Forster Flag (U.S.)

Forster Flag (1775). As depicted in the postage stamp, it is red bearing six white stripes in the canton. The original is in the collection of the Flag Heritage Foundation; it was supposedly a British Regimental color captured on April 19, 1775 - the first day of the American Revolution. Later the canton was cut out and the white areas were cut into the strips, six on the obverse and seven on the reverse (13 in all).
Dave Martucci, 17 February 1998

Like many traditions, this one is probably wrong or considerably corrupted. I don't think the British Army lost any Colours that day, and none of the regiments present carried a purple (or similar colour) Colour. If the field colour is meant to be originally red (rather than purple or some similar shade), that is not possible, because regiments with red facings carried a Regimental Colour that was white with a red cross throughout (St. George). It would also have required even more surgery to remove the central device. If the flag were considerably reduced in size, this would be possible by patching the centre with pieces cut from the sides. Perhaps the flag was seized from the armoury of a loyal Militia unit (those flags were not regulated), and then altered. Or perhaps a Militia unit at Lexington (they were British Militia until that day) altered their own Colours shortly afterwards!
T.F. Mills, 12 March 2001

The flank companies of the 59th Foot, who has purple facings, were present at Lexingto