The Daily Dispatch: November 30, 1860., [Electronic resource]

The original "Minute" Men.

The Committee of Safety, in Virginia, appointed July 18, 1775, raised an armed force to defend the Colony. The Convention appointed Patrick Henry, Colonel of the First Regiment, and "Commander of all the forces raised for the defence of the Colony." He immediately summoned a corps of volunteers from various parts of the Colony. 300 Minute Men instantly assembled at Culpeper Court-House and marched for Williamsburg. One-third of them were Culpeper men, who adopted a flag with the significant device of a rattlesnake, as seen in the engraving. The engraving represents a flag, at the top of which are the words, "The Culpeper Minute Men," it the centre a coiled rattlesnake with crest erect, on either side of which are disposed the words "Liberty or Death" and beneath is the motto "Don't Tread on Me." The devices upon this flag, it will be remembered, are similar to those upon the flag first used by our Navy. It was the flag under which the war of the Revolution was begun. They were dressed in green hunting shirts, with Henry's words, "Liberty or Death," in large white letters, on their bosoms. They had buck's fails in their hats and in their belts tomahawks and scalping-knives.--Their fierce appearance alarmed the people as they marched through the country. They did good service in the battle at the Great Bridge in December following.