Changes

==== The Gadsden Flag ====

==== The Gadsden Flag ====

[[File:Gadsden flag.png|left|125px]]

[[File:Gadsden flag.png|left|125px]]

In the fall of 1775, the British were occupying [[Boston]] and the young Continental Army was holed up in Cambridge, extremely short on arms and ammunition. At the [[Battle of Bunker Hill]], Washington's troops had been so low on gunpowder that they were ordered "not to fire until you see the whites of their eyes." In October, a merchant ship called The Black Prince returned to Philadelphia from a voyage to [[England]]. On board were private letters to the Second [[Continental Congress]] that informed them that the British government was sending two ships to America loaded with arms and gunpowder for the [[British]] troops.

In the fall of 1775, the British were occupying [[Boston]] and the young Continental Army was holed up in Cambridge, extremely short on arms and ammunition. At the [[Battle of Bunker Hill]], Washington's troops had been so low on gunpowder that they were ordered "not to fire until you see the whites of their eyes." In October, a merchant ship called The Black Prince returned to Philadelphia from a voyage to [[England]]. On board were private letters to the Second [[Continental Congress]] that informed them that the British government was sending two ships to America loaded with arms and gunpowder for the [[British]] troops.

Congress decided that [[General Washington]] needed those arms more than [[General Howe]]. A plan was hatched to capture the British cargo ships. They authorized the creation of a Continental Navy, starting with four ships. The frigate that carried the information from England, the Black Prince, was one of the four. It was purchased, converted to a man-of-war, and renamed the Alfred. To accompany the Navy on their first mission, Congress also authorized the mustering of five companies of Marines. The Alfred and its sailors and marines went on to achieve some of the most notable victories of the [[American Revolution]]. What's most patriotic about this story is of symbols some of the Marines were seen with during these crucial battles: the Gadsden Flag. The symbol of this flag serves as a warning and sign, first seen against an overbearing - and increasingly hostile - Federal government.

Congress decided that [[General Washington]] needed those arms more than [[General Howe]]. A plan was hatched to capture the British cargo ships. They authorized the creation of a Continental Navy, starting with four ships. The frigate that carried the information from England, the Black Prince, was one of the four. It was purchased, converted to a man-of-war, and renamed the Alfred. To accompany the Navy on their first mission, Congress also authorized the mustering of five companies of Marines. The Alfred and its sailors and marines went on to achieve some of the most notable victories of the [[American Revolution]].  

What's particularly interesting for American history is that some of the Marines that enlisted the very first month in Philadelphia were carrying drums painted yellow, emblazoned with a fierce rattlesnake, coiled and ready to strike, with thirteen rattles, and sporting the motto "Don't Tread on Me."<ref name=marinehistoryII/>

What's most patriotic about this story is of the symbols some of the Marines were seen with before and during these crucial battles: the [[Gadsden Flag]]. The symbol of this flag serves as a warning and sign, first seen against an overbearing - and increasingly hostile - Federal government. By 1775, the snake symbol wasn't just being printed in newspapers. It was appearing all over the colonies; it appeared on uniform buttons, on paper money, and of course, on banners and flags. At the birth of the [[U.S. Navy]] and the U.S. Marine Corps, what's particularly interesting for American history, is that some of the Marines that enlisted the very first month in Philadelphia were carrying drums painted yellow, emblazoned with a fierce rattlesnake, coiled and ready to strike, with thirteen rattles, and sporting the motto "Don't Tread on Me."<ref>Chris Whitten. [http://www.foundingfathers.info/stories/gadsden.html#birth The birth of the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Marine Corps], FoundingFathers.info, July 05, 2001, updated September 2002.</ref><ref>http://www.worldwar2history.info/Marines/</ref>

=== Famous Battles ===

=== Famous Battles ===