The Continental Congress passed the Flag Act on June 14, 1777, specifying "thirteen stripes alternate red and white" and "thirteen stars white in a blue field representing a new constellation." It didn't specify how to arrange the stars, so early American flags vary — some have stars in rows, some in circles, some in cluster patterns of five and eight. By 1778, the year this figure depicts, the new flag was being carried by Continental regiments in combat, replacing the earlier Grand Union flag with its British canton. The 1778-84 period covers the heart of the war's later years — Saratoga's aftermath, Valley Forge, the French alliance, Monmouth, the southern campaigns, Yorktown, and the long wait through the Treaty of Paris — and the flag this ensign carries is the original thirteen-star Stars and Stripes flown through all of it.

This figure shows a Continental Line regimental ensign holding the colors aloft on a vertical staff topped with a spear-point finial. He wears the standard Continental infantry uniform — blue coat with red facings, white waistcoat and cross-belts, buff breeches, tricorne with white plume — distinguished only by the flag he carries and the lack of a musket (the ensign was a commissioned officer responsible for the colors, not for the firing line). The position was dangerous: regimental colors marked where the unit was, which made the bearer a target. He pairs with the regimental NCO, a soldier loading at the standing-ramming position, and a kneeling alert sentry — together composing the leadership, action, and watchfulness of a Continental infantry section.

1/30 scale (60mm), matte-painted, single figure boxed. Catalog number 16094. As with the rest of the W. Britain modern range, the painting is photographic-quality detail intended to read well in dioramas and display cases.