In the fall of the year 1775 the colonists created a fleet of six ships known as “Washington’s Cruisers.” These brave little vessels sailed forth to capture British stores and ammunition bound for America’s shores.
The ships were the “Lynch,” the “Franklin,” the “Lee,” the “Harrison,” the “Warren” and the “Lady Washington.” The Lee was the only one of this first American Fleet to meet with success upon the high seas, capturing the British brig Nancy, caring arms, ammunition and provisions to the British Army in America.
These “Washington Cruisers” flew the first national flag known as “An Appeal to Heaven Flag” also known as the “Pine Tree flag” and “Washington Cruisers flag”. It was a white flag bearing a pale green pine tree with the motto “An Appeal to Heaven.”