American Revolution Flags Sell for $17.4 Million

An anonymous bidder paid nearly $17.4 million Wednesday, Flag Day, for four rare flags from the American Revolution. The remarkably intact regimental standards captured by a British officer in 1779-80 were put up for auction by one of his direct descendants 225 years later.

"These are inspirational, an extraordinary window into the birth of our country," said David Redden, a vice chairman of Sotheby's, which conducted the sale. "You can imagine the soldiers carrying them, who suffered grievous wounds and made sacrifices to defend what were sacred objects," he said. "You look at them, and you really get a sense of looking at something that has a great deal of spiritual significance."

You can read the full story at http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/06/15/flag.auction.ap/index.html

Comments

[Vincent E. Falter]

Dick,

I find this story fascinating and definitely genealogy related. My wife's 5th great grandfather was Ebeneezer Scofield of Pound Ridge, Westchester County, New York who fought in the battle against "Bloody Tarleton" in the Battle of Pound Ridge. Ebeneezer and his sons Michael, Amos, Peter, Joseph, Smith, and David were soldiers in the Revolutionary War. They served in Captain Lockwood's Company, Westchester County Militia, Fourth Regiment. Ebeneezer was also made a Captain during the course of the war and served March 1776 to April 1782. He had earlier been a Private in the Colonial Militia on 1758 under Captain Reuben Lockwood.

When Tarleton attacked the Continental Army's 2nd Light Dragoons at Pound Ridge, the Westchester County Militia mustered and joined in the fight. A clear-cut statement of how reliable this militia were thought to be was contained in a letter from the New York Committee of Safety to General George Washington. They wrote, "No reliance at all can be placed on the Militia of Westchester County."

Despite that pessimistic assessment, the Westchester Militia fought hard and well, although outnumbered but, ultimately, unsuccessfully during the raid by Lieutenant Colonel Banastre Tarleton. Nonetheless, they acquitted themselves honorably.

Vince Falter