George Washington and the United States Flags

We recognize George Washington as a central figure in the struggle for American independence and the founding of United States. Washington’s contributions more that justify this judgment. Likely for this reason, histories of the United States flag have endeavored to chronicle Washington’s part in the flag’s history. Unfortunately, the historical record is sketchy and incomplete. Still, Washington’s influence is there when we consider his role of the Commander-in-chief of the Continental Army.
To understand Washington and the history of the U.S. flag, we must consider the role of flags in eighteenth century warfare. In the twenty-first century flags, fifes, drums and uniforms play a ceremonial role in parades and pageantry. However, in the eighteenth century these items of military gear were essential equipment for an army.
Washington received his military training as an officer in the Virginia Militia during the French and Indian War. The British used a system of two military flags: a Kings Color and a Regimental Color. The placement of these two flags or colors determined each soldier’s position in his regiment’s formation. In the din of battle, the placement of these flags and the music of the fife and drums, communicated the orders of battle drill. A regiment’s colors helped establish military discipline in the field and in battle.
New England militia did not prevail against a larger, better supplied British force at Bunker Hill. However, they did exact huge casualties upon the British army. They demonstrated that American colonists could fight the troops of Great Britain. In Philadelphia, Washington wore his militia uniform when Congress met. His stature and reputation influenced Congress to create a Continental Army with Washington as Commander-in-chief. Traveling to the militia encampment in Cambridge, Washington found willing soldiers. Although they were accomplished marksmen, they lacked military training and discipline that their new commander deemed essential. In the General Orders he issued on first day of January in 1776, Washington observed, “that an Army without Order, Regularity and Discipline, is no better than a Commission'd Mob . . . .” For Washington, a military force without appropriate flags, fife, drums and uniforms, was a “Commission’d Mob” and not an army. To win respect of the British forces, American colonists needed not only to prevail in battle, they needed to present themselves as “an Army . . . [with] Order, Regularity and Discipline. . . .” To achieve this, they needed appropriate military equipment, including appropriate flags. In place of a King’s Color, the colonists would have used a flag to symbolize their union. This union flag is called the National Color.
Washington’s staff corresponded with the Continental Congress repeatedly in the effort to obtain the needed flags. Congress failed to fill the requisitions for colors. Washington was determined to lead a disciplined army not a commissioned mob. A disciplined army needed appropriate military equipment, including flags.
The invasion of British troops forced the evacuation of New York. The necessities for boots, clothing, provisions and shelter pushed the need for flags into the background. Still, Washington continued in his efforts to turn the “Commission’d Mob” into a disciplined Army. Von Steuben drilled a ragged force at Valley Forge. Von Steuben’s drill manual includes diagrams of troop formations showing the placement of colors. The position of colors is included as part of the drill instructions. Over the period of the war, some regiments obtained military flags. Others made due with locally made flags. Washington built his disciplined army as he fought the War of Independence. He never received from Congress all the flags he wanted. Still when Cornwallis’ army surrendered at Yorktown, the American army carried U.S. National Colors and Regimental Colors with pride. Washington and his American army had bested the well trained, experienced and disciplined troops of the British Empire. With flags flying, Washington led his “…Army . . . [with] Order, Regularity and Discipline. . . ” to victory.