"The Mooney Flag" Topic

I have seen very little evidence that stars and stripes flags existed during the Revolution. As most of us on this board know, the whole Betsey Ross story about the flag with the thirteen stars in a circle was a Ross family legend (even though many of us have figures carrying it) the historical evidence suggests the story has no basis. The Mooney flag may have existed towards the end of the war. At least there is some evidence to suggest it.

Journal of the American Revolution.
link

Thank you. Yeah, I mostly agree. You can see a sort of progress toward the "Betsy Ross" flag over the course of the Revolution, but mostly in ship and garrison flags. Where and when it all came together for the first time, we just don't know. Presumably before the admission of Vermont?

Me? Continentals carry what Washington was trying for--national symbol in canton and field to match facing color. New England militia carry one or another pine tree, and southern militia carry one or another rattlesnake. (Open to suggestions for Pennsylvania, who would have been family.)

I do not dispute any of that, but there is a vast area of "we just don't know" into which I can insert what flags I like, including some BRs.

Let's see, Pennsylvania. How about a Quaker head? No?

My Pennsylvania frontier riflemen all look like Mel Gibson in BRAVEHEART, so carry a blue flag that matches their woad.

Surely the Quaker Head should be flown by a pacifist artillery unit manning Quaker guns (while eating oatmeal)?

For Pennsylvania militia riflemen, perhaps on a green field, a brown deer in crosshairs, and the motto "heus! Quid intuemini?" ("Hey! What are you looking at?")

rp, LOL