Gadsden Flag

A Rendition of the Gadsden Flag

The Gadsden flag is a true American tradition. It was designed in 1775 by American general and statesman Christopher Gadsden, around the time of the establishment of the American Navy by George Washington. In order to accompany and assist the Navy on their missions of keeping British ships from unloading troops and supplies, the Second Continental Congress also established the first five companies of Marines. These Marines were recruited from Philadelphia, and they painted their drums with the Gadsden flag onto it with the stirring image of the rattlesnake with thirteen rattles and the motto "Don't tread on me." The rattlesnake had been used to represent the American spirit for a while at this point, and I believe Benjamin Franklin puts it best as to why:

"I recollected that her eye excelled in brightness, that of any other animal, and that she has no eye-lids—She may therefore be esteemed an emblem of vigilance.—She never begins an attack, nor, when once engaged, ever surrenders: She is therefore an emblem of magnanimity and true courage.—As if anxious to prevent all pretensions of quarreling with her, the weapons with which nature has furnished her, she conceals in the roof of her mouth, so that, to those who are unacquainted with her, she appears to be a most defenseless animal; and even when those weapons are shown and extended for her defense, they appear weak and contemptible; but their wounds however small, are decisive and fatal:—Conscious of this, she never wounds till she has generously given notice, even to her enemy, and cautioned him against the danger of stepping on her.—Was I wrong, Sir, in thinking this a strong picture of the temper and conduct of America?"

At the time Continental Colonel Gadsden was the representative of his home state of South Carolina and was part of the Marine Committee working on the outfitting of the Navy for their first missions. In December of that year, Gadsden gave the Commander-in-Chief of the Navy, Commodore Esek Hopkins, a Gadsden flag, which the Commodore used as his personal standard on his flagship. Another copy Gadsden sent to the congress of South Carolina, which they received happily. Even though some may usurp this and other symbols from the founding of America, the flag today continues to thrive as a symbol of the American fighting spirit: always vigilant, and always ready to defend herself and her freedom.