Last updated: May 4, 2022
Place
Fort Stanwix Flag Pole Bastion
NPS Photo Courtesy of M. Colangelo.
Quick Facts
Significance:
At one point in history, thought to be location that the American flag was first flown in battle during the Siege of 1777. This is no longer the case. However, locals take a great pride in being part of the story of the American Revolution.
Many flags have flown over the walls of Fort Stanwix/Schuyler. During the French & Indian War, the King's Colors (or British flag) was hoisted over it for the first time in spring of 1759. Today, you can see the modern American flag flying on days the fort is open.
The most significant flag that was ever hoisted there, however, is still unknown. Several descriptions of it's appearance exist. All are red, white, and blue, however arranged in very different fashions. It was flown throughout the month of August 1777, during a bitter siege that was won by Colonel Peter Gansevoort, his Third New York Regiment, and their allies. On August 2, approximately 1,600 British troops and allies arrived at the fort. The British commander, General Barry St. Leger, offered the Americans escape in exchange for unconditional surrender. By August 3, Gansevoort and his officers gave their response to this offer, as recorded by a young lieutenant: Early this Morning a Continental Flag made by the Officers of Col. Gansevoort's Regiment was hoisted and a Cannon Levelled at the Enemies Camp was fired on the Occasion. Gansevoort himself later issued a statement back to St. Leger on the occasion as well: "It is my determined resolution...to defend this fort and garrison to the last extremity, in behalf of the United American States, who have placed me here to defend it against all their enemies."
Could it have been the "Stars and Stripes?" Maybe not … Is the flag the most important thing about the events of August 1777? Again, probably not. The pride associated with the flag is still reflected in the lives of people who live in Rome, New York, and throughout the Mohawk Valley to this day. THIS was the flag that flew at the only American fort to never surrender under attack during the entirety of the American Revolution. So whether it was the Grand Union, New York State, or some other flag that has yet to be discovered, Romans can be proud that like the generations before them, they remember our history and live in one of the birthplaces of our “United American States.”
The most significant flag that was ever hoisted there, however, is still unknown. Several descriptions of it's appearance exist. All are red, white, and blue, however arranged in very different fashions. It was flown throughout the month of August 1777, during a bitter siege that was won by Colonel Peter Gansevoort, his Third New York Regiment, and their allies. On August 2, approximately 1,600 British troops and allies arrived at the fort. The British commander, General Barry St. Leger, offered the Americans escape in exchange for unconditional surrender. By August 3, Gansevoort and his officers gave their response to this offer, as recorded by a young lieutenant: Early this Morning a Continental Flag made by the Officers of Col. Gansevoort's Regiment was hoisted and a Cannon Levelled at the Enemies Camp was fired on the Occasion. Gansevoort himself later issued a statement back to St. Leger on the occasion as well: "It is my determined resolution...to defend this fort and garrison to the last extremity, in behalf of the United American States, who have placed me here to defend it against all their enemies."
Could it have been the "Stars and Stripes?" Maybe not … Is the flag the most important thing about the events of August 1777? Again, probably not. The pride associated with the flag is still reflected in the lives of people who live in Rome, New York, and throughout the Mohawk Valley to this day. THIS was the flag that flew at the only American fort to never surrender under attack during the entirety of the American Revolution. So whether it was the Grand Union, New York State, or some other flag that has yet to be discovered, Romans can be proud that like the generations before them, they remember our history and live in one of the birthplaces of our “United American States.”
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On August 3, 1777, Fort Schuyler (the American name for Fort Stanwix at the time) was attacked by a British Allied force. The events detailed here are drawn directly from the journals of the participants of this siege.