The Second Rhode Island Regiment in the Continental Army combined state and national symbols in this banner. The white field with the anchor and motto HOPE were easily recognized as Rhode Island emblems. The anchor, still used on the state flag today, can be traced back to at least 1647. The 13 stars on the blue canton represented the colonies. These stars were gold (not white as sometimes shown), as were the stars in many other flags from the American Revolution and Civil War. The Rhode Island Regiment carried this flag in the battles of Brandywine, Trenton and Yorktown. The original Rhode Island flag may still be seen today in the State Capitol in Providence.
