Gadsden “Don’t Tread On Me” Rattlesnake – Small Flag

Printed polyester 12×18 Gadsden Flag for your boat, motorcycle, or wherever a small flag is needed.

Single-ply polyester is a very lightweight material that will fly nicely in the slightest breeze. The artwork is viewable from both sides of the flag. The lettering reads right from one side only.

One solid piece of printed, hemmed fabric
Canvas header with brass grommets
4 rows of stitching on the fly end to prevent premature fraying
Flag size 12″x18″

History of the Gadsden flag

Designed by Christopher Gadsden, the Gadsden flag is often credited as being the 1st Marine Corps flag, as Gadsden was one of a three-member Marine committee, ordered by the second continental congress in October of 1775 to raise five companies of Marines to outfit the Man-of-War “Alfred” and its sister ships. It is generally accepted among historians that Gadsden presented the flag to Esek Hopkins, commander-in-chief of the Navy, and he flew it as his personal standard on the Alfred. The popularity of rattlesnake imagery during the American Revolution is attributable to the fact that the rattlesnake could not be found in any other part of the world and displayed unique courage that could be likened to the early American spirit. The rattlesnake never begins a fight and never surrenders once engaged. She never attacks without giving ample warning but strikes with an often deadly result. The snake depicted on the flag has 13 rattles, representing the unity of the 13 colonies. One rattle by itself is incapable of producing a sound, but all 13 together would strike fear in the heart of the boldest of men. The Gadsden flag and other early American Revolution era imagery have recently been revived to represent grassroots American resistance to the ever-increasing size of government and its overreach.