men of Marblehead" were key to the survival of our Continental Army at Brooklyn Heights at the other end of Long Island from you, the "Dunkirk" of the Revolution, and were critical to the successful "Washington Crossing", the Inchon Landing of the
Revolution, if not the comparisons "Brooklyn-Dunkirk" and "Trenton- Inchon" should be reversed giving primacy to the Revolution battles over the later battles.

And I would be willing to bet that mostly Marblehead men made up the 200 men that Commander in Chief General George Washington loaned to former Rhode Island Militia Artillery General Esek Hopkins to man his fleet of Continental Navy ships also commissioned by the Continental Congress when Hopkins was named by Congress as the Navy Commander in Chief, and was called by the sailors "Commodore".

After Congress relieved Hopkins as Commander in Chief, I believe that John Adams tried to have Captain John Manley named as the Navy Commodore. Captain Manley was the skipper of the Continental ship Lee, one of the Washington Cruisers, or "Northern Fleet" of the
Continental Navy, that was very successful in capturing British supply ships like shown in the painting.

One of the most sad side-bar stories of American Navy History in the Revolution is that the British supply ship Lively was captured with 30,000 pairs of shoes and all sorts of other clothing in November 1776, yet due to bickering of the commission to be paid for the
capture the cargo was not released and sent to Washington's Army and on 25 December 1776, four soldiers on the March to Trenton who had no shoes died from exposure.

With the new month infusion of funds, I purchased a Pixel image editing program to enhance the image of the flag on the pictures of the ships to some semblance of the DNA-recreated Washington Cruiser Flag, and so indicate so no one questions that we have KGB type secretive photo manipulation. Up front and honest, tell it like it is, best as the facts of History provide.

The painters at that time did not have the benefit of your Colonial era flag, nor access to the letter of Washington's aide, Colonel Joseph Reed kept at the Library of Congress, nor the letter of the British Admiral Sir Hugh Palliser, kept at the British National Maritime Museum in Greenwich, England.

Those enhanced ship images are set beside the large image of the bits of historical facts or "DNA" recreated Washington Cruiser Flag on page 3 and the Paine poem page 5.

Anyway, thanks ever so much for all your wise counsel and assistance in putting this article together.

For America's future (building up on our past),

James Renwick Manship
Interpreter of George Washington (in Three Dimensions)
Box 75, Mount Vernon, Virginia 22121
Washington@Statesmanship.US
202-657-6760

Quote from 1770, retired Virginia Militia Colonel
George Washington said:

"As our country grows, and its population increases, as it will,
care must be taken to have each succeeding generation know
the trials and tribulations of those who preceded them.
History is an essential study to better government."

And America's Educator, Noah Webster, wrote in a.d. 1828:
"Literary power and statesmanship were combined in George
Washington, ..."

The ONLY surviving "Tree Flag" from the early days of America

2008-02-01T14:12:00.000-05:00

In 1993, in Southold, Long Island, New York, History enthusiast Gary Laube bought an old trunk in which he found balled up in the bottom some fabric. Soon Mr. Laube found this old military flag within. He lovingly unwrapped this flag and was amazed to discover the only flag from the Revolution. the French and Indian War periods, and before, with a "Tree" in the design that has survived the centuries of time.

In 2002, The New York Times wrote, "Rabbit Goody, a textile historian in Cherry Valley, N.Y., also studied the flag and found the woolen fabric and three ply hand-spun sewing thread consistent with Long Island textile production of the late 1600's.

"I'm convinced the Pine Tree flag is the oldest surviving Colonial flag. I've seen the other four, and Mr. Laube's is older. There are flags in England that were used in the American colonies, but they are later."

(Click on the photos to go to the websites of these two great patriots!)

This Southold Pine Tree flag provides two critical design elements not elsewhere seen, one the simple triangle shape tree, (rather than the elaborate, many-branched trees created by modern graphic artists)...

...and the other in the middle of the flag (hard to see in this photograph) is the inscription, 5th Regt. The upper and lower case of the font used in the inscription is a "clue" or "DNA strand" used to create a realistic reproduction of the design of the Washington Cruisers flag, the first flag flown on America's Navy ships.

The design was described in a letter dated 20 October 1775 by Colonel Joseph Reed, the Aide to General George Washington, Commander in Chief of the Continental forces, Army AND Navy, months before Rhode Island Militia Artillery General Esek Hopkins, brother of Stephen Hopkins of the Maritime Committee of the Continental Congress, was named as Commodore of the Continental Navy in December 1775.

Washington's aide Colonel Reed wrote: "What do you think of a Flag with a white Ground, a tree in the middle, the motto (Appeal to Heaven.)"

See the Colonel Reed letter to Colonel Glover at the Library of Congress Digital Archives:
http://memory.loc.gov/mss/mgw/mgw3b/001/085084.jpg

Commodore Hopkins "borrowed" some 200 soldier-sailors from General Washington's Army to first man his additional Navy ships beyond the first seven ships that were commissioned by General Washington with the consent of the Continental Congress and named for leaders of the "Fair Tax and Representation" efforts before it became a full "Revolution" months later. The "Washington Cruisers" were the Franklin, Hancock, Lee, Lynch, Warren and Washington.

Not exactly - 22 Dec: This Day in History 1775: Continental Congress creates a Continental Navy

2007-12-22T10:58:00.001-05:00

Actually, not exactly...on 2 September 1775, Commander in Chief Washington commissioned the first Continental Navy ship "Hannah" (named for the wife of Colonel John Glover who owned the ship), and six others later, named by his very politically astute staff for leaders of the Revolution (Franklin, Hancock, Harrison, Lee, Lynch, Warren, and Washington).

The Navy ship Lee may have been named not for a famous Virginian, but for Col. Jeremiah Lee who "was one of the most successful and affluent men in America before the Revolution. A leading merchant in Marblehead, Massachusetts, he owned one of the largest fleets of vessels in Britain’s North American colonies. A 1771 tax listing indicates that he was the wealthiest man in Massachusetts." Jeremiah Lee died in 1775 as a secret organizer with Samuel Adams and John Hancock in equipping the Continental Forces. "His death at age 54 -- shortly after the conflict began -- was a direct result of his involvement in clandestine events in Lexington, in April, 1775." per...http://www.marbleheadmuseum.org/Whois_Lee.htm)

The Navy itself counts 13 October as its birthday because on that day the Maritime Committee of the Continental Congress which had been debating whether or not to create an American Navy and risk the wrath of the British, received a letter from Commander in Chief Washington dated 5 October asking what the Congress advised he should do with a captured British ship.

That capture of a British ship by one of the "Washington Cruisers" made moot the debate of whether or not to create a Navy for fear of risking the wrath of the British, so Congress ordered more ships to be commissioned, thereby affirming the prior birth of the Navy by Commander in Chief of all Continental Forces, George Washington. Washington recognized that he could not complete a siege of the British Army in the port town of Boston without at least a small Navy.

Esek Hopkins, named this 22nd day of December as first Commodore of the Continental Navy, was previously an Artillery General in the Rhode Island Militia, a ship owner, and brother of Stephen Hopkins who was a member of the Maritime Committee of the Continental Congress. A couple of months before, General Hopkins, or the Rhode Island Governor, had declined to provide some artillery cannon to Washington's agent for the outfitting of the first ships of the Continental Navy commissioned by Washington.

There is some indication that Washington did not have the highest regard for Commodore Hopkins, and as the article indicates, Hopkins was later relieved of his command by the Continental Congress.

There is a letter at University of Virginia George Washington Papers project from Commander-in-Chief Washington to Commodore Hopkins asking him to return the 200 soldiers that Washington lent to Hopkins to man the ships under his command. Very likely many of the men were soldiers from Colonel John Glover's "Marblehead Men", the 14th Continental Regiment of sailors from Marblehead, Massachusetts who enlisted in the Continental Army. Those Marblehead Men, sailors become soldiers, were the men who manned the boats for the "miracle" evacuation of the American Army at Brooklyn Heights on 29-30 August a.d. 1776, and handled the boats crossing the Delaware on the Christmas night Raid on Trenton also in a.d. 1776 that kept the Light of Liberty alive! -- and the true first Navy flag was the evergreen Tree of Liberty that flew on ships that sailed from ports near the homes of these Marblehead Men!

AMERICAN REVOLUTION

1775: Continental Congress creates a Continental Navy

December 22, 1775

Continental Congress creates a Continental Navy

On Friday, December 22, 1775, the Continental Congress creates a Continental Navy, naming Esek Hopkins, Esq., as commander in chief of the fleet.

Congress also named four captains to the new service: Dudley Saltonstall, Abraham Whipple, Nicholas Biddle and John Burrows Hopkins. Their respective vessels, the Alfred, Columbus, Andrew Doria and Cabot, became the first ships of the Navy's fleet. Five first lieutenants, including future American hero John Paul Jones, five second lieutenants, and three third lieutenants also received their commissions.

The new Admiral Hopkins, as he was dubbed by George Washington, was a Rhode Islander of some standing. His brother was Stephen Hopkins, the state's governor. Esek Hopkins had married well and used his wife's fortune to buy a ship. It proved a wise investment. He added to his wealth working as a privateer during the Seven Years' War. In his new position, Congress promised to pay him "125 dollars per calendar month"; they also informed that he could look forward to some "share of the prizes allotted to the captors." Christopher Gadsden of South Carolina designed Hopkins' personal standard, which flew from the first navy fleet. The yellow flag bore the image of a coiled snake and the Patriot motto, "Don't Tread on Me."

Hopkins' first assignment was to assess the feasibility of an attack on British naval forces in the Chesapeake Bay. After sailing south with his meager force of eight ships, Hopkins decided that victory in such an encounter was impossible. He sailed to the Bahamas instead, where he attacked the British port of Nassau, a decision for which he was relieved of his command upon returning to the continent.

True Tree, simple shape, (snake still fake!)

2007-12-18T14:14:00.000-05:00

Back on 2 September this year, I sent an email to Peter Ansoff, president or past president of NAVA - North American Vexillogical Association - the association of flag experts to "celebrate" the anniversary of the First Navy Flag flying on the "Hannah", the first Navy ship commissioned during the War for Independence.

Expert that he is, Mr. Ansoff suggested that probably the "Hannah" and others of the seven Washington Cruisers (Franklin, Hancock, Harrison, Lee, Lynch, Warren, and Washington) did not fly the Tree flag until after the aide to the Commander in Chief of all Continental Forces -- that means the Army AND the Navy -- Colonel Joseph Reed, sent his famous letter of 20 October a.d. 1775 describing the design for the flag to fly on the first Navy ships. Otherwise, why would Colonel Reed have written his letter? Makes good sense.

Washington's aide Colonel Reed wrote: "What do you think of a Flag with a white Ground, a tree in the middle, the motto (Appeal to Heaven.)"

See the Colonel Reed letter to Colonel Glover at the Library of Congress Digital Archives:
http://memory.loc.gov/mss/mgw/mgw3b/001/085084.jpg

That Tree flag suggested by Colonel Reed on 20 October a.d 1775 came shortly after the Loyalists in Boston in mid-August cut down the Liberty Tree where where Sons of Liberty would rally, so this first Navy flag, with its motto "Appeal to Heaven" served as a defiant Liberty Tree flag. With the motto, it is a different flag and before the "Pine Tree Flag" of the Massachusetts Navy the state legislature voted on in a.d. 1776, yet carries on the American tradition of over a century of a tree representing "sturdy manhood".

(See the 19 November entry on this blog for the profound patriotic meaning from a Resolution passed by the Provincial Congress of Massachusetts.)

The Cruisers commissioned by Commander in Chief Washington with the blessing of the Continental Congress, and named for many of its leaders, were part of the necessary strategy of encirclement, or seige, with interdiction of supply ships heading for the British in the port town of Boston. Those continuing raids on supply ships, combined with the cannons from Ticonderoga placed atop Dorchester Heights where they could fire on the British positions, and the outbreak of smallpox, combined to force the British to evacuate Boston in March a.d. 1776, a "victory" for the combined Continental forces of Washington's Army and Navy.

[Contrary to current Navy claims, the first Navy Jack was NOT the Urban Legend, Historical Myth, "fake snake" flag showing a snake on its belly about to be trampled crawling upon over the Sons of Liberty flag of red and white stripes, with the plaintive plea (Please...) "Don't Tread on Me!".]

Despite efforts of Naval Historian Admiral George Henry Preble (1816-1885) from 1872 to 1880, and the efforts of Naval Historian Admiral Samuel Eliot Morison (1887-1976) to discredit the Snake Over Stripes Navy Jack flag as valid, this reporter was told by employees of the Naval Historical Center that in the mid-1970s some Navy staff officers in the Pentagon saw a color picture of the fake snake flag in a Webster's Dictionary, with every good intent saw it as a dynamic and defiant image, and so ordered thousands and thousands from flag manufacturers to serve as the Navy's symbol for Bicentennial celebrations beginning in a.d. 1975. Thereby, this "urban legend" fake snake flag gained new life. While dynamic, the fake snake image is deceptive and so totally wrong to be flying on our Navy ships.

Only AFTER the flags were ordered, did the Navy staff officers in the Pentagon ask the Naval Historical Center historians at the Washington Navy Yard about the history of the flag. Even then the veracity, or truth, of the fake snake Navy flag was in considerable doubt, yet in 2004, the article in the flag journal Raven by flag expert Peter Ansoff raises the doubt level of the fake snake "first Navy Jack" flag to near 100 per cent. In a.d. 1975, or even in a.d. 2001 when use of the fake Snake flag was resumed for the Global War on Terrorism, it might have been reasonable to consider the fake snake flag may have been legitimate, but after a.d. 2004, there is no longer any good scholarship to sustain the continuing error of the United States Navy.

And yet, sadly, despite the truth now being known in the Navy Pentagon offices, that fake snake false flag still flies on the bows of America's proud Navy ships. So, it is time for We the People to ask our elected servants to direct the Navy serve the Truth, and remove the Fake Snake false "first Navy Jack" flag from our ships, and either replace it with the former blue field of stars canton of the United States "Stars and Stripes" flag, or replace it with the true First Navy Flag, also known as the Washington Cruisers flag, the evergreen Tree of Liberty flag, where Thomas Paine, author of "Common Sense", named Washington "the World's Apostle of Liberty", so how much more fitting would it be on this 208th Anniversary of the Burial of George Washington (18 December) that the Tree of Liberty flag of America's Washington begin to be requested to fly on our ships all around the world?

Yet Washington's Aide Colonel Reed did not describe the shape of the tree.

Below are a few of the shapes of the "tree" by others interpretations that I have found here, hither and yon.

Given that variety, I also asked flag expert Peter Ansoff what did he believe was the shape of the tree described by Colonel Reed's letter. Mr. Ansoff suggested a simple triangle based on the Southhold flag, believed to be the only existing flag of the period with a tree in its design. Mr. Ansoff referred me to the Flag Bulletin #206...

In late October, I called Dr. Whitney Smith of the Flag Research Center in Worchester, Massachusetts, paid to join his worthy flag educational Center, ordered a copy of Flag Bulletin #206 that I received in the mail along with some others a couple of weeks later.
Visit that educational site at: http://www.flagresearchcenter.com/

Even here on the front cover, is yet another shape of the undefined shape of the "Tree" described by Reed.

And the centerfold of The Flag Bulletin has another shape for the evergreen tree...

Yet the black and white photograph in the article of the one existing "tree" flag from the period shows a much more simple shape, a simple triangle to represent the tree.

From that photograph of an original "tree" flag, an artist did a "reconstruction" drawing of the "tree" flag from Southhold, on Long Island, in New York. That is shown below.

Based on the photograph and the reconstructed drawing of the "tree" flag of Southhold, New York, I have become pretty well convinced that all the elaborate many branches tree designs are not realistic.

Consider. You are a flag maker 222 years ago. You have to hand-stitch the "tree" onto the flag. A simple triangle is VERY MUCH MORE easy to stitch on the flag than these other designs of people like me working on a computer screen.

A simple triangle shaped tree would take less time, less thread, and be far more likely to withstand the stress of the flag flapping in the winds.

So my "VOTE" for the final design of:
the First Navy Flag,
the Liberty Tree Flag, or also known as
the Washington Cruisers Flag is the simple triangle tree.

How about you? Please CLICK on the comments word below to VOTE and COMMENT...

And... Merry Christmas!

Reed was the first to identify problems with Benedict Arnold when while recuperating from war wounds Arnold was assigned as the military commandant of Philadelphia, while Reed was both President of Pennsylvania, and a member of the Continental Congress in Philadelphia. "With people in Congress eyeing everything he did, he was soon brought up on charges and was court-martialed. He defended himself, furiously as always, but he was found guilty on two charges: using government wagons for his personal use and issuing a pass to a ship he later invested in. Washington, himself pronounced the charges "imprudent and improper" and "peculiarly reprehensible."

This was the beginning of the end of the good days of General Arnold, once a Son of Liberty, now a "Snake in the Grass", akin to the Fake Snake Flag, a Snake crawling over the Sons of Liberty flag. Read more on the Benedict Arnold court-martial in Philadelphia BEFORE the Benedict Arnold treason at West Point:
http://www.ushistory.org/valleyforge/served/arnold.html

CLICK to read this ONE PAGE SUMMARY of a 52 page article by Peter Ansoff in Raven, the flag expert journal on why the "Don't Tread On Me" so-called Navy Jack is truly a "Fake Snake" flag.

First Lady Letter on First Navy "True Tree" Flag

2007-11-26T16:00:00.000-05:00

The letter below to the First Lady about the First Navy Flag, the "True Tree Flag" is dated 26 November, and comes days after the First Husband, "President George W." spoke the True Story of the First Thanksgiving in America, in a.d. 1619, along the James River in Virginia, not as most Americans have been taught in school, in Massachusetts.

Though then Massachusetts was part of the Virginia Colony, the second named settlement in the Virginia Charter of a.d. 1606 signed by King James I, that set the stage for the settlement of Jamestowne the next year, a.d. 1607, only many years later was "Plimouth" settled in a.d. 1620.

Happy Thanksgiving, Mr. & Mrs. Thomas Nelson

2007-11-19T21:46:00.000-05:00

Thomas Nelson, Jr. was the great patriot of Yorktown, and his descendant, Thomas Nelson follows in his big boot prints, along with his wonderful wife. Commander Nelson shared the small book FLAGS of AMERICA published in 1935 in Huntington, West Virginia by Colonel William H. Waldron, USA.

Some of the pages with flag images from that book are shown below. (NOTE: The flag images are as commonly seen, but are not in all cases supported by scholarly citations to establish if the flag ever flew. The a.d. 1935 book includes the common misunderstanding until a.d. 2004 with the flag journal "Raven" article by Peter Ansoff that debunks the "urban legend" or "ancient myth" of the "Don't Tread On Me" Snake Over Stripes flag ever having flown as an American flag during the Revolution. In addition, the Flag Bulletin #206 of a.d. 2002 shows a photograph of an actual "tree" flag that shows that the many branches on a tree were later fanciful re-creations. A simple triangle is most probable design for the Liberty Tree Flag, along with the motto "Appeal to Heaven" as described by Colonel Joseph Reed, aide to Commander in Chief George Washington, who was a distant cousin of Virginia Militia General Thomas Nelson, and rode his war horse "Nelson" - a gift of his cousin.

Flags of America, cover, by Col. William H. Waldron, USA

2007-11-19T21:45:00.000-05:00

Flags of America, pgs 30-31

2007-11-19T21:41:00.000-05:00

Beginning at the second paragraph:
"This Pine Tree Flag was the banner carried by the infant American Navy which consisted of a fleet of six ships where were denominated "Washington's Cruisers."

"...Thus this Pine Tree Flag may be accepted as the first ensign of the American sea forces in New England.

"...The solemn motto inscribed on the flag first appeared in a resolution of the Provincial Congress of Massachusetts adopted shortly after the battle of Lexington and Concord and addressed to the British Sovereign, with the words, "Appealing to Heaven for the justice of our cause, we determine to die or be free." It characterizes the quiet firmness with which our forefathers resolved to claim the birthright of freedom and to fight for it, under the direction of Divine Providence, if needs be."

The motto show here is close to correct, with a most common error, with the incorrect word "AN" added before the motto defined by Commander in Chief George Washington's aide, Colonel Joseph Reed, who wrote "Appeal to Heaven".

"An" Appeal to Heaven could suggest one time or one person, "Appeal to Heaven" is an ongoing, collective imperative, more than a suggestion, less than a command, for all Americans to follow, if we as a Nation were to receive as George Washington would say, "the blessings of Divine Providence".

Further, the Reed letter says a "white ground", here there is a patch of grass at the trunk of the tree. The position of the motto, above or below the tree is not defined, nor is the shape of the tree for the Liberty Tree first Navy flag. A "tree" flag that exists from the time period is the Southhold flag, that has a simple triangle for the tree.

Flags Of America, pgs. 32-33

2007-11-19T21:40:00.001-05:00

Flags of America, pgs. 34-35

2007-11-19T21:40:00.000-05:00

TRUE TREE or FAKE SNAKE - A Picture Worth 1000 words? Symbols, pictures, words - worth what?

2006-12-25T00:00:00.000-05:00

Is Truth worth anything in America today?

Is Liberty a symbol worth anything in America anymore?

Is an evergreen Tree of Liberty a symbol of enduring positive value in America?

Is an universal symbol of evil - the snake - and a poisonous snake at that, a symbol that America should select to represent her around the world?

As the man who founded America's Navy in the Autumn of 1775 by commissioning 7 ships that proceeded to capture British merchant ships even while Congress sat around debating the question of the need of a Navy or whether creating a Navy would offend the British, Commander-in-Chief George Washington later wrote to his number two -- Lincoln (General Benjamin Lincoln) on 29 June a.d. 1778:
"We may, now and then, get bewildered; but I hope and trust that there is good sense and virtue enough left to recover the right path."

These three pages of lots of flag images and plenty of words of explanation tell us why we should NOT BE FLYING THE "Fake Snake" Navy Jack Flag, from a well documented historical perspective -- basically the Snake Navy Jack is a fraud, or a legend, or a lie that well meaning but poorly informed Navy officers and others keep digging up over the years so the legend never dies.

When in today's Navy will there be: "good sense and virtue enough left to recover the right path."?

We have an hand written letter by the aide to the founder of the American Navy, Commander in Chief, General George Washington, namely Colonel Joseph Reed, that describes the "TRUE TREE" Liberty Tree first Navy Flag.

We also have the same First Navy Flag, Liberty Tree flag (or Pine Tree flag in simplistic notation), also called the "Washington Cruisers Flag" described by an Admiral of the British Navy.

There is NO SUCH DOCUMENTATION for the FAKE SNAKE Navy Jack Flag. In fact, an article written by CDR Eric Berryman, USN (retired) telling of how the flag was fabricated for the Bicentennial clearly reveals that there was a lot of "By Guess and By Golly".

The "Snake" Flag may be a "nice" design done by these well-meaning Naval Officers, but it still is an historical fraud, or fiction -- a FAKE SNAKE Navy Jack Flag!

The sixth page of the Point Paper tells how the myth, or fiction, or fraud, of the FAKE SNAKE Navy Jack Flag was created and perpetuated over the past two centuries and more.

Fortunately, flag expert Peter Ansoff in the year a.d. 2004 wrote a comprehensive article for the flag journal RAVEN, that effectively debunks the claims of CAPT Brayton Harris, CDR Eric Berryman, and other Naval Officers and even some submissive Naval Historians who promote as valid the FAKE SNAKE Navy Jack Flag first fabricated on fabric in time for the Nation's Bicentennial.

In the Introduction to Rebels Under Sail by Northeastern University professor William Fowler, he writes: "Naval historians should be especially aware of contracting Bicentennial fever..." which is what these well-meaning Naval Officers did, that has become a contagion of cancerous falsehood that while in remission from a.d. 1977 to its flare-up again when re-introduced by one of the "carriers", Captain Brayton Harris when he re-introduced the "Fake Snake" flag after the 9-11 Terrorist Attacks. His motives were Patriotic, his History unfounded.

Unfortunately, that a.d. 2004 flag journal publication was AFTER the 9-11 Terrorists Attacks on America, and so a well meaning Captain Harris recommended that "his baby", the FAKE SNAKE Navy Jack Flag he and others created for the Bicentennial to be dragged out of the garbage can, or snake graveyard, and put back on the bows of our Navy ships.

And due to the all too natural expectation of officers and leaders that the proper staff work of checking the Navy History of the Fake Snake Navy Jack Flag had been done in the mid-1970s, no one really did due diligence in a.d. 2001.

Interestingly, even the coffee table book "NAVY" published by the Naval Historical Foundation shows the first Navy ship commissioned, the Hannah, and if you look real close you can see depicted the Liberty Tree proudly flying from her mast.

Yet aside from the history of the Navy flags, whether the FAKE SNAKE, or the TRUE TREE First Navy Flag, let us look at the simple symbolism of either flag...

Do we really want America to be represented by a snake on its belly in retreat?

Especially when bad people like terrorists are sometimes called "snakes in the grass".

(The four true history American Revolution Army flags with rattlesnakes ALL have the snake coiled, ready to strike and defend...)

Do we really want America to be represented by a SNAKE where in just about every culture in the world is a SYMBOL of EVIL?

Or do We, the People of the United States of America want our Navy ships to proudly fly a symbol of LIBERTY FOREVER ! -- as represented by an Evergreen Tree of Liberty?

The leaders of the Navy tell me that the people like the Fake Snake flag, but I believe they do so MAINLY because they TRUST their LEADERS to have told them that the Snake Navy Jack Flag is true, when in historical fact it is a lie, a fiction, a fraud, a fake, a FAKE SNAKE flag.

So essentially because NOW the Navy leaders KNOW the truth, they are involved in foisting a fable, promoting deception upon the trusting American citizens and those Patriots who are willing to give their lives for Truth and Liberty who serve on our Navy Ships!

Please vote your choice on the poll box on the right side, and please click the envelope icon to send the page to your friends, click the comments link below to express your thoughts on this very important symbolic issue for America and her Navy that represents America all around the world.

Thank you.

For America's future (building up on our past),

James Renwick Manship, Sr.

Director, First Navy Flag.US
a project of
W.I.S.E. - Washington Institute for Statesmanship Education

America and England descriptions of true First Navy Flag

2006-11-11T23:11:00.000-05:00

On 9 May a.d. 2006, Dr. Michael Crawford, Head of the Early History Department of the Navy Historical Center in the Washington Navy Yard kindly sent me an email that told me that the letter of George Washington's aide Colonel Joseph Reed [that described the First Navy Flag to fly on ships commissioned by the Commander in Chief, acting under his authority from his Orders from the Continental Congress (see post below)] was available in the Library of Congress.

Within minutes, an email inquiry was sent to a Reference Librarian at the Library of Congress, and the same day, the unknown librarian ("bb"?) responded with an email that provided two attachments that contained the Colonel Reed letter of 20 October 1775. That email will be pasted in below.

Back on 3 January, the British National Maritime Museum kindly mailed me a photocopy of the description of the First Navy Flag that was contained in the letter of Sir Hugh Palliser of 6 January 1776.

So here are two descriptions of the true First Navy Flag, the evergreen Tree of Liberty Flag, or Liberty Tree Flag, also known as the Washington Cruisers Flag. In contrast, there are no such descriptions of the false, fictional, fraudulent, "Fake Snake" Navy Jack Flag that flies on current day United States Navy Ships as an impostor as the first navy flag.

Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of their country... and set straight the record of our Navy's History!Straight like a Liberty Tree growing high in the sky, not crooked like an evil snake slithering on its belly in the dirt... hissing with the plaintive plea, (Please) "Don't Tread on Me".

Commander in Chief Washington knew our hope for Liberty was not in idle threats "Don't Tread on Me" or pleas, (Please) "Don't Tread on Me", but in our nation humbly and continuously, even today from our Navy ships, making our "Appeal To Heaven".

Do our leaders in Washington today have as much wisdom as then was in Washington?

Please call or write to the Secretary of the Navy Donald Winter, and to your Congressman and Senators.

From: ndlpcoll@loc.gov
Subject: Library Question - Answer [Question #1579394]
Date: May 9, 2006 4:21:24 PM EDT
To: george@washingtonlives.us
Reply-To: questionpoint@oclc.org

Hello James Renwick Manship, Sr.

Thank you for visiting the Library of Congress Web site and for using the Ask A Librarian Service.

The letter from Col. Reed to Col. Glover and Mr. Moylan of 20 October 1775 is included in the American Memory collection, "George Washington Papers at the Library of Congress, 1741-1799" <>. American Memory <> is a collection of primary source collections available via the Library of Congress Web site <>. It is also available in microfilm. The original is kept in a vault controlled by the Manuscript Division at the Library of Congress.

You will find the first page of this letter, here: < collid="mgw3&fileName="mgw3b/gwpage001.db&recNum="84"> and the second behind the "next page" link there.

(When using this long address, please be sure it stays on one line and that all the punctuation stays intact, except the "pointy brackets" at either end, should they display in your email software. Those are not part of the address.)

The letter is transcribed in Series 3, Sub-series B, in Washington's Letterbook 1. The scan for the Web presentation is from microfilm. Information about the microfilm collection is here: <>.

Since the letter is relatively short (two pages), I have attached the JPEG image files of them to this message. The first page image is 085084.jpg and the second is 086085.jpg. The part about the flag begins about two-thirds down the first page. The Web site does not offer a have transcription of this letter, but it is among the more legible of the time period. The Library's Manuscripts Division does hold a transcription in a published source. I am happy to go there and photocopy it for you and mail it to you. Thank you for providing a postal address in advance. If you would like this service (gratis), please reply to this message requesting it.

Please let us know if we can guide you further.

Yours truly,

Reference Specialist
Digital Reference Team
The Library of Congress

bb

What a National Treasure is our Library of Congress, and helpful public servant employees!

England the Origin of the "Fake Snake" Navy Jack Flag

2006-11-11T10:20:00.000-05:00

In the article by flag expert Peter Ansoff is discussed the possibility that the prone position of the Snake over the Stripes of the Sons of Liberty flag was meant to demean the image of the Snake in resistance.

Well to know that on its belly in the dust and dirt, the Rattlesnake is in Retreat, and the once thought defiant motto, "Don't Tread on Me!" becomes a plaintive plea, "(Please) Don't Tread on Me!" as the snake slithers away from the fray...

Let us Americans never slither away from the fray, from the fight for freedom, and the pursuit of Truth... and the Love of Liberty!

So, write your elected servants in Congress, your Representative and Senators, to ask that the Navy serve the Truth of our American History, and remove the Fake Snake Navy Jack Flag from the bow of our Naval Ships, and replace it with the true First Navy Flag, the Washington Cruisers Flag, the Liberty Tree Flag!

Detailed Letter on the true First Navy Flag issue, no proper action from a year before!!!

2006-10-16T18:18:00.000-04:00

[Click on the images to enlarge, click again to magnify for easier reading. Click on the envelope icon below to comment or request a copy sent via email.]

Fwd: 1976 REBELS UNDER SAIL - Fwd: Congressional Medal of Honor to Paul Tobin, lessons for today's Navy from History

2006-10-11T17:43:00.000-04:00

Post to blog by email...

Begin forwarded message:

From: James Renwick Manship
Date: October 11, 2006 10:52:48 AM EDT
To: RADM Paul Tobin
Subject: 1976 REBELS UNDER SAIL - Fwd: Congressional Medal of Honor to Paul Tobin, lessons for today's Navy from History

Dear Admiral Tobin,

In my writer's retreat here in the beautiful Blue Ridge, no longer am I in the beach cottage nearly in sight of the finest Navy in the world.

However, in the 8000 volume library here, with walls covered with pictures of sailing ships, I found the 1976 published book:

REBELS UNDER SAIL: The American Navy during the Revolution,

by William M. Fowler, Jr., where the research and writing was funded by a National Endowment for the Humanities grant.

On the dust jacket is written, "Fowler describes how a small group of delegates to Congress, led by John Adams and strongly supported by Washington, labored to form a powerful fighting fleet."

On page 29 is written, "...as it related to naval activities, the suggestion made by some historians that Washington somehow had to be convinced of the need to commission vessels seems out of place. He would have been a poor commander not to have employed the weapons at his disposal. He hardly needed to have it pointed out to him that the enemy was totally dependent upon their sea lanes for supplies and this was their most vulnerable point...."

"If he could arm and equip vessels along the North and South shores of Massachusetts Bay, he could intercept these ships and take their valuable cargoes to fill his much depleted magazines."

"Colonel John Glover of the Marblehead regiment, a sea captain and merchant himself, offered the charter of his schooner "Hannah", while the men of the "Webfoot Regiment" eagerly volunteered to sign on." (note 11)

And of course the Liberty Tree flag flew on the first Navy ship commissioned, "Hannah".

In the Introduction are some sage words:

"And so the commemorative bandwagon rolls along at a ponderable rate, but occasionally in a splurge of historical hoopla it runs away with itself. Such may well be the case during America's Bicentennial."

"Naval historians should be especially aware of contracting Bicentennial fever with its alarming symptom of verbal (Ed. Note: ...and "legendary image" Fake Snake inflation) inflation, for in the past one whiff of sea air has carried many away to an ethereal plane where all is glory, romance and John Paul Jones."

"To be sure, the American Revolution was, as Alfred Thayer Mahan would quickly testify, a naval war."

"Compared to the enemy's squadrons, the Continental navy was a puny force. Nevertheless, against overwhelming odds, they ventured to sea, and in their own way, both by victory and defeat, they helped to achieve independence. For that they deserve to be remembered."

Could you ask CDR Eric Berryman or CAPT Brayton Harris (who resurrected the fabricated, albeit well-meaning "Fake Snake" Navy Jack Flag of the Bicentennial) or any of the rest of their team if they had consulted William Fowler who was doing his research for his 1976 book when they re-created the legendary Fake Snake Flag a few years before, or if any of that team had read the book by William Bell Clark, George Washington's Navy, published in Baton Rouge in 1960?

Very respectfully,

James Renwick Manship, Sr.
LCDR, USNR
Director, FirstNavyFlag.US

Begin forwarded message:

From: James Renwick Manship
Date: October 11, 2006 8:07:20 AM EDT
To: RADM Paul Tobin
Subject: Congressional Medal of Honor to Paul Tobin, lessons for today's Navy from History

Dear Admiral Tobin,

The attached Navy letter with imbedded images of the 1872 Congressional Medal of Honor to Paul Tobin, and a description of a book by your predecessor, RADM Preble.

I will be interested to see your response.

V/R, James Renwick Manship, (once upon a time, seemingly long, long ago, LCDR, USNR -- keep smiling!)

"Your research on the flag is accurate..." -- Director, Navy History Center

2006-10-11T16:58:00.000-04:00

"As I have always said, your research on the flag is accurate..."
-- Rear Admiral Paul Tobin
Director, Navy History Center

In an email of October 11, 2006, the Director of the Navy History Museum, RADM Paul Tobin, USN (retired), comments on an item sent to him about a Congressional Medal of Honor to RADM Paul Tobin, USN, in a.d. 1871, not a.d. 1971, but 100 years before!

That is a fun issue, and about the same time a former Director of Naval History, RADM Preble was making an error about the "Fake Snake" Navy Jack flag in his definitive book on American Flags.

By his a.d. 1880 revision of that book on American flags, RADM Preble insisted that the publisher REMOVE all his writings about the Snake Navy Jack Flag, which was done, BUT... the publisher left the color plate of the American flags that contained an image of the "Fake Snake" Navy Jack... effectively negating the effort of Admiral Preble to correct the record, correct his book and banish the evil snake from the legend and lore of the American Navy.

Let us pray, or "Appeal To Heaven" as is the motto on the true First Navy Flag, that it does not take the current Director of Naval History Admiral Tobin 8 or 9 years to correct the record and remove the "Fake Snake" Navy Jack Flag from the lore and legend of Naval History as it took his predescessor Admiral Preble to try to set the record straight.

Fwd: Congressional Medal of Honor to Paul Tobin, lessons for today's Navy from History // Navy Birthday Present??

2006-10-11T15:46:00.000-04:00

Begin forwarded message:

From: James Renwick Manship <George@WashingtonLIVES.us>
Date: October 11, 2006 11:35:21 AM EDT
To: RADM Paul Tobin <paul.tobin@navy.mil>
Subject: Fwd: Congressional Medal of Honor to Paul Tobin, lessons for today's Navy from History // Navy Birthday Present??

Dear Admiral Tobin,

As I reviewed by just transmitted email, I see I failed to mention the historical research foremost in the debunking of the myth of the Fake Snake Flag, written by Peter Ansoff, that was published in 2004 in Raven, the journal of the "flag experts".

Then again there is the book published in 1995 by the U. S. Naval Institute, as mentioned below:
Point Paper on Why Yes to Liberty Tree Navy Flag, Why NO to Snake flag
31 Dec 2005

Discussion: The United States Naval Institute Press in 1995 published a book written by Chester G. Hearn titled George Washington’s Schooners (LoC#E271.H43 1995). On page 5, quoted are the orders of the Continental Congress to George Washington...

Back in the Bicentennial days, the well meaning but sadly misinformed crew of officers led by CAPT Brayton Harris with CDR Eric Berryman, did not have the benefit of the 1976 Fowler book, the 1995 Hearn book, or the 2004 Ansoff article.

So, sir, "Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of their country..."

For America's future (building up on our past),

James Renwick Manship, Sr.
Director, FirstNavyFlag.US
SeaManship@FirstNavyFlag.US
LCDR, USNR

Begin forwarded message:

From: James Renwick Manship <George@WashingtonLIVES.us>
Date: October 11, 2006 11:22:47 AM EDT
To: "Tobin, Paul E RADM USN((Ret)) Naval Historical Center, Director" <paul.tobin@navy.mil>
Subject: Re: Congressional Medal of Honor to Paul Tobin, lessons for today's Navy from History // Navy Birthday Present??

Dear Admiral Tobin,

Thank you for your reply.

I am glad to see we are in agreement, to a substantial degree.

My position is that as officers commissioned by Congress, we are leaders of the Navy, not followers of whim or whimsy, and as leaders we have a duty to do what is right, not that which is popular, however popular the current Navy Jack flag may be, it is flying due to historical lack of awareness of the truth.

So the logical corollary is that how ever popular the Fake Snake Navy Jack Flag may be, it is our duty to remove it if it is false, which is amply demonstrated it is "fake" by historical research by men such as Fowler in 1976, Clark in 1960, and RADM Preble in 1880.

I would with pleasure join with you and Ambassador Middendorf to write a letter to the Secretary of the Navy asking for a return to the Union Jack.

I would prefer to compose the letter to suggest to Secretary Winter to pose the option of selecting the Tree of Liberty Navy Flag, or return to the Union Jack.

Might we agree to compose this letter right away, before this years Navy Birthday, so to be a birthday gift of Truth to our beloved best Navy in the world?

For America's future (building up on our past),

James Renwick Manship, Sr.
Director, FirstNavyFlag.US
LCDR, USNR

On Oct 11, 2006, at 10:34 AM, Tobin, Paul E RADM USN((Ret)) Naval Historical Center, Director wrote:

James, Good research on your part. Alas, he is no relation but must
surely be the most famous Navy Paul Tobin.

As I've always said, your research on the Flag is accurate. My view is
that the Navy likes the current flag and would not entertain a move to
change it at this time. I'd eventually like to see us go back to the
Union Jack.

Best, Paul Tobin

-----Original Message-----
From: James Renwick Manship [mailto:George@WashingtonLIVES.us]
Sent: Wednesday, October 11, 2006 8:07
To: Tobin, Paul E RADM USN(Ret) Naval Historical Center, Director
Subject: Congressional Medal of Honor to Paul Tobin, lessons for today's
Navy from History

Dear Admiral Tobin,

The attached Navy letter with imbedded images of the 1872 Congressional
Medal of Honor to Paul Tobin, and a description of a book by your
predecessor, RADM Preble.

I will be interested to see your response.

V/R, James Renwick Manship, (once upon a time, seemingly long, long ago,
LCDR, USNR -- keep smiling!)

Navy "Brass" afraid of giving General Washington his due as Navy strategist, and founder

2006-08-29T01:16:00.000-04:00

This little quote from General George Washington about the importance of the Navy to victory I found on a website but do not recall which, and the screenshot does not show the URL.

General Washington wrote:

"In any operations, and under all circumstances
a decisive Naval superiority
is to be considered a fundamental principle
and the focus upon which every hope of success
must ultimately depend."

So why won't the current Navy brass, the top leadership of the Navy, stop its childish Army-Navy sibling rivalry that prevents the Navy from honest acknowledgement that General Washington commissioned the first Navy ship, the Hannah, on 2 September 1775, and several others in the weeks to follow, and on that ship and others called the Washington Cruisers, flew the true First Navy Flag, known as the Liberty Tree Flag, with the evergreen tree of Liberty and the motto "Appeal To Heaven" . The Liberty Tree Flag, First Navy Flag, is also called the Washington Cruisers Flag.

Please read to learn about this issue and then, please, jot me a note as to what you think can be done to get the Navy brass to show some class by honoring the true First Navy Flag with its Tree of Liberty.

StatesManship Store offers FirstNavyFlag.US items

2006-03-22T00:27:00.000-05:00

First Navy Flag images now available on T-shirts, ball caps, and more...

While looking for a means to print paper and ebook copies of some of the History and patriotic prayer books I have compiled, I re-discovered CafePress.com that an internet saavy friend Tom Wentland of Chesapeake, Virginia told me about a year ago. I was not able to implement its services at the time since I did not have a web site, or a weblog (blog).

So thanks Tom, and thank any of you who click on over to my online story to buy some of the products available there, which will help promote this worthy First Navy Flag effort at promoting the True story of our Navy History. Again thanks.

What is kinda funny is that when I left active duty in the Navy in 1988, I purchased a computer graphics computer system with an ability to make photo T-shirts, and operated a store in Charleston, South Carolina. Finding a reliable, technical and outgoing person to run the store proved to be the biggest challenge. I did not recover my investment sad to say.

Six months later, I moved to the Mount Vernon, Virginia area, where I used the computer graphics T-shirt maker system for my church's outreach to the George Washington Birthday Parade in Alexandria. So here 18 years later I am using the same technology I purchased at some expense when I left the Navy, to promote the First Navy Flag, also known as the Washington Cruisers Flag, or Tree of Liberty flag, and indeed exercise the Right and Liberty of promoting Truth in our Navy.

At the time the technology was very expensive, just under $10K, and yet within a few years $50 or $100 computer graphic cards or Color Ink Jet Printers were bundling in the software to do the same service for creating the image. Creating a quality product was still a bit a challenge, and the cost of bulk purchase and trouble of inventory of the shirts and ball caps was a bother besides tying up your "free" capital and thereby negatively impacting your cash flow.

Now this service, provides a simplified avenue to "personalized" products to promote your Vision or your values, or in this case to promote the Vision of the true First Navy Flag. Check 'em out, and tell them "StatesManship" sent ya'.

Come visit my "StatesManship" store on CafePress!

True vs. False - First Navy Flag - Liberty Tree vs. Snake Over Stripes (Retreating Rattler)

2006-02-22T22:40:00.000-05:00

CLICK ON IMAGE to ENLARGE...

In early January, a Navy supply system officer provided the information that the Navy Snake Jack flag cost $46.80 each, more than the retail cost of $40 for the Liberty Tree First Navy Flag at the site below, and 55 Serpent Over Stripes flags were purchased as replacements from Navy ServMart in the past year.

Based on 3 Liberty Tree First Navy Flags per ship, and 300 Navy ships, with a fair discount for a volume purchase on the $40 cost of the Washington Cruiser - Liberty Tree flag available at: http://www.anyflag.com/history/washcru.htm would yield a cost to implement this wise change of Navy Jack flags as only around $29,210.

If our Navy does not want to afford this nominal sum, are there any private or corporate sponsors? If so, please, send me an email at the address above, or call and let’s talk. Thanks. -- JRM

P.S. Buy and fly your own Liberty Tree First Navy Flag, or buy 3 desk size (6x9 inch) Liberty Tree Flags, one for you, one for your Congressman, and one for the Secretary of the Navy, by clicking on the CLICK&PLEDGE button on the right.

Appeal To Heaven Liberty Tree First Navy Flag Washington Cruisers Flag 2 September 1775 and on...

2006-02-22T12:25:00.000-05:00

22 February a.d. 2006 - The 274th Anniversary of the Birth of GW - George Washington.

The image of the Evergreen Tree of Liberty - Appeal To Heaven - First Navy Flag is as depicted by retired Naval Academy Band instructor Ron McGlanahan. The image of the first Continental ship, named Hannah is from page 13 of the Naval Historical Foundation "coffee table" book published in a.d. 2000, titled "THE NAVY" (shown below the Liberty Tree - true First Navy Flag).

The British National Maritime Museum sent a photocopy of the letter of the Navy Admiral telling of the design of the First Navy Flag, as is shown in the penmanship on the lower right. Letter received on 3 January a.d. 2006. The ship Lee is flying the Appeal To Heaven flag as it brings in its capture, the ship Lively, with much needed 30,000 shirts, stockings, and pairs of shoes.

Reply with images to errors of History in Deputy Director of Navy History letter of 23 Jan 2006

2006-02-22T03:12:00.000-05:00

In response to the Deputy Director of Navy History words of justifying the Navy's historically erroneous dismissal of the Washington Cruisers as the first of the Continental Navy ships, the Captain writes "...Washington's fleet that operated in Massachusetts Bay..."

“You are to proceed as Commander… as may be found on the High Seas…”

How does the part of the order "on the High Seas" square with the Captain's letter, "in Massachusetts Bay..."?
From Washington’s Orders of 2 Sep 1775 to first Navy ship Captain, Nicholas Broughton.
p. 6, W.B.Clark G.Washington’s Navy

Also, remember Washington's Orders for the Hannah to proceed to Montreal to provide support to the campaign there, just a tad outside Massachusetts Bay.

In response to the words "...manned and officered entirely by the Continental Army."

p. 4 “An experienced sailing master, a master’s mate, and four seamen were hired at Beverly.”
p. 5 “The regiment was tapped for volunteers. Broughton’s company yielded but a dozen of the thirty-six privates selected.”
W.B.Clark G.Washington’s Navy

And the 24 April 1776 letter of GW to Hopkins asking for his 200 men to be returned that can be found at the University of Virginia George Washington Papers Project. Obviously, former Rhode Island Militia General Esek Hopkins, first Navy Commodore, or Navy Commander in Chief, used 200 men from Washington's Army, the same way Washington sought volunteers from the army to man the seven cruisers that he commissioned for the Continental Navy, all but the first of which were named for leaders of the Continental Congress, or the Continental cause, and all approved by the Continental Congress Navy Committee on its visit to Washington in October 1775, before Hopkins was named to head the Navy.

The First Navy Flag was before the (fictional) “Serpent” Flag now in use. Naval Historical Center site says the Serpent flag is questionable historically.Also shown on page 13 of THE NAVY published the Nav al Historical Foundation © 2000. The flag image shown center above is taken from American RevWar website maintained by a former music instructor at the Naval Academy, Ron McGlanahan. (http://www.americanrevwar.com/files/FLAG.HTM)

The frontispiece of the Volume 2 of the Naval Documents of The American Revolution shows George Washington (at top right); the date range given first is 3 September 1775 to 31 October 1775, the day after Commander-in-Chief Washington commissioned the Hannah with the flag above as shown on page 13 of THE NAVY published by The Naval Historical Foundation to the end of the month wherein the Navy was born (right center). On Page 441 and 442, the 13 October 1775 entry used to define the Navy’s birth begins with “A letter from Genl Washington, dated October 5th.

Do our Navy Leaders have the Courage to Serve the Truth, and Change the Flag?

W. I. S. E. : Washington Institute
for Statesmanship Education
To Educate on the Greatest Document of Statesmanship
in the History of Man … impact that transcends space & time!
“this Constitution for the United States of America”
Box 75, Mount Vernon, Virginia 22121
Statesmanship@WashingtonLIVES.us
757-392-1457
“Literary power and statesmanship were combined in George Washington,
The greatest political leader of his time and also the greatest intellectual and moral force of the Revolutionary period.”
– Noah Webster, a.d. 1828

Why does the Navy fly a false flag? Why a snake? A snake on its belly in retreat?

2006-02-20T22:59:00.000-05:00

The old joke within the Navy is "200 years of Tradition unbounded by Progress", or some words to that effect.

But here with this flag, it is 200 years, more or less, of an historical fiction, grasped by well meaning officers for the Bicentennial in 1975, and now made a "Tradition" unbounded by Truth. In the flag journal, Raven, in Volume 11 of 2004, flag expert Peter Ansoff thoroughly researches the legend of the Navy Rattlesnake, "Don't Tread On Me" flag, and a summary of that article is provided below.

Notice that the Mexican flag central image is of an Eagle eating a Rattlesnake, and yet our current Navy Jack shows a Rattlesnake - On its Belly in Retreat - with the motto of a plaintive plea (Please) "Don't Tread On Me".

Saint Patrick of Ireland is famed for driving the snakes out of that country. And besides the long history of the evergreen Tree of Liberty on American flags, the flag of Lebanon shows a Cedar of Lebanon as a proud, upright, and strong central image.

Summary of "The First Navy Jack," by Peter Ansoff. It is published in Raven: A Journal of Vexillology, Vol. 11 (2004). (underline and bold added)

Page 2: “The First Navy Jack (Figure 1)” (Editor Note: Snake Over Stripes flag) “is a well-established part of American lore.” (Editor Note: More accurate than “well-established” would be to say “widely accepted” part of American lore.) … It has been an icon of the United States Navy since 1975-76, when all ships flew it to commemorate the bicentennial of the Navy and the United States…. The terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001 increased the popularity of the “rattlesnake and stripes” as a defiant symbol of national unity and resolve, both in the Navy and among the general public.”

“In fact, however, there is little evidence that his flag was flown by Commodore Hopkins in 1775, or that it even existed during the American Revolution.”

Page 9: Under the header “The Flags in the Thomas Hart Portrait”
“It appears that the naval historian Samuel Eliot Morison was correct when he made this comment: The mezzotint portrait of Esek Hopkins published in England… is a work of imagination by someone who never saw Hopkins or his ships… the flags are fantastic.”29

Page 10: “Third, 18th-century British and European illustrators often used the stretched-out “crawling rattlesnake” as a symbol of the American revolutionary cause, whereas there is no other known evidence that it was ever used on American flags.”35

Page 10: “In summary, the evidence strongly suggests that the striped rattlesnake flag depicted in the Hart engraving was not a realistic depiction of an American naval flag, any more than the palm tree in his Arnold portrait accurately depicted the flora of Canada.”

Page 12: “Nevertheless, the Hart image of Hopkins and its many descendants are standard illustrations in books and websites dealing with the Continental Navy and the Revolutionary War. 43 Generations of flag historians have assumed them to be authentic, and have built upon them a legend of the First Navy Jack –
an historic flag that never was.”

The legend of the Snake Over Stripes was step by step furthered by several books:
1830 Biography of John Paul Jones by Robert Sands
1839 History of the Navy of the United States of America by James Fenimore Cooper
1850 Pictorial Field-Book of the Revolution by Benson Lossing
1864 The History of our Flag by Ferdinand Sarmiento
1872 History of the Flag of the United States of America by RADM George Preble
1880 The Flag of the United States and Other National Flags by RADM George Preble
In his 1880 book Admiral Preble tried to correct his previous error in the 1872 book about the existence of the Snake Over Stripes flag. But the snake flag myth survived!

Page 20: Dr. Whitney Smith, founder and director of the Flag Research Center, has said of Preble’s work:
“…Original research is time-consuming and demanding and it’s easy to assume that published sources are correct and can be trusted. Those who have written books and articles or have created web sites about American flags have for the most part relied on work done by Preble. As a result there is a constant repetition of misinformation that gives certain designs the impression of accuracy.” 64

Happy Birthday President Reagan, His Words on Washington, First Navy Flag

2006-02-06T00:10:00.000-05:00

Ronald Reagan said in a.d. 1982, "The most sublime picture in American History is of George Washington on his knees...". And what might General Washington been doing on his knees? Praying, or in the process of "Appeal To Heaven" for Liberty for America.

The image of George Washington in Prayer is a "National Treasure" that is displayed under the dome of the United States Capitol in the Members Prayer Room, in the Pentagon Chapel, in the Ship's Chapel on the USS George Washington CVN-73, in the Base Chapel at Fort Belvoir, 3 miles from George Washington's Mount Vernon, at the Bicentennial Chapel at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama, in many carvings, knit kneeling pads, and a rose window at the Washington Memorial Chapel in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, and in the center of America's financial district, on Wall Street, on the Cornerstone of the Federal Building, at the spot where George Washington was inaugurated as the first President under this Constitution for the United States of America, now a spot just a few blocks from Ground Zero.

Update of 12 Oct 2005 Letter to then SECNAV Gordon England

2006-01-31T13:07:00.000-05:00

PAGE ONE

Memorandum 31 January a.d. 2006
To: Captain P.O. Wheeler, USN, Deputy Director of Naval History
From: J. R. Manship, Chairman, W.I.S.E. (LCDR, USNR, Life Member, Naval Reserve Association)

Subj: Referenced Letter to SECNAV England on Washington’s Creation of American Navy (revised)

1. I forward this letter in case you missed it before, plus some “new” information from William Bell Clark, in his book George Washington’s Navy, who is shown as the editor of the NDAR volumes below.

Very Respectfully, James Renwick Manship

[W.I.S.E. letterhead images}

12 October a.d. 2005, “true” Columbus Day

The Honorable Gordon R. England
Secretary of the Navy
1000 Navy, Pentagon
Washington, D.C. 20350-1000

Dear Secretary England:

At the Naval Historical Center yesterday, I spoke with Dr. Michael J. Crawford, Head of the Early History Division about research into the founding of the American Navy by Commander-in-Chief George Washington in October 1775.

[Four Pictures of Naval Documents of the American Revolution (NDAR) pages]

He was kind enough to make copies of four pages of the Navy’s reference work by eminent Naval Historian RADM Eller.
I have created “thumb-nail” images of those four pages as quick reference to the documents. The frontispiece of the Volume 2 of the Naval Documents of The American Revolution shows George Washington (left); the date range given first is 3 September 1775 to 31 October 1775, the day after Commander-in-Chief Washington commissioned the Hannah with the flag above as shown on page 13 of THE NAVY published by The Naval Historical Foundation to the end of the month wherein the Navy was born (left center). On Page 441 (right center) and 442 (right), the 13 October 1775 entry used to define the Navy’s birth begins with “A letter from Genl Washington, dated 5th of Octr,…was read.” The

PAGE TWO

footnote indicates “part of this letter relates to the capture of a vessel in New Hampshire.” The American Navy had a first prize. Dr. Crawford acknowledged that Washington’s ships actions made moot the Congress debate on whether to begin a Navy.

The only “bone of contention” was that the American Navy ships commissioned by Commander in Chief Washington were manned by “Army men”, and thus were Army, not Navy ships. Often soldiers and sailors were interchangeable. At the University of Virginia George Washington Papers Project are two letters (14 and 25 April 1776) to Navy Commander in Chief (R.I. General) Esek Hopkins where Commander-in-Chief of all American forces George Washington writes:
“…the Necessity of requesting you to dispatch to this Place as soon as possible the 200 Men lent you from this Army”

In this modern world where “Joint Service Inter-operability” is the watchword as American seeks to “Transform the World”, we as a Navy must not get into inter-service “sibling” rivalries about an “Army” general being the man responsible for the founding of the Navy, and for choosing the First Navy Flag- General George Washington.

The enclosed proposed SECNAV Instruction 10520.7 paragraph 2 describes the Naval and Marine background that served to educate George Washington in military and naval matters, and further describes the effective use of the Navy with the Army that Commander in Chief Washington coordinated throughout the War for Independence to win for America and all Americans our cherished Liberty, represented by the “Evergreen Tree of Liberty” of the First Navy Flag.

For America’s future (building up on our past),

James Renwick Manship, Sr., Chairman

P. S. Washington planned and executed the Trenton Raid in one week -- from 18 to 25 December a.d. 1776. I have not the abilities of Washington, so I have been working at this on an off since I spoke to the Navy Chaplains Conference at Founders Inn last 8 November 2004. Given this is about Washington’s founding of the American Navy and choosing the First Navy Flag, it is reasonable to consider coordinating action to encourage you as Secretary of the Navy to make a positive decision and a bold stroke of a pen for this “Revolutionary” change in time for the 13 October Navy birthday.

Navy Supply flag costs, projection of cost of change of Jack flag

2006-01-30T14:06:00.000-05:00

In a note in my penmanship, I relate to Captain Wheeler that a representative of a Navy supply command indicated that the Navy Snake Jack flag sells for $46.80. Further, it was learned that in the past year Navy ServMart sold 55 Navy snake jack flags.

Based on 3 flags per ship, and guessing 400 Navy ships, the projected cost for this change is $56,160. Since 30 January when the note was written, the news reported that in the new federal budget the Navy was going to increase from its current 281 ships. So recalculating based on 300 ships, rather than 400, yields $42,120.

This is to say that the cost to make this change is miniscule in terms of the massive federal budget.

Currently there are no known suppliers of an accurate rendition of the First Navy Flag, best based on the notes of Washington's aide, Colonel Joseph Reed, telling of the motto "Appeal To Heaven" below the tree, or secondarily in the letter in the penmanship of the British admiral Sir Hugh Pellasier, of the colors of the Continental ship Washington surrendered by the captain, Sion or Simon Martindale.

UPDATE >>> ABOVE paragraph is in error of no known suppliers for the Washington Cruisers First Navy Flag...

The rendition of the Liberty Tree flag, First Navy Flag, on the website of former Naval Academy music instructor Ron McGranahan, is the one seen in other places on this blog website.

In a phone conversation on Friday, 17 February 2006, he related that http://www.anyflag.com/history/washcru.htm was the source of his design.

Clicking on the links shows that the flag can be purchased one at a time for $40.00. The purchase of 900 at a time should allow a Navy contracts officer to secure a discount from the regular retail price, lets say 17.75 per cent (for the year 1775 the flag first flew). With that projected discount on a lower cost per flag the recalculated cost comes to $29,210.

Reply Letter to errors of Deputy Director of Navy History

2006-01-30T02:09:00.000-05:00

30 January 2006

Captain P. O. Wheeler, U. S. Navy
Deputy Director of Naval History
2000 Navy Pentagon
Washington, District of Columbia 20350-2000

Dear Captain Wheeler:

Thank you for your letter of 23 January, postmarked on 25 January 2006, that was delivered Saturday, 28 January, and I retrieved earlier today. In your first paragraph you write, “This responds to your letter in which the Secretary of the Navy substitute the Liberty Tree Flag in place of the Rattlesnake Jack,…” My first question to you is which letter dated when, to which Secretary of the Navy, Gordon England or Donald Winter?

I appreciate your recent history information that the Navy began to celebrate its birthday on 13 October since 1972. What day was celebrated as the Navy Birthday before 1972, if any? Do you think it significant that on that day in 1775 is when Congress read a letter from their Commander in Chief to learn George Washington had already formed a Navy, and so their debates on whether or not to create a Navy were rendered moot? [You may know that I received copies of the NDAR pages of that event from your aide, Dr. Michael Crawford, on 11 October 2005.] By 13 October 1775, the Tree of Liberty Flag, or Washington Cruisers Flag, was flying on Continental ships.

The third paragraph is an interesting construction, or justification, for a flag that has no true historical validity. It begins “The best historical information leads to the conclusion that the jack flown from vessels of the Continental Navy consisted of thirteen alternating horizontal red and white stripes.” which is a bit misleading, if not incorrect. You may be aware of the email I received from the Naval Historical Center, as seen below:

“Generations of flag historians have assumed them to be authentic, and have built upon them a legend of the First Navy Jack – an historic flag that never was.” are the words of flag expert Peter Ansoff from a one page summary of the 53 page article sent to me on 12 December 2005 by the Naval Historical Center, that is attached. It shows the sources of Rattlesnake Jack historical hoax, as well as RADM Preble and RADM Morison’s unsuccessful efforts to correct this century old error of Naval History. “Now is the time…”

“Don’t shoot the messenger.”, don’t shoot this idea down because I am a little known and even less well paid historian. I show the truth to you and the Navy Leadership who should properly give credit not to me, but to RADM Preble, RADM Morison, and the Naval Historical Center Early History Branch professional historians who have identified doubts of the veracity of the Rattlesnake Jack flag on the Naval Historical Center website.

As far as the “symbol for the United States” being the Rattlesnake, the one you describe of the Seven Years War is prone, and cut in pieces. The current Navy one on its belly was a possible mocking by English artist Thomas Hart, in his “fantastic” portrait of Commodore Hopkins as RADM Samuel Eliot Morison described it. Most or all of the American Rattlesnake flags designed by Americans show a COILED rattlesnake, ready to defend or strike, such as on the Gadsden Flag, the Culpeper Regiment, the Proctor Regiment, and the Rhode Island Artillery Regiment. Ask a Reptile expert, and you will learn that the Navy’s rattlesnake on its belly is one in retreat, where the motto is less a warning than a plaintive plea, “(Please) Don’t Tread On Me.”

The Tree of Liberty flag has even a longer historical tradition in America, and as a Continental Navy flag its first use on 2 September 1775 followed by a mere weeks of the mid-August cutting down of the Sons of Liberty Tree of Liberty in Boston by British loyalists. Therefore the “Liberty Tree” is even a better symbol of “independent spirit, and its resistance to tyranny…” as you write in your recent letter to me.

From my 11 October 2005 letter to Secretary of the Navy Gordon England is the following insight:
“…the motto added by Washington is from Locke’s Second Treatise chapter XIV “Of Prerogative”, where is written “to appeal to heaven…have no appeal on earth, then they have a liberty to appeal to heaven.” “Appeal To Heaven” is Locke’s syllogism for “go to war”. With Thomas, Lord Fairfax as his mentor, George Washington was well educated in John Locke’s writings.”

Also thank you for the interesting bit of history of the 27 February 1777 group of Continental Navy officers suggesting that Navy captains have a rattlesnake and motto embroidered on their epaulets. Obviously this Navy Snake idea was rejected, but I would like to know more of this incident, so I ask what is the scholarly citation?

I want to thank you for adopting the more appropriate use of “Liberty Tree Flag”, rather than the “Pine Tree Flag”, in both the first paragraph on your first page, and the second paragraph on your second page. However, that second paragraph and the next have numerous historical errors of fact. The historical records clearly show there was every bit of “institutional continuity between Washington’s Fleet and the Continental Navy.”

The Continental Navy was created by the Commander in Chief of ALL Continental forces, George Washington, months before the first Navy Commander in Chief, Rhode Island Artillery Militia General Esek Hopkins, was named by the Congress where his brother Stephen Hopkins served. (For Washington’s authority to establish the Navy, read his original orders from the Congress as recorded in the book written by Chester G. Hearn titled George Washington’s Schooners published by the United States Naval Institute Press in 1995. And is it true that William Bell Clark who wrote George Washington’s Navy in 1960 also served as an editor at the Naval Historical Center for the Naval Documents of the Revolution series that is somewhat the definitive source of Navy history, and prove my points?)

The “Navy” committee of Congress voted to commission additional ships AFTER reading that Commander in Chief Washington had already commissioned a Continental ship. The Navy committee then traveled to Boston, met with Washington, confirmed his Navy plans, and indeed, even had the Continental Navy ships named for many members of the Continental Congress. All BEFORE General Esek Hopkins was named Commodore.

The argument of soldiers versus sailors has been fully discussed in previous letters to Secretary England, it just does not hold water. I found at the University of Virginia George Washington Papers Project a letter from General Washington to General Hopkins (Commodore) to please return the 200 soldiers he loaned to Hopkins to man the Continental Navy ships. What do you bet some of those same “soldiers” were sailors before?

The Massachusetts Navy flag was voted upon in July 1776, long after it had been flying for months as the flag of the ships of Continental Navy commissioned by Washington and confirmed by the committee of Congress.

And as far as being Washington’s Continental Navy ships operating only in the Massachusetts Bay, the first ship, Hannah, was given orders by Commander in Chief Washington to sail to Montreal to provide Naval support for the Continental forces campaign in another country. Please let me know when the Navy will uphold the truths of Navy history, rather than holding on to a fraud or error of history because it is the easy thing to do.

For America’s future (building up on our past),

James Renwick Manship, Sr., Chairman
LCDR, USNR, Life Member, Naval Reserve Assn.

Enclosures:
(a) Point Paper on First Navy Flag… page 1 (“He {Washington} gave birth to the Navy.”)
(b) Point Paper on First Navy Flag… page 6 (“…striped rattlesnake flag… not a realistic…flag.”)
(c) Decision Points on change of Navy Jack Flag (2 page based on SECNAV England speech)
(d) “Seed of Truth” sheet with British Maritime Museum letter of 6 January 1776 letter (portion)
(e) Letter for RADM Tobin, Director, Naval Historical Center, to SECNAV Winter (proposed)
(f) SECNAV Instruction 10520.7 of 22 February 2006 (proposed, prepared for SECNAV Winter)

Detailed Reply to CNO letter of 23 Jan 2006 by CAPT P.O. Wheeler, USN

2006-01-28T18:09:00.000-05:00

The first paragraph is a reasonable summary of this issue for the Navy to "substitute the Liberty Tree Flag in place of the Rattlesnake Jack". As to no plans for a substitute, when truth vs. fiction is clear to see, then serving Truth is an obligation.

The second paragraph provides interesting information that the Navy Birthday has only been observed since 1972, yet traces its birthday to the Continental Congress entry of 13 October 1775 shown in the Naval Documents of the American Revolution page 441 and 442, which shows the first action of that day was to read a letter from Commander in Chief George Washington that included discussion of Naval matters, and thereby made moot the committee debate as whether or not it would be too brash for this infant nation to establish a Navy to challenge, or even simply harass, the mightiest Navy in the world, the British Navy. So the birth of the Navy was measured from discussion of the Naval activities of General George Washington. Period. End of Story. (And yet other arguments will be presented.)

The third paragraph begins "The best historical information leads to the conclusion...". The way this is worded it could be considered true, or it could be considered false. There are just too many unclear allusions contained within the sentence. There is some historical information, but whether it is the best is questionable, that the thirteen alternating red and white stripes flag was flown on Continental Navy ships. True, there is some evidence that the flag as described, also called the Sons of Liberty Flag, may have flown, even likely flew on Continental Navy ships.

However, there is NO VALID HISTORICAL INFORMATION that the SNAKE OVER STRIPES FLAG EVER FLEW ON ANY CONTINENTAL NAVY SHIP. (Read the 52 page article by flag expert Peter Ansoff in the 2004 issue of the flag journal Raven, or read the one page summary elsewhere on this blog.)

The third paragraph as much as admits that the current Navy flag is false, a fabrication where it writes, "The modern addition of the rattlesnake and motto to the jack of the thirteen stripes creates a combination of three symbols with connections to the rich naval heritage of the American Revolution." Why combine symbols when a true flag with a rich naval heritage of the American Revolution already exists -- the evergreen Liberty Tree Flag?

But that sentence too is misleading. The "modern addition" derives from a false legend that began from Thomas Hart, an English artist, not known for his historical accuracy, in his fanciful portrait of the first Navy-only Commander in Chief, former Rhode Island Militia General Esek Hopkins, brother of Stephen Hopkins who was a member of the Continental Congress.

In the point paper elsewhere on this blog, details how the false Rattler flag legend was perpetuated by one well-meaning but historically poorly informed American after another, how one Navy Admiral Preble in 1872 at first believed the Snake flag legend and included it in his book on American flags, and then learned it was false and so tried in 1880 to correct his previous error, and mentions how the snake on its belly may have been intended as an insult of the American Navy.

In another portrait by Hart, of Colonel Benedict Arnold outside of Montreal, Hart paints a palm tree in the background, a flora not found so far north. So much for Hart's reputation for historical accuracy.

And as far as the Rattlesnake as a symbol of the English colonies about the time of the Seven Years Wars 1756-1763 (the European moniker, typically called the French and Indian War in America 1754-1763) the statement is true enough, but the evergreen tree is a symbol of the English colonies back into the 1600's.

The Sons of Liberty met under the Tree of Liberty in Boston, that was cut down by British Loyalists in mid-August 1775, weeks before the Liberty Tree Flag flew on 2 September 1775 as the First Navy Flag on the first Continental Navy ship, the Hannah, and then at least six others Continental Navy ships. As such, it was a direct statement of resistance to tyranny, and an independent spirit unmatched by any other early flag, or later fabricated flag.

The fourth paragraph states "In early 1776 Commodore Esek Hopkins, the first and only commander in chief of the Continental Navy fleet, used a personal standard designed by Christopher Gadsden of South Carolina. This flag consisted of a yellow field with a coiled snake and the motto "Don't Tread on Me." Whether this is true or not is subject to question among careful flag historians.

It is true there was the Gadsden flag as described. When and whether the Gadsden flag was flown by General, or Commodore, Esek Hopkins after he was named to head the Navy fleet out of Philadelphia is not clearly established.

Further, there are several historical sources that indicate that Captain John Manley was named as the Commodore of the Continental Navy ships operating in the "Northern Fleet" (NOT Massachusett State Navy.)

On the second page of the CNO letter by CAPT Wheeler, a very interesting bit of history is provided that in fact proves the point AGAINST THE NAVY SNAKE FLAG. It tells how barely a year after the personal standard of the snake flag MAY have been flown, that a group of Continental Navy officers proposed a dress uniform epaulet with "the figure of a Rattle Snake Embroider'd on the Strap... with the Motto don't tread on me." The letter does NOT say such a proposal was adopted, and so if not, it could be reasonably presumed the unwise proposal was rejected by "wiser heads" in higher authority.

The fifth paragraph on page 2 is the most misleading by its presentation of erroneous information. Elsewhere on this blog are graphic presentations of how several parts of this paragraph are not correct. First the Liberty Tree Flag first flew on Continental Navy ships commissioned by Commander in Chief of all Continental forces, George Washington beginning on 2 September 1775. The Massachusetts Navy flag adopted that flag as its own on 26 July 1776.

The statement "ships of Washington's Fleet that operated in Massachusetts Bay..." is just incorrect. The powerful British Navy was anchored in the Massachusetts Bay so the Continental Navy ships would have been foolhardy to operate there. The plan as stated in Washington's original orders to the first Continental Navy ship Captain Nicholas Broughton was to "operate on the High Seas..." to capture inbound British merchant unarmed or lightly armed supply ships and take them to ports near Boston by free from British control.

Those captures of supply ships had a dual military purpose - one to deny supplies to the enemy, and two to provide much needed arms, ammunition, clothing, and food for the Continental Army from the captured British supply ships.

The Continental Navy ships commissioned by Washington, and confirmed by the Continental Congress committee, were similar to the "skirmishing" on land by the cavalry by such military leaders as Major (later General) Light Horse Harry Lee, where the plan was to hit and retreat, to capture supply wagons, and avoid a military fight, all part of a siege campaign, and like the American Indian warfare technique of ambush.

The next part of that fifth paragraph that is misleading is the statement, "...was manned and officered entirely by the Continental Army." Again a graphic rebuttal of this is presented elsewhere on this blog. Quotes from the 1960 book George Washington's Navy by William Bell Clark, who also served as an editor of the Naval Documents of the American Revolution that the Navy uses to establish the Navy Birthday as 13 October, disprove this statement.

Further, a letter found at the University of Virginia George Washington Papers Project from the Commander in Chief (of all Continental forces) to his subordinate General, now Commodore, Esek Hopkins to please return the 200 soldiers lent by Washington to Hopkins to man the Navy's ships, tends to make this argument moot.

The sixth paragraph continues with another incorrect statement, "There is no institutional continuity between Washington's Fleet and the Continental Navy, established as a separate institution by the Continental Congress." This is wrong from a number of different perspectives. One as discussed above, the Congressional debate on whether to start a Navy ended when the Navy committee learned that Washington had already established a Navy and captured British ships. Two, the Navy committee traveled to Boston by 22 October 1775 to review the plans of Washington to establish the fleet of Continental Navy ships, and approved the plans, even to the extent of many of the ships being named for leaders of the Continental Congress. Three, later John Hancock, president of Continental Congress named a man to serve as the Continental agent to replace the agents originally appointed by Washington, to receive and process the captured ships of the Continental Navy ships commissioned by Washington.

In the sixth, and next to last paragraph, the concluding sentences are accurate in stating the current situation that reflects the "institutional attitude" reflected by the quasi-humorous saying, "Don't confuse me with the facts, my mind is made up." The words written are "The United States Navy considers...", or rather continues holding onto the false Snake flag.

The next part is written, "... its beginnings to have been the Continental Navy, not the Continental Army." which is a rationalization not based on the facts. The first Navy Commodore had served as an artillery General in the Rhode Island Militia, and likely was named in part due to his influential brother Stephen Hopkins, who served in the Continental Congress.

This letter fails to tell the "rest of the story" that from the very first, this Navy Commander in Chief, Commodore Esek Hopkins, failed to carry out the orders as originally written, and later was "fired" from his position. On the other hand, the first Navy ship Hannah commissioned by Commander in Chief George Washington had a ship's captain Nicholas Broughton who failed to carry out his orders as written.

Both sets of ships, those of Washington and those of Hopkins were manned in part by volunteers from the Continental Army, and certainly volunteers from state militiamen like those of Rhode Island where General Esek Hopkins had served before being appointed to head the fledgling Navy founded by Washington.

The Liberty Tree Flag, also called the Washington Cruisers Flag, is clearly the true First Navy Flag by several months over any other "challenger". For this reason, the statement "For this reason, the Navy does not use the flag of Washington's fleet." is not consistent with the facts of history that call for this flag be substituted for the fictional "retreating Rattler" Snake flag.

The last paragraph, the seventh, concludes the letter with the words, "As always, if I can be of further assistance, please let me know." Late in the day on Friday, 17 February 2006, days before the Monday federal Washington Birthday Holiday, I called and left a message for Captain P. O. Wheeler at the number I received for him at 202-433-8271.

The assistance I ask is for the Navy to have the courage to serve the truth, the true facts of Navy history, and the openly acknowledge the facts that the First Continental Navy ships flew the "Washington Cruiser" flag, or the Liberty Tree Flag, that honestly acknowledges what numerous Navy historians have said that the Continental Navy was created by Commander in Chief George Washington, who had an appreciation of the importance of a Navy from his older brother's experience with Admiral Edwin Vernon, for whom Mount Vernon was named, during the campaign in Columbia, South America against the Spanish, in the War of Jenkin's Ear.

The best action for the Navy would be to adopt the Liberty Tree flag as the Navy Jack during the Global War for Liberty Over Terrorism.

Update of 22 December 2005 Draft Letter for RADM to SECNAV

2006-01-04T11:11:00.000-05:00

Naval Historical Center
Washington Navy Yard, Building
Washington, District of Columbia

4 January 2006

The Honorable Donald C. Winter
Secretary of the Navy FAX (PAO): 703-697-1242
1000 Navy Pentagon
Washington, District of Columbia 20350-1000

Dear Secretary England:

Recently it was brought to my attention that SECNAV Instruction 10520.6 that you signed on 31 May 2002, based on the prior instruction in the same series of 1 August 1975 when J. William Middendorf served as Secretary of the Navy renewed a well meaning error in our Navy history, the myth of the Rattlesnake flag.

I have been informed that based on recently received scholarship on this issue, Ambassador Middendorf notes the error, and agrees that the error should be corrected.

Previous Naval Historians have attempted to correct this error. Admiral Preble tried in 1880 to correct the error. According to flag expert Dave Martucci of NAVA, Admiral Preble in his 1872 book talked about the Rattlesnake flag, but by the 1880 edition Preble was insisting the publisher remove all his prior writings on the Rattlesnake flag, which the Admiral by then knew to be in error. The publisher did so, but left a flag illustration in the book, largely defeating the Admiral’s efforts to correct his earlier error, so the Snake flag myth passed into the lore of Navy history. The Admiral’s correspondence on this can be found at the Antiquarian Society of Worchester, Massachusetts. Naval Historian Samuel Eliot Morison was correct when he made this comment: “The mezzotint portrait of Esek Hopkins published in England… is a work of imagination by someone who never saw Hopkins or his ships…”

It was recently learned that the original instruction was not staffed through the Naval Historical Center, at least not the Early History Branch, and in fact, the website of our organization discounts the prevalent opinions that the Rattlesnake flag as now depicted ever flew on a Continental Navy ship. Scholars agree the Rattlesnake flag is not proper.

The first Navy ship commissioned was the Hannah commissioned on 2 September 1775 by Commander in Chief of all Continental forces, George Washington. His aide, Colonel Joseph Reed, wrote of the flag to be flown on the Continental ships commissioned. The design of the flag was a white field with a pine tree, or an Evergreen Tree, and the motto “Appeal To Heaven” inscribed below. The Liberty Tree where the Sons of Liberty met in Boston was chopped down in August 1775, so the “Evergreen Tree of Liberty” has much symbolism. There are many historical accounts of this flag flown on our Navy ships. And beyond the facts of history, in a modern world which is a better symbol for America, a Snake on its belly, or a Tree of Liberty?

So I ask that you sign a new SECNAV Instruction that establishes the “Washington Cruisers Flag” or the “Evergreen Tree of Liberty Flag” as the First Navy Flag that is flown as the Navy Jack Flag during the Global War for Liberty over Terrorism. A sample is attached.

Very Respectfully,

Paul Tobin, RADM, USN (ret.)
Director
Enclosure

Congressman Thelma Drake letter

2006-01-04T03:27:00.000-05:00

4 January 2006

The Honorable Thelma Drake
United States House of Representatives
4772 Euclid Road, Suite E
Virginia Beach, Virginia 23462

Dear Congressman Drake,

A letter from Senator Nick Rerras was received yesterday saying he forwarded an inquiry on the Navy Jack to you. Nick and I were at the TAB Church a while ago, and at the Norfolk Yacht Club soon after Reagan died where we joined in a program to honor him. Also received yesterday was a copy of a letter from 6 January 1776 (230 years ago) from the Royal Observatory and National Maritime Museum in Greenwich, England. Some days ago I received your 2005 Congressional Report, all together suggest I must write this letter to you.

Some months ago while walking home from Ocean View Christian Reformed Church, I saw you driving in the neighborhood, and in 2004 at the Founders’ Inn, I remember being seated at the same table with you and your husband. In October 2004, I spoke at Congressman Forbes Celebration of Patriots, and on 8 November at Founders’ Inn for the Navy Chaplains’ Conference banquet, where I raised the true First Navy Flag issue.

In July, Randy Forbes forwarded my historically correct proposal of the Washington Cruisers Flag as the Navy Jack to the Office of the Secretary of Defense. In August, I moved from South Norfolk to 1039 East Ocean View, from Randy Forbes district to your Congressional District, home of the world’s mightiest Navy base. Now I ask you to actively promote this proposal for a proper and right change. Yet you may ask, “Why?”
1) Since 13 October, Ambassador J. William Middendorf who was Secretary of the Navy in 1975, when for the Bicentennial the Snake Over Stripes Navy Jack was first flown, now agrees that the Snake flag is an error and should be changed. He is also Chairman of the Secretary of the Navy’s Naval History Advisory Committee.
2) On 11 October, I first met with the Early History Branch of the Naval Historical Center. On 21 October, from that office I received an email about an article in a Flag History Journal “Raven” of 2004 that debunks the myth of the Rattlesnake Flag ever having flown on a Continental Navy ship. I received from them a copy of the 53 page article on 12 December and produced a one page summary, which I enclose, along with other one page info items.
3) The Naval Historical Foundation book “The NAVY” published in 2000, shows on page 13 a picture of the Hannah flying the Evergreen Tree of Liberty flag, or Washington Cruisers Flag, with the illustration caption “…the first vessel to fly under the authority of the Continental Congress.”
4) Separate from the historical accuracy issue that is strongly in favor of the Tree of Liberty Flag over the Snake flag, in the Global War for Liberty over Terrorism what is a better symbol for America, a “tall and tough as a tree” Evergreen Tree of Liberty, or a crawling snake, when terrorists are akin to “snakes in the grass”?

For America’s future (building up on our past),

James Renwick Manship, Sr., Chairman

Enclosures

Welcome New Navy Secretary Donald Winter, Time for an New "Old Navy Flag"?

2006-01-04T00:31:00.000-05:00

4 January 2006

The Honorable Donald C. Winter
Secretary of the Navy
1000 Navy Pentagon
Washington, District of Columbia 20350-1000

Dear Secretary Winter:

Welcome Aboard! Having been confirmed as Secretary of the Navy by the Senate in November, it must be a joy to now be sworn in that position of honor and service, yesterday, the day of the Battle of Princeton. Yesterday, I received a photocopy of the 6 January 1776 letter from Sir Hugh Palliser that described the true First Navy Flag, this copy from the National Maritime Museum and Royal Observatory in Greenwich, England.

As a life member of the Naval Reserve Association, and an historian of the Founding of our Nation, I have been working for some time to persuade Navy leaders to correct an error of Navy history that we display each day – the mythical Snake Over Stripes flag that now flies as our Navy Jack. Many experts now agree on its myth.

In July, Randy Forbes endorsed my historically correct proposal of the Washington Cruisers Flag as the Navy Jack to the Office of the Secretary of Defense. In August, I moved from South Norfolk from Randy Forbes district to the Congressional District of Thelma Drake, to the Norfolk home of the world’s mightiest Navy base.

Now I ask you to sign the proposed SECNAV Instruction, for a proper change. Yet you may ask, “Why?”
1) Since 13 October, Ambassador J. William Middendorf who was Secretary of the Navy in 1975, when for the Bicentennial the Snake Over Stripes Navy Jack was first flown, now agrees that the Snake flag is an error and should be changed. He is also Chairman of the Secretary of the Navy’s Naval History Advisory Committee.
2) On 11 October, I first met with the Early History Branch of the Naval Historical Center. On 21 October, from that office I received an email about an article in a Flag History Journal “Raven” of 2004 that debunks the myth of the Rattlesnake Flag ever having flown on a Continental Navy ship. I received from them a copy of the 53 page article on 12 December and produced a one page summary, which I enclose, along with other one page info items.
3) The Naval Historical Foundation book “The NAVY” published in 2000, shows on page 13 a picture of the Hannah flying the Evergreen Tree of Liberty flag, or Washington Cruisers Flag, with the illustration caption “…the first vessel to fly under the authority of the Continental Congress.”
4) Separate from the historical accuracy issue that is strongly in favor of the Tree of Liberty Flag over the Snake flag, in the Global War for Liberty over Terrorism what is a better symbol for America, a “tall and tough as a tree” an Evergreen Tree of Liberty, or a crawling snake, when terrorists are akin to “snakes in the grass” ?

For America’s future (building up on our past),

James Renwick Manship, Sr., Chairman

Enclosures

Point Paper on Why Yes to Liberty Tree Navy Flag, Why NO to Snake flag

2006-01-01T01:01:00.000-05:00

POINT PAPER on First Navy Flag on the Ships Commissioned by Commander-in-Chief George Washington

Question: When did the American Navy begin, under what authority, which ship or ships were first commissioned, and what flag was first flown on these Navy ships?

A B C D E F G
H I J K L M N
[Description of the Flags shown above will be provided within and at the end of this Point Paper.]

Discussion: The United States Naval Institute Press in 1995 published a book written by Chester G. Hearn titled George Washington’s Schooners (LoC#E271.H43 1995). On page 5, quoted are the orders of the Continental Congress to George Washington,
“to command all the continental forces raised, or to be raised,
for the defense of American liberty.”
Later on the orders continue, “all particulars cannot be foreseen, nor positive instructions for such emergencies so beforehand given…many things must be left to your prudent and discreet management, as occurrences may arise.”

On page 3 are some well worded phrases, “What Washington needed was a navy, but there was none, and the Continental Congress doubted if one would be needed.” “Washington wanted a few fast vessels… And he wanted his schooners mobilized without delay. As Congress labored in chambers, debating the practicality of creating and financing a navy, the general decided the matter for them. He pressed his schooners to sea in the fall of 1775, and prizes began to flow.”

On page 7, “If the British could not be driven out of Boston, perhaps they could be starved out, which meant stopping their flow of supplies. But Washington had a more immediate problem – an urgent need to equip a threadbare army…” “At the same time, Washington wrote reflectively, “A fortunate capture of an ordnance ship would give new life to the camp, and an immediate turn to the issue of this campaign.” “Among the army rank and file Washington observed an abundance of young seamen bemoaning the monotony of duty in the trenches…swatting mosquitoes was no way to fight a war. Give them the open sea. They’d show King George who owned the colonial coast.”

On page 10, “A mind as keen as Washington’s must have appreciated the possibilities of employing his guardsmen in a duty more closely associated with their seafaring skills.”

On page 239, the last words of the Epilogue chapter say: “George Washington, a military man, not only fathered the country. He gave birth to the American Navy.”

The above combined with the Volume 2, page 441 and 442 of the Naval Documents of The American Revolution, for the entry of 13 October 1775, the day considered the birth of the American Navy, begins with “A letter from Genl Washington, dated 5th of Octr, with sundry enclosed papers being recd was read.” One item related to the capture of a vessel in New Hampshire. Naval operations were underway, and Congress followed. George Washington’s leadership created the Navy, then Congress confirmed his efforts.
Chapter 2 describes the problem plagued cruises of the first Navy ship, Hannah. Chapter 3 tells of the Commander in Chief sending two Navy ship captains off to Quebec to support the overland march and attack of Colonel Benedict Arnold, but the captains never complied with Washington’s orders. Washington’s Orders in 1775 had a broad vision for the Navy, to both complete the siege of Boston and to support the campaign in Canada.

Back in June 1775, the Congress had “left to your prudent and discreet management” to the Commander in Chief, or to say another way, authorized Washington to create a Navy if he saw the need. Within three months, he began to transform a gaggle of men and boys into an American Army, and as “father of His country”, Washington also conceived and thereby gave birth to our first Navy ship, and small fleet of ships. Soon after Navy ships authorized by Congress would be commissioned in both Philadelphia and Baltimore.
The Navy ships commissioned in the Boston area were Hannah, Franklin, Hancock, Harrison, Washington, Lee, Lynch, Warren; the ships commissioned in Philadelphia were Alfred and four others, and the ships commissioned in Baltimore were Wasp and Hornet.

Some say that the Navy did not get its beginning until there was a “Navy man” at the helm as Commander in Chief of the Navy and “sailors” not soldiers to man the ships.

The first Navy Commander in Chief was General Esek Hopkins of Rhode Island, brother of Stephen Hopkins in the Congress, who introduced bills for a Navy, and had the Katy become the Providence. In chapter 5 beginning at page 49 is a description of the struggle of fitting out of the ships as Navy war ships due to “price gouging” by local merchants and ship owners. On page 52, Washington’s aide Captain Ephraim Bowen, Jr. was sent out to Plymouth on 13 October to prepare the Navy ships Hancock and Washington.

So on 13 October the Continental Congress ordered two ships to be fitted out as Navy warships, and on the same date, their Commander in Chief ordered two more ships to be fitted out as Navy warships, taking his total number up to five, and Navy wide to seven.

Yet on page 53, is written an interesting, if a bit perplexing, bit of Navy history,
“Disgruntled, Bowen rode to Providence and searched around the harbor. He found several guns in the possession of Gen. Esek Hopkins, who would not, however, part with them without an order from the governor.” [Governor Cooke]
So we see that the “Navy Man” who soon thereafter became the Navy’s first Commander in Chief, was first a General in the state militia of Rhode Island, General Esek Hopkins.

Given that reality, is it not probable that when Hopkins became the Navy’s Commander-in-Chief, he took some of his “soldiers” with seafaring skills with him? Further on page 54 is written: “Moylan, who had been tapping Rhode Island regiments to fill the crew of eighty…” (of the Washington with Martindale as its Captain). So how is this much different than General Washington seeing the soldiers with seafaring skills in the Continental Army, especially in Colonel John Glover’s regiment of seagoing men?

In fact we also have correspondence in 1776 between General Washington and General Hopkins after Hopkins was commissioned by Congress as the Navy Commander-in-Chief to please return the contingent of soldiers that had been “loaned” to the Navy to man the ships. So clearly, the early American Navy was in part manned by American soldiers from Washington’s Army, on the first ship Hannah and other Navy ships to follow.

We also see a relationship of cooperation between the Army and Navy that sets an excellent precedent for joint service cooperation in military operations even today.
So to the part of the Question about the First Navy Flag, on page 19 is a photograph of a model of the Hannah in the U.S. Naval Historical Center that shows the “Washington Cruisers Flag” A flying on the ship. Later, on page 56 is written:
“Lucy Hammet fashioned the flag at the request of Watson, who foresaw a need for Washington’s vessels to be able to identify each other. Reed” (Joseph Reed, Washington’s aide) “liked the idea of a flag consisting of a white background with a green pine tree in the center and the words Appeal to Heaven inscribed below. Coit and Martindale displayed the same flag, but of different materials…”
So in these words and pictures we see that at least three of the first Navy ships flew the Washington Cruiser flag, or Pine Tree flag, or “Evergreen Tree of Liberty Flag” from 2 September 1775 on the Hannah Captain Nicholson Broughton, commanding, to 26 October on the Harrison with Captain William Coit, commanding, and four weeks later on the Washington with Captain Sion Martindale, commanding.

Yet it is fair to ask, “Where began the legend of the Serpent Over Stripes, “Don’t Tread on Me” Rattlesnake Flag?” G (Which if carefully analyzed, is a snake on its belly in retreat, so the words are not so much a warning as a plea PLEASE “don’t tread on me”, and not as in most other military flags, a rattler shown coiled to strike, ready to defend.)
An article by Peter Ansoff in Raven, a “flag study” journal, states in two places that the snake crawling was a depiction of British and European rendering, possibly as an insult.

Most Navy history scholars point to the Gadsden flag of Congressman Christopher Gadsden of South Carolina who was on the committee on Naval affairs that selected Rhode Island’s General Esek Hopkins as the Navy Commander in Chief. The Gadsden Flag is a yellow flag with a coiled rattlesnake, and the motto “Don’t Tread on Me” M.

On the other hand, I have seen no scholars make the connection that the Rhode Island Artillery had white field with a Rattlesnake E, that is also part coiled, and a different motto -- . Of course, the connection is with Rhode Island’s General Esek Hopkins, who became the Commander in Chief of the American Navy. General Washington willingly relinquished that added responsibility after Congress finally decided to organize and finance a Navy, and to commission an officer to lead the Naval forces.

So the coiled Rattler flag of South Carolina M and the South Carolina Navy Flag N, combined with the half coiled Rattler flag of Rhode Island E, combined with the red and white Sons of Liberty flag of Massachusetts D could be a plausible description of the genesis of the flag that currently flies as the United States Navy Jack Flag G. But the historical facts are that the stripes of this Rattler flag varied in color from red and white, to red and blue, red and black, to blue and black or blue and yellow -- no uniformity.

Another couple of points is that the Washington Cruiser Flag A and the Pine Tree Flag H
while names often used interchangeably are in fact two distinct and different flags. The Washington Cruisers Flag or First Navy Flag carries the John Locke motto “Appeal To Heaven”, the Pine Tree Flag or Massachusetts Navy Flag does not have the motto. Also the motto is often seen over the tree, and even as “An Appeal to Heaven” a phrase that does not appear in John Locke’s writing, where “Appeal to Heaven” does three times.

The historical facts are the Washington Cruisers Flag A pre-dated any form or coloration of the Rattlesnake or Serpent Over Stripes flag G used on a Continental Navy ship.
Further Discussion: Recent History of a Revolutionary War flag as the Navy Jack Flag.

From the Naval Historical Center website http://www.history.navy.mil/faqs/faq122-1.htm

The Rattlesnake Jack and the Modern Navy__As part of the commemoration of the bicentennial of the American Revolution, by an instruction dated 1 August 1975 (SECNAV Instruction 10520.3) the Secretary of the Navy [Editor Note: J. William Middendorf, 8 Apr 1974 - 20 Jan 1977, later Ambassador to OAS.] directed the use of the rattlesnake jack in place of the union jack (blue field with white stars) during the period 13 October 1775 (the bicentennial of the legislation that created the Continental Navy, which the Navy recognizes as the Navy's birthday), and 31 December 1976.

By an instruction dated 18 August 1980 (SECNAV Instruction 10520.4), the Secretary of the Navy directed that the commissioned ship in active status having the longest total period in active status to display the rattlesnake jack in place of the union jack until decommissioned or transferred to inactive status.__

By an instruction dated 31 May 2002 (SECNAV Instruction 10520.6), the Secretary of the Navy directed the use of the rattlesnake jack in place of the union jack for the duration of the Global War on Terrorism.

In early November 2004, when preparing to give a speech to the Navy Chaplains Conference, the author of this point paper discovered the Naval Historical Center website where the “Don’t Tread on Me” Rattlesnake flag as the fist Navy flag was challenged. Further research showed that the Washington Cruiser Flag is more accurately credited as being the First Navy Flag. A letter to the present Secretary of the Navy Gordon England and others was sent on 1 December 2004, and a revised version with color photographs sent on 13 April 2005. A follow-up letter to the local Congressman, J. Randy Forbes, resulted in a letter from him to the Secretary of Defense endorsing the change in the Navy Jack Flag. A reply from the CNO Naval History section was received in September. Other letters to the Naval Historical Center and the Secretary of the Navy office were prepared and sent over the next few weeks, as new research was discovered that reaffirmed the Washington Cruisers Flag A as the true First Navy Flag.

On 11 October 2005, the author met with Dr. Michael Crawford, Head of the Early History branch of the Naval Historical Center. He stated that the SECNAV Instruction on the “Don’t Tread on Me” Rattlesnake Flag as the first Navy flag was not checked through them, and so essentially disclaimed any historical accuracy on the instruction.

On the Navy’s 230th Birthday, 13 October 2005 a phone conversation with Ambassador Middendorf, introduced the information that the belief that the “Don’t Tread on Me” Rattlesnake flag was the Navy Jack flag was in error. He cited a number of Navy ships commissioned in Philadelphia, and two ships, the Hornet and the Wasp commissioned in Baltimore, one by a relative, Captain William Stone.

In an email on Oct 21, 2005, at 10:54 AM, Dennis CONRAD, of NAVHISTCEN wrote:
Dear Mr. Manship: We are passing around the office an article that may be of real interest to you. It is entitled "The First Navy Jack," by Peter Ansoff. It is published in Raven: A Journal of Vexillology, Vol. 11 (2004). It certainly calls into question the view that the rattlesnake jack was used by the Continental Navy. Dennis Conrad
That article was received and read on 12 December 2005, and is summarized below.
On 29 November 2005, in a second phone conversation with Ambassador Middendorf, he indicated he had read the First Navy Flag scholarship sent to him. Further, he stated when he signed SECNAV Instruction 10520.3, he accepted the staff work done to have included historical research. The man who served as Secretary of the Navy at the time the Rattlesnake flag was first made effective, Ambassador J. William Middendorf, now believes the 1975 instruction he signed was in error, and should be changed. A follow up phone call on 12 December 2005 discussed an earlier version of this point paper.

On 2 December 2005, in a phone conversation with Dr. Dennis Conrad of the Naval Historical Center, it was indicated that the Naval Historians in the Early History branch were “on board” with the fact that the “Don’t Tread on Me” Rattlesnake flag was NOT the first Navy flag, but that decisions like this were made at a higher level.

So the situation now is that the Naval Historical Center that was the original source of the clue that the current Navy jack flag of the Rattlesnake “Don’t Tread on Me” flag as the first Navy flag is an historical error, appears to agree that the Washington Cruiser flag is the correct choice. It is wise and timely for a change from the “Don’t Tread on Me” Rattlesnake Flag to the Washington Cruisers – Tree of Liberty -- First Navy Flag.

The man most appropriate to change and correct the error is Secretary of the Navy Gordon England in the next few days or weeks while he continues to serve in that post before he is confirmed as the Deputy Secretary of Defense. Secretary England is most appropriate in that he was the man who on 31 May 2002 signed the SECNAV Instruction that ordered the flying of the Rattlesnake – “Don’t Tread on Me” flag which is now generally agreed among scholars to be in error, during the War against tERRORism.

For the Army-Navy football game, recently on Fox News, Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld, a Navy veteran, and Secretary of the Navy England, made sport of the Army mascot mule, talking about notches in the tail that told what work the mule could do. As a clever Navy Captain Public Affairs Officer pointed out, this decision is much like in Football where the referees have an “Instant Replay” to study the details of the play and decide to change their call, so too must the Navy and its leadership run a Replay on the call of the first Navy flag, which is “out of bounds”. Even if this call is far less than instant in its playback, it is time to change the call to reflect the Washington Cruisers Flag as the true First Navy Flag, to be flown on the bowsprit as the Navy Jack

There is an old saying that “A lie can get half way around the world before the Truth can get its boots on.” In this case a lie, or more accurately, an error of the history of our American Navy flag, has flown around the world on the bow of our current American warships. The Rattlesnake flag error was a well meaning error, but an error nonetheless.

Now that the error has been revealed by flag scholars, it is time to do as is said in another old saying, “Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of their country.” The “aid of their country” is to first serve the Truth, rather than maintain a false legend. We must “raise a standard to which the wise and honest can repair” as Washington said to the delegates at the opening of the Constitutional Convention. Let a new SECNAV Instruction raise the standard of the true First Navy Flag, the Washington Cruisers Flag, which can be fittingly described as the “Evergreen Tree of Liberty Flag”, and forever may Liberty fly in America and all around the world on American Navy ships.

Summary of "The First Navy Jack," by Peter Ansoff. It is published in Raven: A Journal of Vexillology, Vol. 11 (2004). (underline and bold added)

Page 2: “The First Navy Jack (Figure 1)” (Editor Note: Snake Over Stripes flag) “is a well-established part of American lore.” (Editor Note: More accurate than “well-established” would be to say “widely accepted” part of American lore.) … It has been an icon of the United States Navy since 1975-76, when all ships flew it to commemorate the bicentennial of the Navy and the United States…. The terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001 increased the popularity of the “rattlesnake and stripes” as a defiant symbol of national unity and resolve, both in the Navy and among the general public.”

“In fact, however, there is little evidence that his flag was flown by Commodore Hopkins in 1775, or that it even existed during the American Revolution.”

Page 9: Under the header “The Flags in the Thomas Hart Portrait”
“It appears that the naval historian Samuel Eliot Morison was correct when he made this comment: The mezzotint portrait of Esek Hopkins published in England… is a work of imagination by someone who never saw Hopkins or his ships… the flags are fantastic.”29

Page 10: “Third, 18th-century British and European illustrators often used the stretched-out “crawling rattlesnake” as a symbol of the American revolutionary cause, whereas there is no other known evidence that it was ever used on American flags.”35

Page 10: “In summary, the evidence strongly suggests that the striped rattlesnake flag depicted in the Hart engraving was not a realistic depiction of an American naval flag, any more than the palm tree in his Arnold portrait accurately depicted the flora of Canada.”

Page 12: “Nevertheless, the Hart image of Hopkins and its many descendants are standard illustrations in books and websites dealing with the Continental Navy and the Revolutionary War. 43 Generations of flag historians have assumed them to be authentic, and have built upon them a legend of the First Navy Jack –
an historic flag that never was.”

The legend of the Snake Over Stripes was step by step furthered by several books:
1830 Biography of John Paul Jones by Robert Sands
1839 History of the Navy of the United States of America by James Fenimore Cooper
1850 Pictorial Field-Book of the Revolution by Benson Lossing
1864 The History of our Flag by Ferdinand Sarmiento
1872 History of the Flag of the United States of America by RADM George Preble
1880 The Flag of the United States and Other National Flags by RADM George Preble
In his 1880 book Admiral Preble tried to correct his previous error in the 1872 book about the existence of the Snake Over Stripes flag. But the snake flag myth survived!
Page 20: Dr. Whitney Smith, founder and director of the Flag Research Center, has said of Preble’s work:
“…Original research is time-consuming and demanding and it’s easy to assume that published sources are correct and can be trusted. Those who have written books and articles or have created web sites about American flags have for the most part relied on work done by Preble. As a result there is a constant repetition of misinformation that gives certain designs the impression of accuracy.” 64
War for Independence Flags discussion:
A – First Navy Flag, the Washington Cruisers Flag, of 2 September 1775 on the Hannah, the first ship commissioned. The Navy ship Washington was captured on 5 December 1775, and later Hugh Pellasier in described this flag to Lord Sandwich. Flag scholar Peter Ansoff relates the capture is somewhat a blessing because the letter records the flag’s appearance.
B – The Buck Flag, unique in that Washington and Hancock gave it to the first entirely black regiment (most units were integrated and 1 in 7 soldiers in the Army were black.) Note this flag combines elements of A or H, an Evergreen Tree of Liberty (if yet in a different shape) with a variation of C, the Washington Headquarters flag field of thirteen stars.
C – The Washington Headquarters Flag, a field of blue with 13 white stars for the 13 colonies, soon to be states, unique in the stars are six point stars, not five as on the later “Betsy Ross” Flag.
D – The Sons of Liberty Flag (note red-white-red of D versus the white-red-white stripes of G)
E – The Rhode Island Artillery Flag (of 1826) shows a coiled rattlesnake, and we learn that the first Navy Commander in Chief was General Esek Hopkins of Rhode Island, and that he had cannon in his possession in October 1775 when Washington’s agent Bowen was trying to outfit the Navy ships Hancock and Washington. Compare to Gadsden Flag with his flag M, and South Carolina Navy flag N. Question is to learn if there was a circa 1775 flag of this design?
F - The Culpepper Minutemen flag with immortal words of Patrick Henry, “Liberty or Death”.
G - Like a current Navy Jack Flag, appears to be a combination of the South Carolina Navy Flag N, and the Sons of Liberty Flag D. Scholars generally agree that is was NOT the first Navy flag, and question if the current combination of flag elements ever flew over a Continental Navy ship.
H – The “Pine Tree Flag”, and in April 1776 to today as prescribed in the Commonwealth’s Constitution, the Massachusetts Navy Flag. It is without the “Appeal To Heaven” motto.
I – The “Continental Flag” that according to painter Trumbull flew at the Battle of Bunker Hill. While he was near at the time of the battle, scholars note that Trumbull added elements to his paintings to make them more dramatic, so the historical accuracy of this flag or any flag is in question. However, the canton of this flag is the Pine Tree Flag H, and often our normal Navy Jack Flag is the Union Jack or the field of blue with white stars from our Red, White and Blue, Stripes and Stars, or as we now say “Stars and Stripes” flag, or “Old Glory” American Flag.
J – The “Grand Union Flag” of 1 January 1776 that was raised by First Lieutenant John Paul Jones on the Navy ship Alfred. It combines Loyalty to Britain with the Canton being the British Flag, with the Sons of Liberty red and white stripes. Due to the Canton being the British flag, a different flag for the American Navy Jack flag would need to be created to reduce confusion.
K – The American Flag of 14 June 1777 (Flag Day), generally known as the “Betsy Ross Flag”. It combines the Sons of Liberty Flag with a derivative of the Washington Headquarters flag, a blue field with stars, with five versus six pointed stars and in this flag arranged in a circle. Other American flags of the time did not use the circle design, except the Rhode Island “rattler” flag E.
L – Proctors Regiment Flag of Westmoreland County Pennsylvania shows a coiled rattlesnake. It is notable in that the snake is facing the British Union Jack that is positioned on the outer edge of the flag, known as “on the fly”, where a dual meaning of “on the fly” means “in retreat”.
M – The Gadsden Flag of Congressman Christopher Gadsden of South Carolina who was on the Committee of Congress that selected General Esek Hopkins of Rhode Island as the first Navy Commander in Chief. It is reported by some writers that this flag flew on the Alfred, the flag ship of Commander in Chief Hopkins, but there is not strong verification. On the other hand, an illustration shows the Washington Cruiser Flag A flew on the Alfred, but again there is no strong verification of this illustration.
N – The South Carolina Navy Flag as much the form of the current Navy Jack G, only with red and blue stripes rather than red and white stripes. The position of the motto “Don’t Tread on Me” is also above the rattlesnake in this flag, rather than below as in the modern day derivative.

About the author: A member of the Mount Vernon Board of Visitors, LCDR James Renwick Manship, USNR is an historian who focuses on the War for Independence, the Miracle in Philadelphia called this Constitution for the United States of America, and George Washington, so he writes and speaks on these topics in schools and meeting halls all across America.
War for Independence Flags links to images on various web pages:

(Note: Links are for image reference only, in some cases the text that accompanies the image is based on popular historical opinion rather than the facts of history, so “buyers beware”, yet often there are attractive websites with most information being accurate, and worthy of reading.)

A – First Navy Flag, the Washington Cruisers Flag first flown 2 September 1775
http://www.nwinfo.net/~jagriffin/revflag.htm
http://www.americanrevwar.homestead.com/files/FLAGS.HTM

B – The Buck Flag,
http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/us-ma^bk.html
http://web.gc.cuny.edu/ashp/TeaParty/Teapartyetiquette8.html

C – The Washington Headquarters Flag.
http://www.nwinfo.net/~jagriffin/revflag.htm
http://www.amrev.org/htdocs/html/fm/CGFlags/17.shtml

D – The Sons of Liberty Flag (note red-white-red of D versus the white-red-white stripes of G)
http://www.nwinfo.net/~jagriffin/revflag.htm

E – The Rhode Island Artillery Flag
http://www.amrev.org/htdocs/html/fm/CGFlags/38.shtml
(not easy to find 38. Rhode Island Artillery – 1826; so NOT American Revolution as seen here.)

F - The Culpepper Minutemen Flag.
http://www.foundingfathers.info/American-flag/Revolution.html

G - Like a current Navy Jack Flag
http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/us-fnj.html

H – The “Pine Tree Flag”, and in April 1776 to today as prescribed in the Commonwealth’s Constitution, the Massachusetts Navy Flag. It is without the “Appeal To Heaven” motto.
http://www.foundingfathers.info/American-flag/Revolution.html

I – The “Continental Flag” at the Battle of Bunker Hill, per painter Trumbull.
http://www.nwinfo.net/~jagriffin/revflag.htm

J – The “Grand Union Flag” of 1 January
http://www.nwinfo.net/~jagriffin/revflag.htm
http://www.amrev.org/htdocs/html/fm/CGFlags/6.shtml

K – The American Flag of 14 June 1777 (Flag Day), the “Betsy Ross Flag”.
http://www.nwinfo.net/~jagriffin/revflag.htm

L – Proctors Regiment Flag of Westmoreland County Pennsylvania
http://www.amrev.org/htdocs/html/fm/CGFlags/34.shtml

M – The Gadsden Flag
http://www.nwinfo.net/~jagriffin/revflag.htm
http://www.foundingfathers.info/American-flag/Revolution.html

N – The South Carolina Navy Flag
http://www.amrev.org/htdocs/html/fm/CGFlags/8.shtml

SECNAVINST 10520.7
N09B1
22 February 2006

SECNAV INSTRUCTION 10520.7

From: Secretary of the Navy
To: All Ships and Stations (less Marine Corps field
addresses not having Navy personnel attached.)

Subj: DISPLAY OF THE TREE OF LIBERTY FIRST NAVY FLAG AS THE NAVY JACK
DURING THE GLOBAL WAR FOR LIBERTY OVER TERRORISM

Ref: (a) U.S. Navy Regulations, 1990

1. Purpose. To provide for the display of our First Navy Flag, the Evergreen Tree of Liberty “Appeal
To Heaven” flag as the navy jack on board all U.S. Navy ships during Global War on Terrorism.

2. Discussion. After being elected by Continental Congress as General and the Commander-in-Chief of American forces in June 1775, George Washington assumed command in Cambridge, Massachusetts in July 1775. In August 1775, British loyalists chopped down the Liberty Tree in Boston where the Sons of Liberty met so when on 2 September 1775 Washington commissioned the first ship for the American Navy, the sloop Hannah; the flag flown by the first Navy ships was the “Pine Tree Flag” also called the “Washington Cruisers Flag”. Our First Navy Flag is a pure white flag with an Evergreen Tree, a Tree of Liberty, where under the tree is inscribed the continuing imperative motto from John Locke --“Appeal To Heaven”. On 13 October 1775, Congress ended their debate on the question of a Navy when they learned their Commander-in-Chief Washington had already commissioned a fleet of ships - giving birth to the American Navy - so Congress ordered two more ships. A positive turning point in the war for Liberty was the amphibious landing before the Battle of Trenton on Christmas night, 25 December 1776. As a boy, Washington was a day away from being a Midshipman in the British Navy. He received his military training from his older brother Lawrence who was a “Marine” as the leader of the Virginia militia in an amphibious landing in South America when serving under British Admiral Edward Vernon, for whom Lawrence named Mount Vernon. George Washington respected the value of a Navy, Marines, and Army and wisely employed Naval forces throughout the entire War for Independence. He saw the need for a Navy to intercept British supply ships both to make the Siege of Boston effective, and to provide the American forces gunpowder and other supplies. This Tree of Liberty First Navy Flag serves as an historic reminder of our Navy’s creation, our duty to our Country to defend this Constitution for the United States of America, with the Liberty it secures for America, and for the entire world in the Global War for Liberty over Terrorism.

3. Action. The Evergreen Tree of Liberty First Navy Flag as the navy jack will be displayed on board all U.S. Navy ships in lieu of the Union Jack, in accordance with sections 1259 and 1264 of reference (a). The display of the First Navy Flag as the navy jack is an authorized exception to section 1258 of reference (a). Ships and craft of the Navy authorized to fly the First Navy Flag as the navy jack will receive an issue of four flags per ship through a special distribution.

Donald C. Winter

Distribution:
SNDL Parts 1 and 2

Extracts from 22 Dec 2005 email reply to RADM Tobin of NAVHISTCEN email:

2005-12-22T10:25:00.000-05:00

Extracts from 22 Dec 2005 email reply to RADM Tobin of NAVHISTCEN email:

Dear Admiral Tobin,

Thank you for your reply email.

I am not surprised that you are aware of my interest in the Navy Jacks, or that you have been briefed by your staff - several times…

…It was a "revelation" to me to learn that the Rattlesnake Jack was not a true Revolution era flag.

Well meaning, patriotic people did NOT know in 1975, or even 2002, that the Rattlesnake Jack flag is a lie -- but we do NOW.

"NOW is the time for all good men to come to the aid of their country..."

Ambassador Middendorf has told me that he sees the error and believes that the Navy Jack should be changed from the Rattlesnake Jack.

Won't you join him, a man of impressive historical knowledge and understanding?

You write, the Fleet is quite content with the decision. Yet would the Fleet be content if they knew that the flag were not true? If they knew the Navy "let fly a lie"?

There is the old saying "A lie can get half way around the world before the Truth gets its boots on." Winston Churchill said, "...before the Truth gets its pants on."

You also write, Our role here is to confirm the history of the versions of the Jack and we have done that.

But have we? Have we done so fully? With other daily demands on our time, have we been diligent in serving the Truth?

When I met with Dr. Crawford on 11 October 2005, he said, "They did not consult with us."

From further research, I perceive his statement meant that the Bicentennial Navy Jack project officers did not consult with the Early History Branch, because I know from talking with CDR Berryman nearby in Virginia Beach who worked on the project in 1975 that he and others from the Secretary's office worked with people at the Naval Historical Center.

The reality is that at that time pretty much everyone took the Rattlesnake flag as "the gospel truth". I surely did. Did you?

Now we know better. There is considerable doubt the Rattlesnake Flag EVER flew on a Continental ship, or any Revolution era Navy ship.

Ambassador J. Wm. Middendorf (SecNav 1975-77) of Draft Endorsement Letter of Dec a.d. 2005

2005-12-21T04:50:00.000-05:00

J. William Middendorf

December 2005

The Honorable Gordon R. England
Secretary of the Navy
1000 Navy Pentagon
Washington, District of Columbia 20350-1000

Dear Secretary England:

Recently it has been brought to my attention that SECNAV Instruction 10520.3 that I signed on 1 August 1975 when I served as Secretary of the Navy began a well meaning error in our Navy history. By this letter I am asking that you help correct that error.

As you know that instruction established the practice of flying as the Navy Jack Flag on our Navy ships the “Don’t Tread on Me” Rattlesnake over Stripes Flag that was believed to be the first Navy flag during the Bicentennial Years from 13 October 1975 to 31 December 1976. Based on that precedent, you signed SECNAV Instruction 10520.6.

I have recently learned that the instruction I signed was not staffed through the Naval Historical Center, and in fact, the website of that organization discounts the prevalent opinions that the Rattlesnake flag as now depicted ever flew on a Continental Navy ship, and at the least, was not the first Navy flag.

The first Navy ship commissioned was the Hannah commissioned on 2 September 1775 by Commander in Chief of all Continental forces, George Washington. His aide, Colonel Joseph Reed, wrote of the flag to be flown on the Continental ships commissioned. The design of the flag was a white field with a pine tree, or an Evergreen Tree, and the motto “Appeal To Heaven” inscribed below. The Liberty Tree where the Sons of Liberty met in Boston was chopped down in August 1775, so the “Evergreen Tree of Liberty” has much symbolism. There are many historical accounts of this flag flown on our Navy ships.

In addition, the motto is in essence a “Call to War” and derives from John Locke’s Second Treatise on Government chapter XIV “Of Prerogative”, where is written:
“to appeal to heaven…have no appeal on earth,
then they have a liberty to appeal to heaven.”

So I ask that you sign a new SECNAV Instruction that establishes the “Washington Cruisers Flag” or the “Evergreen Tree of Liberty Flag” as the First Navy Flag that is flown as the Navy Jack Flag during the Global War on Terrorism.

Respectfully,

J. William Middendorf

Congressman Randy Forbes 19 Dec. a.d. 2005 letter

2005-12-19T04:25:00.000-05:00

Monday, 19 December a.d. 2005

The Honorable Randy Forbes
United States House of Representatives
The Capitol
Washington, D.C. 20515

Dear Congressman Forbes:

First, Merry Christmas to you, your wife and family, Captain Barbaree and the rest of the folks and families serving our
country by service in your office. I have had the pleasure of the wise advice of Captain Barbaree. Thank you all.

In July you kindly forwarded my letter to the Secretary of Defense. I have spoken with Ambassador Middendorf, who
was Secretary of the Navy under President Ford during the Bicentennial Years of 1974-77, this year on 13 October, 29
November, 12 December and this morning. He agreed in November and said this morning he was going to call Admiral
Tobin of the Naval Historical Center to recommend this change to correct an ongoing error of Naval History renewed in
1975, and again in 2002 for the Global War on Terrorism. A proposed SECNAV Instruction is attached.

The true First Navy Flag proclaims John Locke’s syllogism for a Call to War with the motto “Appeal To Heaven”
inscribed below an Evergreen Tree of Liberty (or pine tree). The flag is also called the Washington Cruisers Flag.
Flying the correct, true First Navy Flag would be like an “Inchon Landing” or Trenton Raid against the PC forces,
an important victory at a crucial time in our nation’s life, and an vital revival of the true Spirit of Liberty!

Like Ronald Reagan did, I like to add humor to what is many folks consider boring History. On 29 November in The
Washington Times Inside the Beltway column, John McCaslin generously describes me as a “master historian”
http://washingtontimes.com/national/20051129-121125-8092r.htm. There was another like it in 2003, with a bit of a joke
http://www.townhall.com/opinion/columns/johnmccaslin/2003/06/20/160760.html. This positive change TO
“Historical Correctness” of the true First Navy Flag also moves away FROM “Political Correctness”. Beside, we
will no more have a symbol of a “Rattler in Retreat”, with the plaintive plea “Don’t Tread on Me”. Rattlers coil to
defend and strike, this prone image is of European demeaning origin. I hope you enjoy knowing this fun info.

I respectfully suggest that the attached proposed SECNAV instruction be signed on the anniversary of the Battle of
Trenton, 25 December after midnight on the 24th, and at dawn be flown on the USS Trenton, and on the USS George
Washington. Both ships are in Norfolk. The Evergreen Tree of Liberty “Appeal To Heaven” flag will continue to fly until
22 February 2006 - Washington’s Birthday - when all ships fly the flag for the duration of the Global War on Terrorism.

For America’s future (building up on our past),

James Renwick Manship, Sr., Chairman

P. S. Washington planned and executed the Trenton Raid in one week -- from 18 to 25 December a.d. 1776. Thus, it is
reasonable to consider coordinating action to encourage Secretary of the Navy England make a positive decision for this
“Revolutionary” change in time for the anniversary of the Battle of Trenton, 25 December, with later full implementation.

1 page Exec. Summary of Raven Journal Article against Snake flag as First Navy Flag

2005-12-12T01:54:00.000-05:00

Summary of "The First Navy Jack," by Peter Ansoff. It is published in Raven: A Journal of Vexillology, Vol. 11 (2004). (underline and bold added)

Page 2: “The First Navy Jack (Figure 1)” (Editor Note: Snake Over Stripes flag) “is a well-established part of American lore.” (Editor Note: More accurate than “well-established” would be to say “widely accepted” part of American lore.) … It has been an icon of the United States Navy since 1975-76, when all ships flew it to commemorate the bicentennial of the Navy and the United States…. The terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001 increased the popularity of the “rattlesnake and stripes” as a defiant symbol of national unity and resolve, both in the Navy and among the general public.”

“In fact, however, there is little evidence that his flag was flown by Commodore Hopkins in 1775, or that it even existed during the American Revolution.”

Page 9: Under the header “The Flags in the Thomas Hart Portrait”
“It appears that the naval historian Samuel Eliot Morison was correct when he made this comment: The mezzotint portrait of Esek Hopkins published in England… is a work of imagination by someone who never saw Hopkins or his ships… the flags are fantastic.”29

Page 10: “Third, 18th-century British and European illustrators often used the stretched-out “crawling rattlesnake” as a symbol of the American revolutionary cause, whereas there is no other known evidence that it was ever used on American flags.”35

Page 10: “In summary, the evidence strongly suggests that the striped rattlesnake flag depicted in the Hart engraving was not a realistic depiction of an American naval flag, any more than the palm tree in his Arnold portrait accurately depicted the flora of Canada.”

Page 12: “Nevertheless, the Hart image of Hopkins and its many descendants are standard illustrations in books and websites dealing with the Continental Navy and the Revolutionary War. 43 Generations of flag historians have assumed them to be authentic, and have built upon them a legend of the First Navy Jack –
an historic flag that never was.”

The legend of the Snake Over Stripes was step by step furthered by several books:
1830 Biography of John Paul Jones by Robert Sands
1839 History of the Navy of the United States of America by James Fenimore Cooper
1850 Pictorial Field-Book of the Revolution by Benson Lossing
1864 The History of our Flag by Ferdinand Sarmiento
1872 History of the Flag of the United States of America by RADM George Preble
1880 The Flag of the United States and Other National Flags by RADM George Preble
In his 1880 book Admiral Preble tried to correct his previous error in the 1872 book about the existence of the Snake Over Stripes flag. But the snake flag myth survived!
Page 20: Dr. Whitney Smith, founder and director of the Flag Research Center, has said of Preble’s work:
“…Original research is time-consuming and demanding and it’s easy to assume that published sources are correct and can be trusted. Those who have written books and articles or have created web sites about American flags have for the most part relied on work done by Preble. As a result there is a constant repetition of misinformation that gives certain designs the impression of accuracy.” 64

Navy Historian William Bell Clark, and Dennis Conrad...

2005-12-03T04:18:00.000-05:00

2005-11-10T04:22:00.000-05:00

Email with Peter Ansoff, Flag expert and Flag Journal Author

2005-10-23T05:07:00.000-04:00

Dear Peter Ansoff,

Thank you for your thorough email. It is so refreshing to get thorough, thought-full answers rather than the aggressively abbreviated communications of so much e-mail. Some email notation is reminiscent of the old KLB-47 "Polish typewriter" word groups that are sometimes intelligible but often have far different meanings.

First, today at the Ocean View branch of the Norfolk library, I ordered volume 11 of Raven: Journal... through the I.L.L. I also ordered the book Washington's Navy recommended by the Naval Historical Center. Searching through Auxilliary References I also found a Naval Institute book published in 1995 that I ordered via I.L.L. But I forget to order the one my "Cousin" Thomas Nelson recommended to me related to the question.

A few points in response to your research and writings. In regard to the Stripes and Snake flag currently in use, it is the only rendering of a rattlesnake of four flags (Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and South Carolina) and one coin (from Georgia) where the snake is on its belly in retreat rather than in some posture of being coiled, ready to strike and defend. Given that "posture" of the Stripes and Snake rattler the motto is less a defiant warning than a plaintive plea "Don't tread on me".

I know a bit about snakes in that I was a Boy Scout who earned Reptile Study Merit Badge, had at one time 34 snakes, and even created a "snake coliseum" to have a king snake eat a rattlesnake. I was called "Snake Charmer" by the girls in high school, (I believe there is a country song along those lines which might explain why I did not get many dates in high school...)

In Navy Pilot survival training I stuffed my flight suit with pine straw and waded into the Blackwater River to grab frogs and snakes for our evening supper, and later in EOD Bomb Disposal Training I caught and removed a snake that decided our blast bunker was a nice home. When I was off the coast of Viet Nam in Operation End Sweep, I saw so many sea snakes that I was amazed. The helicopter pilot on our ship said they extended about a mile ahead of the ship and a half mile around. That is more than my 34.

In regard to your other article on the Pine Tree Flag, I believe that is an unfortunate nomenclature, for from my research it has a dual derived meaning. First there as the Cross of Saint George in a White Canton with an evergreen tree, possibly a pine, indeed shaped much that way, that was on the "First New England Flag" as far back as 1686 to 1707.

But while I have not seen a museum piece of the Washington Cruisers flag, it appears to be less symmetrical than the tree in the New England Flag, based on two decidedly second or third hand information images, and again, the Cross of Saint George was removed.

Further in my research, the British Army when they came ashore in early 1775 (?) and occupied Boston they cut down the Tree of Liberty where the Sons of Liberty used to meet. The Brits burned it for firewood, so the account goes. Some evergreen trees burn brightly due to sap, but do not burn for long. But the fire kindled a desire for defiance.

Anyway the sole Tree of Liberty, whether a pine from the former New England flag but without the red Cross of Saint George, or whether a somewhat modified green tree to represent the elm tree that was the Tree of Liberty, became the center image of the canton of the flag flown at Bunker Hill and shown clearly in a painting of a contemporary to the times painter, and is described as either the "Bunker Hill Flag" or the Continental Flag

Given that the Navy Jack was, and is, often the canton of the national flag, it is completely consistent with naval traditions that the Navy jack flag was the white field with the Evergreen Tree of Liberty, that formed the canton of the Continental Flag, and thus the traditionally derived Jack flag for the Continental Navy.

And given that George Washington was mentored by Thomas, Lord Fairfax, a courtier to the Court of Saint James, and was a contributor to the finest literary magazine of the day, Joseph Addison's Spectator, it is likely that George Washington was schooled in the political philosophy of John Locke where in his Second Treatise on Civil Government, Chapter XIV, "Of Prerogative", where is written, quoted as close as I can remember "when we are left with no appeal on earth, then we have the Liberty to appeal to heaven".

So the phrase "Appeal To Heaven" on the flag showing the Tree of Liberty is a further act or expression of defiance, in that it is Locke's syllogism for a "Call To War", a fact that is likely lost on most modern Americans who look at the flag and its defiant, Call To War motto.

Indeed, three days after the Hannah was commissioned on 2 September, she captured the British ship Unity, a most oddly fitting or ironic name of the first ship captured by the Continental Navy.

Note it is not "An Appeal To Heaven" as most modern flag makers wrongly produce, and the error is confirmed by at least two first person sources, Continental Colonel Joseph Reed, aide to General Washington, and Royal Navy Captain, Sir Hugh Pellasier (?sp) who captured the Continental ship named Washington that flew the Evergreen Tree of Liberty flag.

The "floating batteries" description seems to be entirely ill-suited to describe the Hannah, or the six ships who were commissioned by Washington following her. All were ocean going ships, who pursued, engaged the enemy and captured several. That sort of sea going activity is a pretty fair description of a Navy ship commissioned by the Commander in Chief elected unanimously by the Continental Congress just a few months before.

Being that six of seven were named for leaders of the Continental cause, including Franklin (from Pennsylvania, though originally from Massachusetts) and (Harrison, Mercer, Washington and Lee from Virginia), it is hard to describe them as Massachusetts Navy ships even though one was named for Hancock.

Beyond the pines of New England flags and fields, moors and mountains, and the old Navy saying of "in the days of wooden ships and iron men", the tree also connects with the Naval Stores from the loblolly pine trees of Georgia and the Naval Live Oak Forest near Pensacola, as well as a Tree of Liberty in Annapolis that just died a few years ago, and other Tree of Liberty trees in other old towns in America.

And I like to remind folks of the musical Carousel with the show tune words, "My boy bill will be strong and as tough as a tree. Like a tree he will grow, with his head held high, and his feet planted firm on the ground. And no one will every dare to try, to toss him or boss him around..."

Finally, other than being a flag waving patriot since before I was a Boy Scout, and paying dues, what else must I do to become a member of NAVA? (Since I have long been a member of the NAVy.)

James Renwick Manship, Sr.

P.S. Through the good offices of NAVA, might we together try to get the many manufacturers of the Tree of Liberty/Washington Cruisers Flag to correct the "An Appeal..." error, and rename it from the "Pine Tree Flag" to either the Tree of Liberty Flag or the Washington Cruisers flag? Also design wise, I believe from the illustrations the motto should be under the Tree of Liberty.

> -------- Original Message --------
> Subject: FW: Your Raven article and award...
> From: "Peter Ansoff"
> Date: Mon, October 24, 2005 2:02 pm
> To:
> Cc:
>
> Dear James,
>
> Many thanks for your email. My article on the "First Navy Jack" appeared in
> Raven Issue 11, which was published in Fall 2004. The gist of the article
> is that the FNJ probably did not actually exist during the Revolutionary
> War. This conclusion is not really new; I believe that most modern flag
> historians more-or-less agree with it. However, the article takes an
> in-depth look at how the legend of the FNJ originated, and how it came to be
> part of American flag lore. Raven 11 is still in print and is available
> from NAVA; I believe that the per-copy price is $15.00.
>
> You might be interested in two other papers that I have presented over the
> last year or so, and am currently preparing for publication:
>
> 1. "The Sign Their Banners Bore" is a study of the "Appeal to Heaven"/Pine
> Tree flag. As I'm sure you know, this flag is traditionally associated with
> three different activities: a) the "floating batteries" built by
> Washington's army in the Fall of 1775, b) the commerce raiding cruisers that
> Washington commissioned in 1775-76 and c) the Massachusetts State Navy. The
> major conclusions are: a) the floating battery flag did not display a pine
> tree (it was probably an elm), b) the Pine Tree flag was never officially
> adopted for use by Washington's cruisers, and most of them probably never
> used it, although two or three of his captains did so on their own
> initiatives, c) the Pine Tree flag *was* officially adopted by the
> Massachusetts Navy, but does not seem to have been widely used (most of
> their outfitting records and battle reports refer to the Continental or
> American flag). The paper also takes a look at the historical origins of
> the tree symbol and the "Appeal to Heaven" motto. I presented this paper at
> the NAVA meeting in Indianapolis in 2003, and I'm hoping that it will be
> published in the "Flag Bulletin" next year.
>
> 2. "The Flag on Prospect Hill" is about the flag that Washington raised
> outside Boston on January 1, 1776. My original intent was to take a look at
> the names "Grand Union" and Great Union," which I suspected to be 19th
> century inventions that were not used during the Revolution. This turned
> out to be true, but a more surprising conclusion emerged also, which is that
> the flag Washington raised was probably not the "Continental Colors" with
> the British union and 13 stripes, but simply a British Union Flag. (It
> sounds odd, but that's what the primary sources seem to indicate). I
> presented this one at the Star Spangled Banner Flag House in Baltimore last
> Spring, and also to the American Revolution Round Table in DC. (There is a
> brief synopsis of it on the ARRT web site at
> http://xenophongroup.com/patriot/arrt/arrt_web.htm, in the "recent programs"
> section.) It will probably be published on line in "American Vexillum"
> magazine, and the Flag Institute in the UK has expressed some interest in
> extracting it in their newsletter.
>
> I hope to continue this series in the future with several more papers on
> Revolutionary-war-era flags. One will be a survey of rattlesnake flags, and
> another will deal with General Putnam's standard. The methodology will be
> the same in all cases: review the primary sources, and try to untangle to
> mass of legend and folklore that has grown up around them over the last
> couple of centuries.
>
> I hope that all this is useful. Thanks again for the email!
>
> Best regards,
>
> Peter Ansoff
> pres@nava.org
> ansoff@alumni.vanderbilt.edu
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: J. R. 'States' Manship [mailto:StatesManship@WashingtonLIVES.us]
> Sent: Sunday, October 23, 2005 5:32 PM
> To: pres@nava.org
> Subject: Your Raven article and award...
>
> Dear President Peter Ansoff,
>
> The historians at the Naval Historical Center mentioned the article you
> wrote in Raven about the First Navy Flag.
>
> I "googled" for Raven and found a capsule review of your article but not the
> full piece.
>
> >From what little I read I believe we are on the same page. Would like
> >learn
> more on your scholarship on the issue.
>
> I hope to hear from you by email.
>
> James Renwick Manship, Sr.
> (also known as George Washington LIVES!) link to www.WashingtonLIVES.us
> Chairman, W.I.S.E.- Washington Institute for Statesmanship Education Box 75,
> Mount Vernon, VA 22121
>
> (currently at a beach cottage in Norfolk)

Naval Historical Center email tells of Flag History Journal debunks Snake flag

2005-10-21T10:54:00.000-04:00

Mind Your Ps and Qs, Navy Ps and Qs, Os and Ps, HerOes vs. HerPes of the Alfred... Commo./Gen. Esek Hopkins Relieved... OOPS!

2005-10-16T10:52:00.000-04:00

The Bon Homme Richard was made famous by the American Navy Captain John Paul
Jones courageous words “We have not yet begun to fight”, and then capturing the British
ship Serapis. Bon Homme Richard was named in honor of Benjamin Franklin who was a
printer, philosopher, and physical scientist made famous initially by his publication Poor
Richard’s Almanac of 1753, who included the proverbial “Mind your P’s and Q’s”.
In the early days of printing, typesetters had to be careful not to mix up the blocks they
used to print letters, particularly the p's and q's. We still say "Mind your p's and q's"
when we want people to mind their manners.
So in this modern technological world, everything changes, and yet everything stays the
same. The need to mind your P’s and Q’s is now a call to mind your P’s and O’s as in
the OCR text recognition error above of changing the o in heroes to a p, giving a vastly
different meaning, yet one that is too often associated with Navy men in ports. OOPS!
Nautical Terminology: Mind Your P's and Q's
Posted on Saturday, April 03, 2004 5:14 PM
http://geekswithblogs.net/mtreadwell/archive/2004/04/03/3642.aspx
There are few of us who at one time or another have not been admonished
to "mind our P's and Q's," or in other words, to behave our best. Oddly
enough, "mind your P's and Q's" had nautical beginnings as a method of
keeping books on the waterfront.
In the days of sail when Sailors were paid a pittance, seamen drank their ale
in taverns whose keepers were willing to extend credit until payday. Since
many salts were illiterate, keepers kept a tally of pints and quarts consumed
by each Sailor on a chalkboard behind the bar. Next to each person's name,
a mark was made under "P" for pint or "Q" for quart whenever a seaman
ordered another draught.
On payday, each seaman was liable for each mark next to his name, so he
was forced to "mind his P's and Q's" or he would get into financial trouble.
To ensure an accurate count by unscrupulous keepers, Sailors had to keep
their wits and remain somewhat sober. Sobriety usually ensured good
behavior, hence the meaning of "mind your P's and Q's.
From the Naval Historical Center website, at the address shown is a time to mind our P’s
and Q’s; and these able historians are acutely aware of how small errors are introduced.
OOPS!

Navy Birthday letter to SECNAV Gordon England

2005-10-13T05:14:00.000-04:00

13 October 2005, U. S. Navy’s 230th Birthday

The Honorable Gordon R. England
Secretary of the Navy
1000 Navy Pentagon
Washington, D.C. 20350-1000

Dear Secretary England,

Carpe Diem! Seize the Day! Seize this 230th Navy Birthday to seize, reclaim, and restore a vital
bit of Naval History given to US by the “father of His country” – George Washington, to restore
the proud flying of the Navy’s First Navy Flag -the Washington Cruisers Flag - as the Navy Jack.

While prudence might suggest to wait and “staff” this proposal further, the historical staff work
already done in support of this worthy action is both broad and deep, aspects of point 8 in your
Leadership Lecture at the Naval Academy Forrestal Series. (...all Forests need a Liberty Tree.)

When I took time to “staff” this proposal with the Head of the Early History Division of the
Naval Historical Center, the timelines of our Navy’s and Nation’s history were used to disprove
the claims of the Navy’s founding by Commodore Esek Hopkins with the Alfred at Philadelphia
that did not occur until December 1775 when according to Pulitzer Prize winning historian
Barbara Tuchman, First Lieutenant John Paul Jones raised the Grand Union Flag (with the
British Union as its canton, leading to the later need for a different Navy Jack), that replaced the
Continental Flag flown at Bunker Hill with its “Tree of Liberty” canton. Also in error are the
claims of the birth of the Navy on Lake Champlain that occurred even later - in August 1776.

Again, setting aside all the history of the two flags in “competition” as THE First Navy Flag, let
us consider the alternate messages of each. Consider: What is our message to the Philippine
fisherman, or the Arab seaman, of a snake -- or an evergreen tree -- to represent America?
In nearly every world culture (except maybe the Chinese with their “Year of the Snake” and
reverence for Dragons - serpents), snakes or serpents are considered EVIL. On the other hand,
consider the message of an evergreen tree, even if the connection with the Tree of Liberty is lost.
The Washington Cruisers “Evergreen Tree of Liberty” Flag is “tall and tough as a tree”, as
used in Navy ships. A tree is upright, sheltering, and life affirming. A symbol for America!

Damn the Torpedos, Full Speed Ahead! A proud slogan taken from a later war for liberty.
Fear not the barking dogs of the ACLU-types, use your action of this correcting of history to
affirm and reinforce the courage of the leaders of the Naval Academy who stand firm and upright
like the Navy’s Tree of Liberty Flag, against agents of PC - “Political Corruptness”, and so, stand
boldly for one of American’s First Amendment “dearest rights and liberties” of free expression.

Sir, I ask that you take action to sign Enclosure (1), or similar, a new Navy instruction to be
signed and dated 13 October 2005, the 230th Birth of the U. S. Navy the proposed new SECNAV
Instruction to direct the use of the Washington’s First Navy Flag, in place of the Union Jack flag,
or the “Serpent over Stripes” flag at least for the duration of the Global War on Terrorism.

James Renwick Manship, Sr., LCDR, USNR

Enclosure (1) SECNAV Instruction 10520.7 of 13 October 2005 (proposed)
Washington Cruisers - First Navy Flag before “Serpent”
Naval Historical Center site says this flag was first

8
“...I am like an evergreen tree...”
9
“Whoever is wise, let him understand these things.
“Whoever is intelligent, let him listen.”
Hosea 14:8-9: TLB [partial quotations]

Navy Birthday entry

2005-10-13T04:05:00.000-04:00

Decision Points on True First Navy Flag from SECNAV lecture on Leadership at Naval Academy

2005-10-13T01:28:00.000-04:00

Decision Points on change of Navy Jack Flag from “Snake” to Washington Cruisers Flag
[Updated from Letter to SECNAV England from LCDR Manship ltr 10520.7 of 5 October 2005]

From Secretary Gordon England’s Forrestal Series lecture on Leadership at the Naval
Academy, are pertinent points:

8. Never stop learning — depth and breadth of knowledge are equally
important (I pray that my letters expand our Navy’s depth and breadth of knowledge on
our 1st Navy Flag. Historians are just now learning “new” facts about Roman ships of
two millennia ago, is it then not reasonable that historians - and statesmen like you - may
learn “new” facts about American ships of two centuries ago.)

>>A.On 21 October 2005, Dr. Dennis Conrad of the Naval Historical Center told about
the article by flag expert Peter Ansoff in the journal Raven, vol. 11 (2004), titled “The
First Navy Jack” to historian Manship.

>>B. From Page 2 of the Raven article, “In fact, however, there is little evidence that
his flag was flown by Commodore Hopkins in 1775, or that it even existed during
the American Revolution.”

>>C. After “9-11” in 2001 and early 2002 before signing SECNAV Instruction
10520.6 on 31 May 2002, Captain Brayton Harris, one of the project officers on the use
of the Rattlesnake Jack for the Bicentennial in 1975, was one man who promoted the re-
introduction of the flag for the Global War on Terrorism. No one involved in the 2002
event would have known of the 2004 article “The First Navy Jack” by flag expert Ansoff.

9. Encourage constructive criticism
(I pray both content and tone of my “Tree of Liberty” Flag letters and concept are received as constructive.)

>>A.Truly there is no criticism of Navy officers in 1975 or 2002 on the past errors
because “Generations of flag historians have assumed them to be authentic, and have
built upon them a legend of the First Navy Jack – an historic flag that never was.” P. 10.

11. Make ethical standards more important than legal requirements.
(When I tell Americans of this True Navy Flag, many folks express words of intimidation or “fear” -- of the
ACLU types “legal” objections; FDR reminds us the only fear is fear itself. We must not be cowered.)

>>(A) The motto “Appeal To Heaven” is NOT denomination specific. The Islamic faith
requires its adherents to pray, or “Appeal To Heaven” five times a day. The Jewish faith is well
known for its devotions, prayers, and Appeals To Heaven. The Indian naturalistic faith is
exhibited by a New York Indian Chief who said that George Washington, alone among the white
men, would be welcomed in “Indian Heaven”. Many oriental faiths tout meditation, which is a
synonym for prayer, or an “Appeal To Heaven”. The Christian faith is to pray unceasingly, to
“Appeal To Heaven”, yet in Washington’s case with Grace before meals, and Morning and
Evening prayers, he prayed at least five times a day. (See Washington’s prayers in his own
penmanship, and learn aspects of his prayer life from the e-book PRAYER WARRIOR.)

>>(B) The GW 1st Navy Flag is correct historically. Both the Naval Historical Center website
as shown by http://www.history.navy.mil/faqs/fsq122-1.htm [ref. (c)], and the picture shown in
(e) THE NAVY, Naval Historical Foundation, RADM W. J. Holland, USN, (Ret.), © 2000 [ref.
(e)], reveal the Washington Cruisers Flag is the true First Navy Flag.
Let the barking dogs bark, they don’t bite when barking, and the Leadership Institute Law
of the Public Policy Process #12 is
“Keep your eye on the main chance and don’t stop to kick every barking dog.”

>>(C) This is visionary as President Reagan said in 1982, “The most sublime picture in
American history is of George Washington on his knees...” in his Appeal To Heaven; more
“sublime” than the majestic Capitol dome, or the soaring eagle or the fluttering flag. While this
Washington Cruiser First Navy Flag does not show the “father of His country” Washington on his
knees, yet “his” First Navy Flag motto conveys a similar inspired, and inspirational, message.

>>(D) While “Revolutionary”, the GW flag is consistent with previous federal recognitions.
a. The Pentagon chapel shows GW kneeling in prayer
b. The U.S. Capitol Members’ Prayer Room shows GW kneeling in prayer
c. The USS George Washington ship’s chapel shows GW kneeling in prayer
d. The Fort Belvoir Chapel in Mount Vernon shows GW kneeling in prayer
e. The Redstone Arsenal Chapel in Alabama shows GW kneeling in prayer
f. U.S. Postage Stamps in 1924 and 1977 show GW kneeling in prayer
g. The Treasury Building, on Wall Street in New York where Washington
was Inaugurated, now near “Ground Zero”, shows GW kneeling in prayer

>>(E) It is akin to “Call in Naval Gunfire” support for the Naval Academy (my father Kam
Manship, Sr., was Class of 1943). The Navy’s leaders have shown courage standing strong
against the relentless onrush against our One Nation Under God and our Navy’s faith traditions.
Just remember the words of Commander-in-Chief Washington on 3 July 1776:
“The fate of unborn millions will now depend, under God, on the conduct and
courage of this army, defending the dearest rights and liberties of this country...”

12. Strive for team-based wins, not individual
(I do not say “I know it all”, the Naval Historical Center and other sources are cited. I appeal to you, and
your team, to Transform The World with this simple true change. Together Everyone Achieves More.)

(A) The team based win is a combination of the Early History Branch of the
Naval Historical Center, the flag expert Peter Ansoff, and historian/journalist Manship.

In an email on Oct 21, 2005, at 10:54 AM, Dennis CONRAD, of NAVHISTCEN wrote:
Dear Mr. Manship: We are passing around the office an article that may be of real
interest to you.

Ambassador J. Wm. Middendorf (SecNav 1975-77) of 5 Oct a.d. 2005

2005-10-05T04:35:00.000-04:00

Wednesday, 5 October a.d. 2005

The Honorable J. William Middendorf
Ambassador
565 West Main Road
Little Compton, Rhode Island 02837

Dear Ambassador Middendorf:

I am writing to you because you were the Secretary of the Navy in anno domini 1975, (when I was an Ensign)
and when as a Bicentennial Celebration recognition the “Rattlesnake Flag” was directed to be flown as the
Navy’s Jack Flag, and based on that precedent has been directed for use again in the Global War on Terrorism.

We have met at various conservative functions in Washington, and I called for your contact information from
Heritage Foundation where you serve on the Board. I was given your address as above. George Dunlop,
husband of Vice President Becky Norton Dunlop, and I served on the Mount Vernon Board of Visitors.

In my Google research on you, I see you serve in some capacities that are most pertinent to this proposal, so I
come to you based on your service as Chairman, Secretary of Navy's Advisory Committee on
Naval History; Trustee, Naval Historical Foundation; and Trustee, Navy Museum.

I am sending by express mail several letters that convey my discoveries as an historian that suggest that the
more appropriate flag to fly would be the true First Navy Flag, the Washington Cruisers Flag, also called the
“Pine Tree Flag”, or more appropriately described as the Evergreen Tree of Liberty Flag, with its motto
“Appeal To Heaven”. I pray, or I appeal that you carefully consider the facts and the significance of this idea.

I understand that many times as a leader we sign documents that later we discover contain errors, or in light of
future events, or further research or scholarship, warrant a change from what we once authorized.

I will not further discuss the question in this cover letter, but I would appreciate your review of my historical
research on the true First Navy Flag, so that you would be willing to recommend this important change. Would
you do the kindness to phone call me so we may discuss the merits of this proposal as I seek your concurrence?

For America’s future (building up on our past),

James Renwick Manship, Sr., Chairman

P. S. Washington planned and executed the Trenton Raid in one week -- from 18 to 25 December a.d. 1776.
Thus, it is reasonable to consider coordinating action to encourage Secretary of the Navy England make a
positive decision for this “Revolutionary” change in time for the 13 October Navy birthday.

Senator Warner (former SECNAV) letter of 26 Sep 2005

2005-09-26T01:30:00.000-04:00

Picture captions:

‘GW’ showing First Navy Flag to Children in South Norfolk

First Navy Flag before “Serpent” Flag, Naval Historical Center site says this flag was first

SECNAV England in Iraq Navy Reserve Assoc. NEWS

26 September a.d. 2005

The Honorable John Warner
Senator for the Commonwealth of Virginia
United States Senate
Washington, D.C. 20510

Dear Senator Warner,

As one of “my” Senators serving the citizens of the Commonwealth of Virginia, and as a former Secretary of the Navy, I write this additional letter after two previous ones, asking, even imploring your involvement and action to accomplish a “GW”, a good work, to have the Navy use the true First Navy Flag, as the “jack” flag for our American Navy ships of war during the duration of War on Terrorism; a flag also known as “The Washington Cruisers Flag” and described as the “Evergreen Tree of Liberty” flag.

I ask that you take action to issue a new Navy instruction to be dated 22 February a.d. 2006, the 274rd anniversary of the birth of George Washington, (or as soon thereafter as may be required due to delays, with Independence Day being an excellent alternative) for the Secretary of the Navy to direct the use of the Washington’s First Navy Flag, alternatively known as the Washington Cruisers Flag, in place of the union jack and the “Serpent over Stripes” jack at least for the duration of the Global War on Terrorism.

On Saturday, 24 September, a week after Constitution Day, in my morning devotions of reading another GW- God’s Word – “mine eyes have seen the glory of” Hosea 14:8-9:
8 “...I am like an evergreen tree...”
9 “Whoever is wise, let him understand these things.
“Whoever is intelligent, let him listen.” [partial quotations]
Thank you for your consideration and action upon this right and fitting request.

Your most humble & obedient servant,

Geo. Washington
LIVES!

1039 East Ocean View, Cottage A
Norfolk, Virginia 23503
a.k.a James Renwick Manship, Sr., LCDR, USNR
Chairman, W.I.S.E.: Washington Institute for Statesmanship Education

Fwd: Washington Cruiser Flag // Flag Bulletin #206 article discrepancies...need clarification...

2004-12-27T20:33:00.000-05:00

Actually email dated 2007 not 2004, just redated it so to put it on the blog, but at the end so other post more designed to the casual reader might be at or near the top of the blog...

Dear Dr. Whitney Smith,

Again thank you for your email from your Flag Research Center earlier today. I am glad to be a member since October and being told of your fine work by Peter Ansoff, president of NAVA, an organization that I see you served as president for a decade before and during our Nation's Bicentennial.

I just added Peter Ansoff to my contact manager program and the program then indexed my past emails to and from him. Here below is one email from him dated 14 May 2006 where Mr. Ansoff first mentioned your Flag Bulletin article about an existing tree flag.

In his 2004 Raven article on page 20 he credits your scholarly insight with the following quotation:

"…Original research is time-consuming and demanding and it's easy to assume that published sources are correct and can be trusted."

That is why I am devoting my time into this demanding work because you have the reputation of a flag expert. While some non-scholars might call such time-consuming and demanding research evidence of "obsession", truth is a value to be upheld, like we hold up a flag we honor.

The quote from you by Ansoff in his article continued:

"Those who have written books and articles or have created web sites about American flags have for the most part relied on work done by Preble. As a result there is a constant repetition of misinformation that gives certain designs the impression of accuracy."

I am working hard to end the repetition of misinformation, and in a collegial manner with you and others approach accuracy as best as the existing facts along with "educated guesses" may allow. As a former Navy cryptologist, I like facts, but also accept the necessity to "the mission" of projection of designs from fact patterns and related applicable information.

The maxim is "Don't let the perfect be the enemy of the good." While absolute assurance of the one design is improbable if not impossible because different ships may have had slightly differing shapes of the components of the approved flag design, an "educated guess" is quite reasonable.

Last year I communicated with David Martucci who lives in Washington, Maine and served as President of NAVA from 1998 to 2004, and he indicated that Preble tried to correct his error on the Snake flag between his 1872 book and his 1880 book. However, Mr. Ansoff below indicates that may have been only one multi-colored stripe design of the several Snake on Stripe flag designs.

This related solely to the red and blue striped version of the rattlesnake flag, not to the "First Navy Jack" story per se. I've done some further research since the article was published, and I believe I've found the source that Preble was actually referring to. It was in a history of Philadelphia that was published in the mid 19th century.

I am trying to work with you to minimize the misinformation pertaining to the Washington Cruiser Flag as may be best to describe the flag to differentiate it from the Massachusetts Navy flag, and establish some design particulars.

After Mr. Ansoff was in his new home and I wrote to him again this past 2 September 2007, to which he responded the very next day and he again mentioned your Flag Bulletin and the specific issue number #206. I then contacted you in late October to purchase the Flag Bulletin #206. I read your Flag Bulletin several times before I wrote to you for clarifications.

> Do you know of any existing real or realistic copies of the "Bunker Hill" or Continental Flag in museum or personal collections?

A flag similar to the purported "Bunker Hill" flag was found in private hands in New York a couple of years ago -- there was an article about it in "Flag Bulletin." As I recall, it was believed to be a militia color from the 17th or early 18th century. The "tree" in the canton was just a simple triangle, without any trunk or branches. Again, my reference is packed up so I can't verify the details at the moment.

In the illustration of that flag in the article on page 149, it shows a simple trunk in addition to the triangle for the tree. The photograph of the flag on page 143 is hard to discern, I believe I see a triangle AND a trunk, though I am not sure. Do you have a email address for Gary Laube to verify?

The new fact that had otherwise only presumed was on page 143 third paragraph, "...contained a small green wool triangle resembling a pine tree". The letter of Colonel Joseph Reed obtained from the Library of Congress does not mention the color or the shape of the tree he mentions. One would logically presume a green piece of fabric to represent a tree.

On the color page on page 144 are shown ten flags, five flags with a tree upon them, four in the canton, one on a white flag. One flag, J, is not mentioned in the article text on page 145. Yet there are four branches on either side of the centerline of each tree on page 144, and what appears as a patch of grass at the base of the trunk of the tree, NOT a simple triangle for the tree and a simple trunk as the illustrator reproducing the original Southhold flag shows on page 149.

On the inside front cover (page 126?) is written "Artwork for this issue, courtesy Terri Malgieri". Does the artist have some additional scholarly source for the eight branched tree, four on each side, as illustrated on page 144, or for the different design on the cover a MUCH more elaborate tree with 12 branches, six on either side of the centerline, with dozens of nearly individual leaves depicted, versus the simple triangle tree described, photographed, and illustrated in the article of Flag Bulletin #206?

While the elaborate trees are impressive for illustration in a modern magazine, again I think logically and say,

"Consider. You are a flag maker 222 years ago. You have to hand-stitch the "tree" onto the flag" (not silk screen a design on the fabric or print on paper). "A simple triangle is VERY MUCH MORE easy to stitch on the flag than these other elaborate designs. A simple triangle shaped tree would convey the concept, take less time, less thread, and be far more likely to withstand the stress of the flag flapping in the winds that a Navy flag would experience..."

Grammar causes questions in the last two paragraphs on page 145 of Flag Bulletin #206.

(1) First is written "The pine tree... was a natural choice in 1776 when Massachusetts-Bay sough an official ensign for its Navy." Time wise that is a correct statement for Massachusetts did, in 1776, adopt the simple tree flag, or pine tree flag, as its Navy Ensign, after the autumn of 1775 adoption of a similar but not the same flag design.

(1.a) Confusing or in error is the next sentence about "George Washington's secretary, Colonel Joseph Reed, proposed the same ensign for the Continental Navy." Time wise Colonel Reed proposed a similar flag on 20 October 1775, months before Massachusetts adopted a similar tree flag.

(1.b) However there was a significant design difference between the Washington's aide Colonel Reed proposed design that included the motto "Appeal to Heaven", and the Massachusetts Navy flag which to the best of my knowledge from reading, did not include the motto.

(1.c) Is there any design information as to the shape of the tree in the Massachusetts Provincial Congress records (or the exclusion of the motto) on the Massachusetts Navy flag as was used on the flag flown by the Continental Navy ships commissioned by Commander in Chief Washington?

(2) The Flag Bulletin article on page 145 continues: "While that idea was never approved, it may have appeared in an American ensign displayed by John Paul Jones."

That sentence creates two issues, a concerns and a question:

(2.a) First, the 6 January 1776 letter by Admiral Hugh Palliser describing the Continental Navy ship Washington ensign captured when the ship went aground and was captured by the British confirms the design described by the 20 October 1775 Colonel Joseph Reed letter was "approved" by its use on American Continental Navy ships.

(2.b) Second, what is the citation for John Paul Jones flying a tree flag? I have read that he raised the first "Grand Union" flag of the Union Jack as a canton on the Sons of Liberty red and white stripes flag.

(3) The next paragraph states: "A flag of 13 white, blue, and red stripes with a white canton bearing a green pine tree appears in a circa 1776 painting of his personal arms."

(3.a.) Who is meant by "his"? Does "his" in "his personal arms" refer to John Paul Jones, or Colonel Joseph Reed?

(3.b) Where is the 'circa 1776 painting' and what is its provenance, or to say, is the artist much more reliable than English artist Thomas Hart?

(4) The next to final sentence on that page states: "As an ensign that flag (cover) would have been paired with the Pine Tree Flag (I) as a jack." [Referring to page 144, illustration I. ]

(4.a) The design of the tree on the cover and the design of the tree on page 144, illustration I are not the same.

(4.b) The pairing between the flag and the Navy jack would be the flag in page 144, illustration J with illustration I.

(4.c) While illustration J is not mentioned in the article, some claim it was used at Bunker Hill, or Continental Flag, and so called the Bunker Hill flag. Do you have any basis to support or refute that notion or legend, other than the later painting by Trumbull?

(5) The final sentence states: "It might have been used as an alternative to the Continental Colors, although there is no evidence of such usage."

(5.a) The Navy jack flag would derive naturally from the Continental Flag (or Bunker Hill Flag) if such existed. The terms Continental Flag and Continental Colors seem to be one and the same.

(5.b) However, when the Grand Union flag was hoisted, with its canton being the same as the British Union Jack a problem was created for the Continental Navy because the Navy has the tradition of using the canton of the national colors as its Navy Jack. Is that your understanding of Navy Jack flag tradition?

(5.c) Based on Admiral Palliser's 6 January 1776 letter, with the modified with motto Continental Flag canton on the Continental Navy ship Washington, there is "evidence of such usage".

Working together we can overcome misinformation, and seek a studied version of accuracy in the design of an important flag in American History.

A closing question given that you were President of NAVA for the years prior to the Bicentennial years of 1975 and 1976, did any officers from the Secretary of the Navy offices or historians from the Naval Historical Center ever consult you on which flag was an historically accurate Navy flag at the time of the founding of the Continental Navy in October 1775 versus the prevailing legends?

For America's future (building up on our past),

James Renwick Manship

Interpreter of George Washington (in Three Dimensions)

Box 75, Mount Vernon, Virginia 22121

Washington@Statesmanship.US

202-657-6760

Quote from 1770, retired Virginia Militia Colonel

George Washington said:

"As our country grows, and its population increases, as it will,

care must be taken to have each succeeding generation know

the trials and tribulations of those who preceded them.

History is an essential study to better government."

Begin forwarded message:

From: "Peter Ansoff" <ansoff@alumni.vanderbilt.edu>
Date: May 14, 2006 10:13:24 AM EDT
To: "'James Renwick Manship, Sr.'" <George@WashingtonLIVES.us>
Subject: RE: Navy Flag
Reply-To: <ansoff@alumni.vanderbilt.edu>

Dear James,

Unfortunately, I don't have access to my notes and reference library right now, because they're all packed in boxes (we're getting ready to move to a new house, after 19 years in this one). I've made some comments on your questions below "off the top of my head" -- sorry that I can't be more definitive.

> Do you know any existing copies of that Liberty Tree flag that flew on any of those water borne vessels? Either in museum or private collection, here or in England?

As far as I know, no original example exists, anywhere. The only first-hand illustration is in a British engineering officer's sketch of one of the floating batteries.

> What do you make of the "Norfolk Pine" -extended thin branches? Where did that come from?

> I see various shapes of the evergreen, or pine tree. Do you have any knowledge as to what shape was most prevalent?

The most common 18th-century version seems to have had separate branches that were either horizontal or at about 45 degrees to the trunk. The "Buck flag" is a good example, and others appear on contemporary coins, currency, documents and cartoons. I don't believe I've ever seen an 18th century illustration that looked like the modern "Christmas tree" version.

> Do you know of any connection between the Buck Flag, that was reportedly presented to a black regiment by Hancock and Washington?

As far as I know, the whole story of the Buck flag is an unattributed legend that first appeared in a 19th century book. The flag itself is at the Massachusetts Historical Society, but I don't believe that they have any information about its origins.   The supposed connection with Hancock and Washington stems from the fact that the scroll above the device has the letters "JH" and "GW." If I had to guess, I'd say that the flag probably dates from the early years of Washington's term as president, when Hancock was governor of Massachusetts. The idea might have been to imitate the British practice of putting the royal cypher on regimental colors by displaying the initials of the President and the Governor. That's just pure speculation, of course -- I haven't looked into the story of the "Buck flag" in any detail.

> Are there any elements of that Buck flag that derive from Hancock, such as the deer, the colors, the inscription, or its "Linus-type-pitiful" tree?

See above. As far as I know, there is no documented connection between Hancock and the flag.

> Do you know of any existing real or realistic copies of the "Bunker Hill" or Continental Flag in museum or personal collections?

A flag similar to the purported "Bunker Hill" flag was found in private hands in New York a couple of years ago -- there was an article about it in "Flag Bulletin." As I recall, it was believed to be a militia color from the 17th or early 18th century. The "tree" in the canton was just a simple triangle, without any trunk or branches. Again, my reference is packed up so I can't verify the details at the moment. As I mentioned in the last email, the consensus among those who have studied the issue is that the "Bunker Hill" flag was not used after the early 18th century. The term "Continental Flag" is usually used to refer to the Continental Colors -- stripes with the British union in the canton.

> I ordered through Inter-Library Loan your Raven article, but never received it. I received a copy and read through it with much interest. Well  done.

Thank you. It was interesting and fun to research.

> Was curious about the indicators that the European artists may have intended to be demeaning with their illustrations of the rattlesnake on its belly.

> You did not go too deep on that, how significant do you think that possible intent may be?

I didn't really look into that in detail because it wasn't the focus of my research. It would be an interesting topic to pursue.   Good references to start with would be Lester Olson's book "Emblems of American Community in the Revolutionary Era," Karen Cook's article on the rattlesnake emblem, and Cresswell's "Drawings and Prints" (the last two are cited in the "First Navy Jack" paper).

Do you have any conclusions of how the Admiral Preble 1872 error, and his significant efforts later to correct the error by insistence in the removal of text discussing the flag, but publishers failure to remove the color plate of the Snake flag, contributed to the continuation, or even the extension of the Navy Flag legend?

This related solely to the red and blue striped version of the rattlesnake flag, not to the "First Navy Jack" story per se.  I've done some further research since the article was published, and I believe I've found the source that Preble was actually referring to. It was in a history of Philadelphia that was published in the mid 19th century.

Since the above paper is not published, do you have an email version that I might read to extend my understanding?

Right now it doesn't exist in a "digestible" format. Once I get the move behind me, I plan to get busy and prepare it for publication.

Best regards,

Peter Ansoff