1st Battalion, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania

Date: 1776

The British Red Ensign with coiled rattesnake. (R6)
I.B.W.C.P. initials stand for First Battalion Westmoreland County Pennsylvania. Colonel John Proctor's initials are above the company initials.

In 1747, Benjamin Franklin formed the Associators battalions of volunteers from Pennsylvania where the Quakers did not want an active militia to fight along side the British during the French and Indian War. One of the Associators was Col. John Proctor's Independent Battalion. When revolution broke out, Proctor adopted the popular coiled rattlesnake and "Dont Tread On Me" motto and joined the fight against the British.

The battalion saw action throughout the war, most notably at Trenton and Princeton.