While the appearance of the United States flag having 13 alternating red and white stripes with a blue canton containing a white star for each state in a linear array is well settled, that was not always the case. In the early years of the Republic, the number and pattern of the stars varied as did the number of stripes.
The confusion over the configuration of the stars on the flag and the number of stripes is clearly shown in the congressional debates of April 1818 over a bill to “Establish the Flag of the United States.” The remarks of Congressman Wendover, which were published in the May 13, 1818, National Advocate, clearly demonstrate the problem:
“Is it desirable to produce greater uniformity? Most undoubtedly it is; in the navy the law is generally conformed to, but it is well known that uniformity does not elsewhere exist; if evidence were wanting, among other, and numerous instances, I would refer you to the flag at this moment waving over the heads of the Representatives of the nation, and two others in sight, equally to the flags of the government – while law directs that the flag shall contain fifteen (stripes), that on the hall of Congress, whence the laws emanate, has but thirteen, and those at the navy yard and marine barracks, have each, at least, eighteen stripes – nor can I omit to mention the flag under which the last Congress sat during its first session, which, from some cause or other unknown to me, had but nine strips; but even that flag with all its defecia, was entitled to much honor, for it was not only striped, but to use another British cant, it was ‘Ragged Bunting.'”
The confusion was not just over the number of stripes but also over the configuration of the stars. That was evident when Mississippi became the 20th state in 1817. I have seen images of the new 20-star flag with the stars configured both in a linear pattern and in a star shape. For Mississippi’s Bicentennial in 2017, the official symbol was a 20-star flag in the collection of the Mississippi Department of Archives and History that dated from shortly after Mississippi’s admission to the union. That flag has 20 stars in an oval. A review of the congressional acts establishing a national flag provide a basis for the confusion.
On Jan. 14, 1817, a “Select Committee appointed on the 12th ult, to inquire into the expediency of altering the flag of the U.S.” made its report. The report addressed the importance of the flag being uniform in appearance when flown by ships at sea. It also provided a legislative history of the U.S. flag:
“The original flag of the United States was composed of thirteen stripes and thirteen stars and was adopted by a resolution of the continental Congress on the 14th of June, 1777. – On the 13th of January, 1794, after two new States had been admitted into the Union, the National Legislature passed an act that the stripes and stars should, on a day fixed, be increased to fifteen each, to compart with the then number of independent States. The accession of new States, since that alteration, and the certain prospect that at no distant period the number of States will be considerably multiplied, render it in the opinion of the committee, highly inexpedient to increase the number of stripes, as every flag must, in some measure, be limited in its size, from the circumstance of conveniency to the place on which it is to be displayed, while such an increase would necessarily decrease their magnitude and render them proportionably less distinct to distant observation. This consideration has induced many to retain only the general form of the flag, while there actually exists a great want of uniformity in its adjustment, particularly when used on small private vessels.”
The committee felt that having 13 stripes could represent the unity of all states with the original 13 states together comprising the United States. The stars would symbolize each state of the union. A new star would be added for each new state, but the number of stripes would remain at 13. The committee reported its findings and the following Act to Alter the Flag of the United States passed:
“Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, that from and after the fourth day of July next, the flag of the United States be thirteen horizontal stripes, alternate red and white – that the union be nineteen stars, white in a blue field.
Sec. 2. – And be it further enacted, that on the admission of every new state into the Union, one star shall be added to the union of the flag, and that such addition shall take effect on the fourth day of July then the next succeeding such admission.”
A few months after the passage of the act altering the U.S. flag passed, Mississippi was admitted to the Union and a new act had to be passed adding Mississippi’s star to the flag. That legislation was addressed in the spring of 1818, and on April 7, 1818, the City of Washington Gazette reported; “By an Act of Congress, passed at the last session, it is enacted that from and after the 4th day of July, 1818, the flag of the United States be thirteen horizontal stripes, alternate red and white; that the union be twenty stars, white in a blue field; that on the admission of every new State in the Union, one star be added to the union of the flag’ and that such addition shall take effect on the 4thday of July then next succeeding such admission.”
None of the congressional acts, though, mentioned how the stars should be arrayed. They only provided that there be one for each state.
Mississippi got a star in 1818 and the new twenty-star flag was to have 13 stripes. However, it would be years before the configuration of stars would be completely settled. What did the first U.S. flag to include a star for Mississippi look like? Take your pick of 20 stars in an oval, four rows of five stars or 20 stars forming a star.
Thanks to Carolyn Kaye for help in transcribing old newspaper articles.
Rufus Ward is a Columbus native a local historian. E-mail your questions about local history to Rufus at [email protected].
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