Was the earliest flag of the United States (commonly referred to as the “Betsy Ross flag”) first used in battle at either Cooch’s Bridge or the Brandywine? Some writers argue in the affirmative, but their evidence is slim at best.
In September 11, 1777: Washington’s Defeat at Brandywine Dooms Philadelphia, Bruce Mowday argued in the affirmative and based his findings on an address given by John P. Nields in 1927 at Cooch’s Bridge. Nields supposedly cited several factors supporting his contention that the flag flew during the engagement there on September 3, 1777. “Those facts included the resolution by Congress creating the flag, that Washington had the flag when his army marched through Philadelphia, that Maxwell’s corps was formed before the battle of Cooch’s Bridge, that Maxwell was ordered to engage the enemy and, finally, ‘that in such an engagement it was appropriate that a standard with colors be carried.’” Ergo, if the flag flew during the engagement at Cooch’s Bridge, it had to be at the Brandywine. Let’s examine each of these “facts” on its own.
Congress passed a resolution in June 1777 creating an American flag. This does not mean flags were created or distributed to the army—a major logistical undertaking for which there is no primary evidence. Second, no primary source mentions Continental troops carrying the stars and stripes as they passed through Philadelphia. That would have been a proud and important event, but no account by a soldier or civilian mentions it. Third, Maxwell’s brigade was created before the battle, and ordered to engage the enemy, but that does not mean his organization did so carrying American flags.
Mowday concludes: “Nields’s five facts don’t prove the flag appeared at Cooch’s Bridge. All of the facts listed by Nields applied to Brandywine. The crucial difference was that Washington, himself, was at Brandywine and not present at the Cooch’s Bridge skirmish. Also, the Reverend Jacob Trout made reference to the flag at Brandywine in the sermon he preached to troops on the night before the battle.”
Washington is known to have carried a headquarters flag of a completely different design than the American or Betsy Ross flag, but his presence does not offer any support for or against the Betsy Ross flag being at the Brandywine. In addition, Trout may or may not have preached a sermon prior to the battle (see discussion in Chapter 10). Relying upon a sermon that was probably never made to prove a particular flag’s presence perpetuates two myths at the same time. Nevertheless, Mowday claimes “the first documented firing on the Betsy Ross American flag was at Brandywine.”1
A 2011 analysis of the question of the flag at Cooch’s Bridge went far toward dispelling the myth. The legend of the “Betsy Ross” flag being present at Cooch’s Bridge “appears to have its beginning during the Colonial Revival period. In 1901, the first monument erected at the battlefield stated the flag was present during the engagement. However, the monument was modified in 1932 to be less definitive.” In 1940, Edward Cooch stated there was circumstantial evidence the flag had been present there. However, recent research has found it unlikely that the flag was at Cooch’s Bridge. According to archeologist and historian Wade Catts, “The American formation fought as an ad hoc light infantry corps composed of picked men and volunteers from throughout the army and only existed for a month. The whole purpose of the infantry was stealth and secrecy so it is highly unlikely they would have carried a flag into battle.” Charles Fithian, Curator of Archeology for the Delaware Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs, agrees: “The Stars and Stripes started as a Naval Flag so it is unlikely a light infantry unit that had just been formed would have had the flag. And they tended not to carry flags which would announce their presence.” Most importantly, no eighteenth-century source has been found proving the flag was at Cooch’s Bridge.2
As for the Brandywine, the reasons Catts and Fithian note for the flag not being at Cooch’s Bridge also apply to the Brandywine. What we now think of as the “American” flag was initially used by naval ships and at some fortifications. A version of the flag may have been present at Fort Stanwix in August of 1777 or Fort Mifflin in November of that year. However, the “American” flag did not function as a symbol of the country, carried by infantry and cavalry regiments into battle, until after the Federal period. Flags carried by Continental regiments at the Brandywine came in a wide variety of colors and patterns. In September 1777, American regiments did not carry a standard flag.
To date, no primary source has been discovered proving the flag was carried during the battle. Beth-Ann Ryan states: “When and where the American Flag was first flown in battle has not been definitely determined by scholars…. It was certainly flown during the Mexican War (1846-1848) and the American Civil War (1861-1865).”3