The canton consists of the British Union flag, while the field is thirteen horizontal stripes, alternating red and white.

The Continental Union Flag made its first appearance on December 3, 1775, when it was hoisted at the commissioning of Admiral Esek Hopkins' flagship on the western shore of the Delaware River at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

[8] This view is shared by Laurie Calkhoven, a biographer of George Washington, who suggests it was designed to reflect their hope for reconciliation.

[11] It is not known for certain when or by whom the Continental Union Flag design was created, but it could easily be produced by sewing white stripes onto the British Red Ensign.

[15] It was widely believed that the flag was raised by George Washington's army on January 2, 1776, at Prospect Hill in Charlestown (present-day Somerville), near his headquarters at Cambridge, Massachusetts (across the Charles River to the north from Boston), which was then surrounding and laying siege to the British forces then occupying the city.

[9] It is also stated that the flag was interpreted by British military observers in the city under commanding General Thomas Gage, as a sign of surrender.