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Show 1 " .J J . r F FIRST BATTLE ATI'LE ATILE ' FLAG . The question of and whenand when and where the American flag flagwIth flagwith flagwith wIth stais stars stal s and stnpes strIpes stapes was first carried in battle has hasbeen hasbeen . - been the subject of much controversy among historiansever historianq historians historiansever ever since smce the Revolution . In fact , in spite of the BetsyRoss Betsy BetsyRoss BetsyRoss Ross tradition , the origin of the flag is uncertain . BetsyI I It is a matter of hibtory history that the flag of 13 stars and and13 13 stupes stripes was adopted by Congress on June 14 , 1777 1777but , I but the exact date onf.uch on \f.uch f.uch w111ch , \ . nch the first flag was made is un- un unknown unknown un unknown - known . , , As to the thp flag's flags tlag's tlags ' Cirst first ( Irst display in battle , theie thelP there pave Dave Davebeen havebeen pave'been 'been been ' conflicting conflIctmg claims . Until Untll recently it was generallysupposed generally generallysupposed generallysupposed supposed that this occurred at Fort Schuyleiv Schuyler ) " } N . Y . , on onAugust onAugust onAugust August 3 , 1777 , when that post was beseiged beselged by the theBtitish theBritish theBritish Btitish British . The flag used on that occasion was said to have havebeen havebeen I Ibeen been made from a blue jacket packet and a soldier's soldiers ' wife's wifes ' redpettyoat red redpet redpett'eoat pet pett'eoat petteoat ' roat , with stars cut fiom flom from a white shirt . redI I to toWar War Department officials who have recently maderesearches made maderesearches maderesearches researches , with , th a view to clearing clearmg up the matter now de- de declare declare de declare - clare that the evidence favors Coochs Bridge , Del , as the theplace theplace theplace place where the first battle flag with stars and stripes stripeswas stripeswas stripeswas was unfurled . This was duung dUllng during a skumish sknmish skirmish which pre pre- preceded pre- pre preceded preceded - - ceded the battle of Biandywme Blandywme Brandywine , and occuired occulred occurred on Sep Sep- September September Sep- Sep September - - I IAll tember 3 , 1777 . All of which is interesting interestmg though not of gleat great lm- lm im- im lmI lmportance importance im importance - - I portance . The important thing thmg is that the Stars and andStripes andStripes andStripes Stripes still stIlI floats as the symbol of freedom and equality equalityof of opportunity opportumty . The fact that the principles prmcIples for which It It&tands itstands itstands &tands tands stands & are sometimes violated does doee ; not materially materJay ] de-ract de ract de- de deract deract - - ract from its sublime symbolism . |