Flag Accessories Of the Revolutionary Period

During the Revolution, the flag was usually attached to a wooden pole and topped with a brass or wooden finial, shaped like a ball or spear.

Finials in different shapes have been excavated from Revolutionary War battle sites, and it is not known whether they were used as identification, decoration or simply to anchor the flag to the pole.

Since the designs were similar to those use on halberds and spontoons, it has been suggested that the finials could allow the flag to be used as a weapon, but there is no evidence that this ever occurred in battle.