Bennington Flags
What is the Bennington Flag?
The historic Bennington battle flag, also known as the 76 flag is an American historical flag which is a variation of the US Flag which was used in the Battle of Bennington in August 1777, by Vermont militia. This flag is the first to lead American armed forces on land.
The Bennington flag's distinguishing feature is the inclusion of a large '76' in the canton, a reference to the year 1776 when the Declaration of Independence was signed.
Unlike Old Glory which has 6 white stripes and 7 red stripes, the Bennington flag consists of 7 white stripes and 6 red stripes. The arrangement of the 13 stripes is also different from the US Flag, with white being outermost rather than red being outermost as in most US flags.
The flag's stars have seven points each instead of the more common and now-standard five points, and the blue canton is taller than on other flags, spanning nine instead of seven of the thirteen stripes. The flag has 14 stars - for the 13 original US colonies, and Vermont.
Aside from its unique appearance, the Bennington flag is further unique in that it is an official, legally recognized United States flag.
Who Designed the Bennington Flag?
Nathaniel Fillmore, a veteran of the Revolutionary War and a participant in the Battle of Bennington, was responsible for the design of the flag. The original flag was passed to Fillmore family members over the years. The original Bennington flag was donated in 1926 and is preserved in the museum at Bennington, Vermont today.
What is the Battle of Bennington?
A battle of the American Revolutionary War, the Battle of Bennington was part of the Saratoga campaign that took place in August 1777, in Walloomsac, New York, about 16 km from its namesake, Bennington, Vermont. It was a major battle in establishing the ability of the Americans to hold their own against regular European troops. Brigadier General John Stark and his American forces successfully defeated two detachments of British General John Burgoyne's invading army in 1777.
The battle was a major strategic success for the American cause and is considered part of the turning point of the Revolutionary War that contributed to the enemy's eventual defeat at Saratoga. The victory galvanized colonial support for the independence movement, and played a key role in bringing France into the war on the rebel side.
When is Bennington Day celebrated?
For people in Bennington, the flag is connected with the Battle of Bennington and the founding of Vermont. The battle's anniversary is celebrated in the state of Vermont as Bennington Battle Day on August 16 and is a legal holiday in Vermont.
