First Navy Jack or "Continental Navy Jack"

This flag is believed to have flown aboard the

Continental Fleet's flagship Alfred, in January,

1776. This flag or one of it's variations was

used by American ships throughout the Revolution.

The United States Navy originated as the

Continental Navy, established early in the

American Revolution by the Continental

Congress by a resolution of 13 October 1775.

There is a widespread belief that ships of the

Continental Navy flew a jack consisting of

alternating red and white stripes, having the

image of a rattlesnake stretched out across it,

with the motto "Don't Tread on Me." That

belief,however, rests on no firm base

of historical evidence.

It is well documented that the rattlesnake and

the motto "Don't Tread on Me" were used

together on several flags during the War of

Independence. The only question in doubt is

whether the Continental Navy actually used

a red and white striped flag with a rattlesnake

and the motto "Don't Tread on Me" as its jack.

The evidence is inconclusive. There is reason to

believe that the Continental Navy jack was

simply a red and white striped flag with no

other adornment.

The historical evidence makes it impossible to

say for certain whether the Continental Navy

used the striped rattlesnake flag as its jack.

At the same time, the evidence does suggest

strong connections between the symbol of the

rattlesnake with the motto "Don't Tread on Me"

and the United States' earliest naval traditions.