Like many flags championed by the Patriot Constitutionalist and Second Amendment movements the Bennington Flag is older than the Constitution itself. As the 76" in the canton probably gives away the flag dates back to the revolutionary period from the Battle of Bennington in 1777. The battle didnt actually take place in Bennington Vermont but rather about 10 miles away in what is now Upstate New York.
In some ways the flag is easy to ignore. It looks much like the more iconic Betsy Ross Flag but there are several crucial differences. First there is the 76" in the canton. Second the top stripe of the 13 stripes is white rather than the more customary red. Third the canton is much taller than the official American flag or its earlier equivalents. (Usually the canton takes up the corner of the top seven stripes. On the Bennington Flag however it takes up nine.) Finally the stars on the flag have seven points rather than five.
Commonly known as the Bennington 76 flag it enjoys increased popularity at times when America is reconnecting with its revolutionary roots. For example the Fillmore Flag a version of the Bennington Flag allegedly from the Battle of Bennington itself may have been flown at a 50th celebration of American independence. It was also popular in 1876 for Americas centenary and 1976 when all things Spirit of 76" were the rage.
All pre-Constitutional flags have a rich lore associated with them and the Bennington Flag is no exception. While historians dispute it legend has it that the actual flag from the Battle of Bennington was retrieved from the field by Nathaniel Fillmore Sr. the grandfather of Millard Fillmore last of the Whigs. This flag known as the Fillmore Flag entered the familys possessions and was once owned by Millard Fillmore himself. He later passed it on to Philetus P. Fillmore who flew the flag for the Battle of Benningtons cenetary. Maude Fillmore later allegedly donated the flag to the Bennington Museum.
The Battle of Bennington is a lesser-known battle from the American Revolutionary War and the Bennington Flag is a more obscure pre-Constitutional flag. So what happened at the Battle of Bennington?
The battle saw a force of 2000 Continentals mostly made up of New Hampshire and Massachusetts militiamen square off against a force of less than 1500 loyalist forces of Brits and their Hessian mercenaries. The Continental forces were augmented by the Green Mountain Boys of Vermont whose flag that of the Vermont Republic (who had North Americas first written constitution) is much better known than the Bennington Flag.
Continue reading The Bennington Flag: A Pre-Constitutional Symbol of Freedom at Ammo.com.
Like many flags championed by the Patriot Constitutionalist and Second Amendment movements the Bennington Flag is older than the Constitution itself. As the 76" in the canton probably gives away the flag dates back to the revolutionary period from the Battle of Bennington in 1777. The battle didnt actually take place in Bennington Vermont but rather about 10 miles away in what is now Upstate New York.
In some ways the flag is easy to ignore. It looks much like the more iconic Betsy Ross Flag but there are several crucial differences. First there is the 76" in the canton. Second the top stripe of the 13 stripes is white rather than the more customary red. Third the canton is much taller than the official American flag or its earlier equivalents. (Usually the canton takes up the corner of the top seven stripes. On the Bennington Flag however it takes up nine.) Finally the stars on the flag have seven points rather than five.
Commonly known as the Bennington 76 flag it enjoys increased popularity at times when America is reconnecting with its revolutionary roots. For example the Fillmore Flag a version of the Bennington Flag allegedly from the Battle of Bennington itself may have been flown at a 50th celebration of American independence. It was also popular in 1876 for Americas centenary and 1976 when all things Spirit of 76" were the rage.
All pre-Constitutional flags have a rich lore associated with them and the Bennington Flag is no exception. While historians dispute it legend has it that the actual flag from the Battle of Bennington was retrieved from the field by Nathaniel Fillmore Sr. the grandfather of Millard Fillmore last of the Whigs. This flag known as the Fillmore Flag entered the familys possessions and was once owned by Millard Fillmore himself. He later passed it on to Philetus P. Fillmore who flew the flag for the Battle of Benningtons cenetary. Maude Fillmore later allegedly donated the flag to the Bennington Museum.
The Battle of Bennington is a lesser-known battle from the American Revolutionary War and the Bennington Flag is a more obscure pre-Constitutional flag. So what happened at the Battle of Bennington?
The battle saw a force of 2000 Continentals mostly made up of New Hampshire and Massachusetts militiamen square off against a force of less than 1500 loyalist forces of Brits and their Hessian mercenaries. The Continental forces were augmented by the Green Mountain Boys of Vermont whose flag that of the Vermont Republic (who had North Americas first written constitution) is much better known than the Bennington Flag.
Continue reading The Bennington Flag: A Pre-Constitutional Symbol of Freedom at Ammo.com.