The Continental Flag is derived from a version of the British Red Ensign or Meteor Flag, but with a depiction of a green New England Pine tree over a white background substituted for the Union Flag in the canton.

On the nights of June 16th  and 17th, 1775, the Americans fortified Breed and Bunker Hills which overlooked Boston Harbor. Although they had not yet officially declared their independence, a fight for control of the hills became necessary. When the British advanced up the slope the next day, according to legend they saw a red flag, but we have no concrete knowledge of which American Flag was actually flown in this battle. John Trumbull, whose paintings of Revolutionary War scenes are quite famous, talked to eye-witnesses and his subsequent painting depicting the battle featured the Continental flag as shown here.

Many historians think the flag flown by the Americans during the Battle of Bunker Hill was the more common First New England Naval Ensign which featured red, white and blue horizontal stripes in place of the solid red field.

The Continental Flag was the third flag of New England, and is presently the civic flag of Lincoln County, Maine.