Happy Flag Day!
There are many historical flags associated with the United States, notably during the Westward Expansion of our country.
One such flag is the General Frémont “Indian Peace” Flag 1842.
“This Flag was the regimental banner of western explorer John C. Frémont and was carried on the first of his several trips west between 1841 and 1846. Although, according to his journals, he said he later carried a US flag into California, it isn’t clear if it was this particular flag or another he carried.
“Frémont was married to Jessie Benton, daughter of Thomas Hart Benton, an influential senator from Missouri. According to most sources Jessie made Frémont’s flag by hand. On the plain white canton she drew an eagle which held a Native American “peace pipe” in its claws instead of the traditional wreath and arrows. She also outlined 26 stars in blue in two rows of 13. After his first expedition she sewed grey silk backing onto the flag to which she centered an arch of letters spelling “Rocky Mountains 1841.” She did this to commemorate his first expedition. She also placed the image of a butterfly (or bee) flying above the letter “N.” […] The Frémont flag is preserved in the Autry National Center in Pasadena, California.
“This flag was later adopted by the City of Fremont, Michigan, as their official city flag when they incorporated in 1875. There are 26 stars on Frémont’s flag and Michigan was the 26th State to join the Union, so it seemed a perfect fit.”
For Freedom.
