Bennington Flag 35;5 – Printed

Bennington or ;Fillmore; 35 Flag ; Printed PolyesterMost historians consider the Battle of Bennington in the summer of 1777 as the turning point of the American Revolutionary War in favor of the Americans. British General John Burgoynes army was defeated by American forces led by General John Stark at Walloomsac, New York. However, the key strategic point of the battle was Bennington, Vermont (about 10 miles away) where American forces had horses and supplies stored, hence the name ;Battle of Bennington;. The iconic Bennington flag is believed to have been one of the battle flags used by American militiamen there. The most defining feature of the flag is the large ;76; (indicating the year in which the Declaration of Independence was signed) in the center of the blue canton and the arch of 13 stars on three sides. Another distinguishing feature is the blue field is taller than it is on other American flag variations. It spans nine of the thirteen stripes instead of seven, and the outermost top and bottom stripes are white rather than red. Also, the stars have seven points each instead of six or the now-standard five. According to legend, the original Bennington flag was carried off of the battlefield by Nathaniel Fillmore and passed down through the family, eventually coming into the possession of President Millard Fillmore, who was Nathaniel;s grandson. However, there is no historical evidence to support the legend. Philetus Perkins Fillmore, a descendant of the same Fillmore family flew a Bennington flag in 1877, to commemorate the Battle of Bennington, but that flag would have been made around that same period. Not in the 1700;s. So the whereabouts or existence of the original flag is unknown. The family later donated the reproduction flag to the Bennington Museum where it is on display today. The flag is also referred to as the ;Fillmore flag; because of its association with that family name.Made of printed polyester, which is a very lightweight material that will fly nicely in the slightest breeze.One solid piece of printed, hemmed fabricHeavy canvas header with brass grommets4 rows of stitching on the fly end to prevent premature frayingFlag size 3;x5;