This Pine Tree banner was flown by the American Navy at its birth. John Holmes, dated March 6, 1818, [3] says:The first cruise I made was in Jan., 1776, in the schooner Franklin of 70 tons, equipped by order of Gen. Washington, and I had to purchase the small arms to encounter the enemy, with money from my own pocket or go without; and my wife made the banner I fought under, the field of which was white, and the union green made therein in the figure of a pine tree, made of cloth of her own purchasing, at her own expense.”Under these colors he captured the ship George and brig Arabella transports, having on board about two hundred and eighty Highland troops of Gen. Eraser’s corps.Halifax, Nova Scotia, June 10, 1776, on Sunday, arrived from off Boston, a privateer brig, called the Yankee Hero, Capt.
The words “An Appeal to Heaven” are in reference to a resolution by the Provincial Congress of Massachusetts, which states “Appealing to Heaven for the justice of our cause, we determine to die or be free.”
The Washington Cruisers refers to a squadron of 6 defense vessels appointed by George Washington in 1775, and later became the flag of the Massachusetts Navy in 1776. Glover and Moylan under date Oct. 20, 1775, says:Please fix upon some particular color for a flag, and a signal by which our vessels may know one another. In April 1776 the Massachusetts Council passed a series of resolutions for the regulation of the Sea Service including the following:Resolved, That the uniform of the officers be green and white, and that they furnish themselves accordingly; and, That the colors be a white ground with a green Pine Tree, and the inscription ‘AN APPEAL TO HEAVEN.’”This slogan was taken from the closing paragraph of the resolution sent by the Appealing to Heaven for the justice of our cause we determine to die or be free.”The authenticity of this Pine Tree Flag is further established by a letter from Colonel George Reed, Secretary, October 20, 1776, to the Marine Committee then in session and active in creating a Continental Navy, to-wit:Please fix upon some particular color for a flag and a signal by which our vessels may know one another. Washington’s Cruisers Flag. This was the flag they raised as the first American War vessels were deployed against the British in Boston Bay. Fast shipping to customer. This is the flag of our float ing batteries.”Two of the new naval vessels had already put to sea under agreement to use the In the fall of the year 1775 the colonists created a fleet of six ships know as “Washington’s Cruisers.” These brave little vessels sailed forth to capture British stores and ammunition bound for America’s shores.The ships were the “Lynch,” the “Franklin,” the “Lee,” the “Harrison,” the “Warren” and the “Lady Washington.” The Lee was the only one of this first American Fleet to meet with success upon the high seas, capturing the British brig Nancy, caring arms, ammunition and provisions to the British Army in America.These “Washington Cruisers” flew the first national flag know as “An Appeal to Heaven Flag” also known as the “Pine Tree flag” and “Washington Cruisers flag”. Available Our Navy, the Standard Publication of the U.S. Navy. Their ensign was a pine tree flag,[1] the six schooners first commissioned by Washington and the first vessels commissioned by the united colonies sailed under the pine tree flag. Email a Friend Add to Favorites View Larger SKU: HWASH35; Size: 3 ft. x 5 ft. Material: Nylon; 75.6 USD $75.60 Qty : Add to Cart In Stock. Meadows likewise brought her colors, which are a pale green palm tree upon a white field with this motto: ‘An Appeal to Heaven. The Pine Tree had become a strong yet simple symbol of New England and the Colonies, and was well liked by Colonials, including General Washington. What do you think of a flag with a white ground, a tree in the middle and a motto ‘An Appeal to Heaven’? [2] Col. Reed in a letter from Cambridge to Cols. They appear to have been made of strong planks pierced near the water line, for oars; and along the sides, higher up for light and musketry.