On This Day - What happened 4 July in United States of America

The full Virginia Regiment joined Washington at Fort Necessity the following month with news that he had been promoted to command of the regiment and to colonel upon the death of the regimental commander. The regiment was reinforced by an independent company of 100 South Carolinians led by Captain James Mackay, whose royal commission outranked that of Washington, and a conflict of command ensued. On July 3, a French force attacked with 900 men, and the ensuing battle (Battle of Fort Necessity) ended in Washington's surrender. In the aftermath, Colonel James Innes took command of intercolonial forces, the Virginia Regiment was divided, and Washington was offered a captaincy which he refused, with resignation of his commission.

At the time of the Declaration of Independence in July 1776, the Continental Congress would not legally adopt flags with "stars, white in a blue field" for another year. The flag contemporaneously known as "the Continental Colors" has historically been referred to as the first national flag.

Washington grew restless in retirement, prompted by tensions with France, and he wrote to Secretary of War James McHenry offering to organize President Adams' army. In a continuation of the French Revolutionary Wars, French privateers began seizing American ships in 1798, and relations deteriorated with France and led to the "Quasi-War". Without consulting Washington, Adams nominated him for a lieutenant general commission on July 4, 1798 and the position of commander-in-chief of the armies.

The flag was changed to have 21 stars, with a new star to be added for Illinois.

The flag was changed to have 23 stars. (for Alabama and Maine)

The flag was changed to have 24 stars. (for Missouri)

In 1799, the State of New York began to legislate the abolition of slavery, although the process of emancipating those people enslaved in New York was not complete until July 4, 1827. Dumont had promised to grant Truth her freedom a year before the state emancipation, "if she would do well and be faithful." However, he changed his mind, claiming a hand injury had made her less productive. She was infuriated but continued working, spinning 100 pounds of wool, to satisfy her sense of obligation to him.

The flag was changed to have 27 stars. (for Florida)

The flag was changed to have 28 stars. (for Texas)

The flag was changed to have 29 stars. (for Iowa)

The flag was changed to have 30 stars. (for Wisconsin)

The flag was changed to have 31 stars. (for California)

The flag was changed to have 32 stars. (for Minnesota)

The flag was changed to have 33 stars. (for Oregon)

The flag was changed to have 34 stars. (for Kansas)

The flag was changed to have 35 stars. (for West Virginia)

On July 4, 1864, ladies decorated soldiers' graves according to local historians in Boalsburg, Pennsylvania. Boalsburg promotes itself as the birthplace of Memorial Day. However, no reference to this event existed until the printing of the History of the 148th Pennsylvania Volunteers in 1904.

The flag was changed to have 36 stars. (for Nevada)

The flag was changed to have 37 stars. (for Nebraska)

The flag was changed to have 38 stars. (for Colorado)

The flag was changed to have 43 stars. (for North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, Washington, Idaho)

The flag was changed to have 44 stars. (for Wyoming)

The flag was changed to have 45 stars. (for Utah)

The flag was changed to have 46 stars. (for Oklahoma)

The flag was changed to have 48 stars. (for New Mexico, Arizona)

The flag was changed to have 25 stars. (for Arkansas)

The flag was changed to have 26 stars. (for Michigan)

The first U.S. postage stamp to feature the flag as the sole subject was issued July 4, 1957, Scott catalog number 1094.

The flag was changed to have 49 stars. (for Alaska)

The flag was changed to have 50 stars. (for Hawaii)

On July 4, 2007, the 50-star flag became the version of the flag in longest use, surpassing the 48-star flag that was used from 1912 to 1959.

The full Virginia Regiment joined Washington at Fort Necessity the following month with news that he had been promoted to command of the regiment and to colonel upon the death of the regimental commander. The regiment was reinforced by an independent company of 100 South Carolinians led by Captain James Mackay, whose royal commission outranked that of Washington, and a conflict of command ensued. On July 3, a French force attacked with 900 men, and the ensuing battle (Battle of Fort Necessity) ended in Washington's surrender. In the aftermath, Colonel James Innes took command of intercolonial forces, the Virginia Regiment was divided, and Washington was offered a captaincy which he refused, with resignation of his commission.

At the time of the Declaration of Independence in July 1776, the Continental Congress would not legally adopt flags with "stars, white in a blue field" for another year. The flag contemporaneously known as "the Continental Colors" has historically been referred to as the first national flag.

Washington grew restless in retirement, prompted by tensions with France, and he wrote to Secretary of War James McHenry offering to organize President Adams' army. In a continuation of the French Revolutionary Wars, French privateers began seizing American ships in 1798, and relations deteriorated with France and led to the "Quasi-War". Without consulting Washington, Adams nominated him for a lieutenant general commission on July 4, 1798 and the position of commander-in-chief of the armies.

The flag was changed to have 21 stars, with a new star to be added for Illinois.

The flag was changed to have 23 stars. (for Alabama and Maine)

The flag was changed to have 24 stars. (for Missouri)

In 1799, the State of New York began to legislate the abolition of slavery, although the process of emancipating those people enslaved in New York was not complete until July 4, 1827. Dumont had promised to grant Truth her freedom a year before the state emancipation, "if she would do well and be faithful." However, he changed his mind, claiming a hand injury had made her less productive. She was infuriated but continued working, spinning 100 pounds of wool, to satisfy her sense of obligation to him.

The flag was changed to have 27 stars. (for Florida)

The flag was changed to have 28 stars. (for Texas)

The flag was changed to have 29 stars. (for Iowa)

The flag was changed to have 30 stars. (for Wisconsin)

The flag was changed to have 31 stars. (for California)

The flag was changed to have 32 stars. (for Minnesota)

The flag was changed to have 33 stars. (for Oregon)

The flag was changed to have 34 stars. (for Kansas)

The flag was changed to have 35 stars. (for West Virginia)

On July 4, 1864, ladies decorated soldiers' graves according to local historians in Boalsburg, Pennsylvania. Boalsburg promotes itself as the birthplace of Memorial Day. However, no reference to this event existed until the printing of the History of the 148th Pennsylvania Volunteers in 1904.

The flag was changed to have 36 stars. (for Nevada)

The flag was changed to have 37 stars. (for Nebraska)

The flag was changed to have 38 stars. (for Colorado)

The flag was changed to have 43 stars. (for North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, Washington, Idaho)

The flag was changed to have 44 stars. (for Wyoming)

The flag was changed to have 45 stars. (for Utah)

The flag was changed to have 46 stars. (for Oklahoma)

The flag was changed to have 48 stars. (for New Mexico, Arizona)

The flag was changed to have 25 stars. (for Arkansas)

The flag was changed to have 26 stars. (for Michigan)

The first U.S. postage stamp to feature the flag as the sole subject was issued July 4, 1957, Scott catalog number 1094.

The flag was changed to have 49 stars. (for Alaska)

The flag was changed to have 50 stars. (for Hawaii)

On July 4, 2007, the 50-star flag became the version of the flag in longest use, surpassing the 48-star flag that was used from 1912 to 1959.