First Navy Flag = 1775 Liberty Tree Flag "Appeal to Heaven" Flag, or Washington Cruisers Flag

Thursday, December 22, 2005

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

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.

Wednesday, December 21, 2005

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

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

Monday, December 19, 2005

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

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.

Monday, December 12, 2005

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

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

Saturday, December 03, 2005

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

Thursday, November 10, 2005

Sunday, October 23, 2005

Email with Peter Ansoff, Flag expert and Flag Journal Author

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)

Friday, October 21, 2005

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

Sunday, October 16, 2005

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

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!

Thursday, October 13, 2005

Navy Birthday letter to SECNAV Gordon England

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

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

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.

Wednesday, October 05, 2005

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

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.

Monday, September 26, 2005

Senator Warner (former SECNAV) letter of 26 Sep 2005

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

Monday, December 27, 2004

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

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

Friday, January 21, 2000

Re: Washington Cruiser Flag / This Day in History 1779: Henry Laurens named minister to Holland

Dear "General Cornwallis",

Thank you so much for your reply.

Greenwich did reply with a copy of the letter from Admiral Sir Hugh Palliser, but did not have any clue as to where the Washington flag might be.

Other folks suggested something or other "Peerage" as a means of tracking down the current families of Palliser, Lord Sandwich, and the family of the Admiral who received the Washington Cruiser flag as a gift of his son, the ship captain who captured the flag when the Washington went aground while being pursued by the British warship. What do you know of that Peerage publication and process?

Based on your comment, I have discovered the following, that I shall research further for General Washington...

http://onlinebooks.library.upenn.edu/webbin/serial?id=londonmag