Liberty Flags

 

Yet another type of flag available to American Rev War gamers are the so called "Liberty" flags .  Usually smaller then the regimental Standard these were locally made for militia regiments or were decorated division colors.  General Charles Lee Suggested in 1775 that " each regiment or battalion was to have a large Regimental Standard as well as four smaller grand division colors, on each of which was to be embroidered the word "Liberty."

That a number of  towns had followed this practice is note in a political cartoon depicting the fighting in 19th April.  The American forces are marching under a banner similar to the Union flag with "Liberty" in its center.  

 In addition the town of Taunton Massachusetts had a flag made.  It has a red field, the Union in the upper canton and the words "Liberty and Union."

Following the battle of Long Island August 1776 the Hessian regiment Rall reported it captured from a American Regiment a small color, "which was of red damask and bore the motto Liberty."  This possibly was from the New Jersey militia regiment of Colonel Philip Johnson which had been guarding Flatbush road where it cut through the Flatbush pass and located in what is now the North East corner of Prospect Park.  In addition Major Carl Leopold Baurmster , Hessian Adjutant General reported the capture of eleven American colors each with the motto "Liberty" on them after the battle.  After the capture of Fort Washington a number of colors were also captured.  These were described as "new" and were yellow, white, and light blue.  One Pennsylvania regiment's colors were described as having the figure of a riflemen on it.

In the Schenectady County Historical Society is preserved a local militia liberty flag.  It has faced to a dull brown color, but was once described as green or blue.  The word liberty is on both sides made from a white ribbon. 

So, it appears these flags were actually used and saw service.  They make a easy way to add color to your militia regiments in the table top.