Fort Mifflin Flag
In 1775, Commodore Esek Hopkins (1718-1802) orders his vessels to fly a striped flag, which becomes the first Naval Jack Flag. Now known as the Fort Mifflin Flag, it has a very specific design. Thirteen alternating stripes of red, white, and blue symbolize the 13 original colonies.
The original flag was three to four times bigger than the flag that currently flies over the fort today. The flagpole was also three to four times bigger than its modern-day counterpart because originally, the soldiers used a mast from a big, tall naval ship. During the American Revolution, the Fort Mifflin Flag could be seen from the city of Philadelphia.
Joseph Plum Martin (1760-1850), who was stationed here during the Siege of Fort Mifflin, observed in his writings some interesting facts about the flags that have flown here. Needing to raise a flag of distress, officers ask who wants to do it. Just before Martin can speak up, a sergeant of the artillery volunteers. He quickly comes back down so as not to be struck by enemy fire. He has not gotten three yards away from the mast before Martin wites: “he was cut in two by a cannon shot”.
Martin also records that when the time came, and the soldiers ran out of ammunition, it was then time to abandon the fort. Their final act before evacuation is to deliberately leave this flag flying high. It is a bold move in order to differentiate the fact that they abandon the fort and do not surrender.
Today, the Fort Mifflin Flag is raised daily just after the gates open to the public and is lowered just before the closing of the North Gate each night.
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Photographer's Guide (EXIF):
Camera: Canon Rebel T-6
Aperture: F5.6
Shutter Speed: 1/800
ISO: 100
Exposure Bias: 0
Focal Length: 41mm
Mode: Manual
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All content by
Keith J. Fisher
©2021
Grazie Santangelo.
All Rights Reserved.
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