The Bennington Flag: Used in the Battle of Bennington, August 16, 1777, by Vermont militia. This flag is the first to lead American armed forces on land. The original is preserved in the museum at Bennington, Vermont. In addition, the Bennington Flag is possibly the only early stars and stripes flag made specifically to commemorate America's declaration of independence from England, an event of profound historical significance. As the earliest known flag made entirely of cotton, it is an important document for the history of textiles in America. This flag was adopted June 14, 1777 (Flag Day). The Continental Congress on this day resolved, "That the flag of the United States be thirteen stripes alternating red and white; that the Union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new constellation". It is unknown who actually designed this flag. There is a slight possibility that John Paul Jones did. The Congress did not specify an arrangement for the stars in the canton, as a result there are many variations in the flags that followed until 1912. This flag was used by George Washington on his squadron of six schooners which he outfitted at his own expense in the fall of 1775. This flag was a variation of the New England Pine Tree flag. It was later modified and adopted by the Massachusetts Navy. The Sons of Liberty would rally under a large tree, in Boston Massachusetts, which came to be known as "The Liberty Tree". This tree became a symbol of American independence. Knowing they were up against a great military power they believed they were sustained by still a greater power, thus their "APPEAL TO HEAVEN". This flag was first used by Commodore Esek Hopkins, the first Commander in Chief of the New Continental Fleet. When his ships put to sea for the first time in February, 1776, flags with the symbol of the rattlesnake were very popular in Rhode Island at this time. Colonel Christopher Gadsden of South Carolina copied this flag and presented it to the Continental Congress. In 1912, the United States had 48 states. It's interesting to note that there was no official design for the 46-star flag used from 1908 to 1912. A Presidential order was issued fixing the position of the stars for this flag. Presidential orders followed the adoption of the flags of 1959 and 1960, as well. It was under a banner of 48 stars that President Wilson called for a special day of honor for the flag. The process of pledging allegiance to the Flag of the United States became official under the 48-star flag as well. The 13 Colonies were; Connecticut|Delaware|Georgia| Maryland|Massachusetts Bay| New Hampshire|New Jersey|New York| North Carolina|Pennsylvania| Rhode Island|South Carolina|Virginia 13 folds in the America Flag