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Connecticut Colonial/Revolutionary War Flags (U.S.)

Historical

2nd Connecticut Regiment
Colonial Privateer
Independent Company of Newburyport
Webb's Continental Regiment
Webb's Regiment Color

See also:

2nd Connecticut Regiment
image by Joe McMillan, 22 February 2004

Source: "The Flag Book of the United States", Smith (1975)

This flag belongs to the Second Connecticut Regiment. The flag is described in the book as "Red field, yellow scrolls, fringe and outer edge of shield, blue inner edge of shield and ribbon above shield. Grapes are purple, leaves green and ground brown." There is also a little narrative of the flag and its regiment:
"This flag was probably used after 1775, when the Connecticut General Assembly ordered eight regiments to be raised, and before 1777, when the Continental Line was organized. The three grape vines on the shield, the arms of Connecticut, represent the three original settlements of the colony; Hartford, Windsor, and Wethersfield. The motto is abbreviated from Qui Transtulit Sustinet, 'He who brought us here will take care of us.'"
Randy Young, 29 January 2001

Whitney Smith's Flag Book of the United States (Smith,1975) points out that the Connecticut arms with three grapevines were used on flags from an early date. The regimental color of the 2nd Battalion, 2nd Connecticut Regiment, circa 1775, is still extant. It shows the arms on a red field; each Connecticut regiment in the Revolutionary War carried this basic design on a different colored field. A 1780 regulation provided for the addition of 13 stripes in a lower quarter if necessary to distinguish similar colors from one another.

In the 19th century, state militia units carried blue flags with the coat of arms--essentially the basis of the present state flag. During the Civil War period, the state arms were combined with the U.S. arms. I have seen New York military colors from this period in which the state and federal arms were impaled; Connecticut may have followed the same practice--I don't know.

In the 1890s, the state adjutant general prepared a report on the flags in use by the state at the time. He reported that the governor used a square blue flag with the coat of arms, while a similar flag was flown over the state capitol during meetings of the General Assembly. A legislative resolution of 4 July 1895 said, "The flag which has up to the present time been generally accepted as the flag of this state ought to be officially and formally designated as such." This was done by act of the legislature on 3 June 1897.

Official color specifications for the Connecticut flag were established in 1957 by the state Department of Finance and Control.

Joe McMillan, 20 February 2004

Colonial Privateer

image by Randy Young, 30 January 2001

Source: "Flags to Color from the American Revolution."

This flag is found on the very first page of the book, and is listed as simply "A Connecticut Privateer Flag." The flag is described as "Blue field, white canton, purple grapes." The grape vine in the canton comes from the Connecticut coat of arms.

Randy Young, 30 January 2001

Independent Company of Newburyport

image by Randy Young, 1 February 2001

Source: "Flags to Color from the American Revolution."

This flag is found on page 23 of the book, and is listed as "Flag of the Independent Company of Newburyport." The colors are listed as "Green field and tree, blue canton, silver mailed hands and chain."
"Thirteen mailed hands holding an endless chain of thirteen links was symbolic of unity and strength. A similar device, a mailed hand grasping thirteen arrows, was used by privateers and the First New York Regiment."

Randy Young, 1 February 2001

Webb's Continental Regiment

image by Randy Young, 1 February 2001

Source: "Flags to Color from the American Revolution."

This flag is found on page 14 of the book, and is listed as "Flag of Webb's Continental Regiment, Continental Line." The flag's colors are described as "Yellow field, green wreath, red ribbon, silver sword, black I." And the narrative of the flag is simply
"This little guidon may once have belonged to the First (I) Company of an additional Continental Regiment of Foot raised in 1777 by Col. S.B. Webb of Connecticut."

Randy Young, 1 February 2001

Webb's Regiment Color

image by Randy Young, 3 March 2001

Source: "Flags to Color from the American Revolution."

This one is found on page 6 of the book, and is listed as "Webb's Regiment Color." The colors are listed as "yellow field, red robe, blue belt, multicolored feathers, black hat, flag with seven red and six white stripes, tan lion, green grass, gold lettering on dark blue ribbon." The flag itself is described as:
"Europeans often depicted America in the figure of a woman dressed like an Indian. Here she displays the liberty cap, 'American flag,' and a sword used to decapitate an enemy. A large part of the flag is missing."

Randy Young, 1 February 2001