George Washington's
Life Guards

Date: 1776

White silk flag with painted design. (R8)

The design shows a guard holding a horse and receiving a banner from the Spirit of Liberty, personified by a young girl holding a red and white striped shield. The motto is "Conquer or Die".

The soldiers selected from each state in the Unions, wore blue coats with white vests and breeches, gaiters and cocked hats with a white plume. It was the duty of this group to be the bodyguards for General Washington, willing to give up their lives for Washington.

This flag, given to the museum at Alexandria, Virginia, by George Washington Parke Custic, Washington's adopted son, was unfortunately destroyed when that building burned