Echoes of Liberty: American POWs in Scotland and the Graffiti Flag of Edinburgh Castle

As members of Clan Baird, we often reflect on the deep and enduring ties between Scotland and the wider world. One of the most poignant reminders of this connection lies hidden in the heart of Edinburgh Castle—a faint carving of the American flag, etched by a prisoner of war during the American Revolution.

Tucked within the ancient stone walls of Edinburgh Castle lies a haunting and little-known relic of the American War of Independence: a faint but defiant image of the Stars and Stripes, scratched into a wooden prison door by an American prisoner of war. This simple act of graffiti maybe the earliest known image if the flag of the United States. It speaks to the birth of the navy, led by a Scot, John Paul Jones.

A Scot is the Father of the US Navy

In the spring of 1778, the American War of Independence reached the shores of Britain in a bold and unexpected way. John Paul Jones, a Scottish-born naval commander fighting for the American cause, launched a surprise raid on the English port town of Whitehaven—a move that sent shockwaves through coastal communities across the British Isles. HIs goal was to kidnap Dunbar Douglas, the 4th earl of Selkirk.

Jones, commanding the USS Ranger, aimed to disrupt British shipping and ignite fear on home soil. Under cover of darkness, he and a small crew landed at Whitehaven, spiked the town’s cannons, and attempted to set fire to the ships in the harbor. Though the fires were largely extinguished before major damage occurred, the psychological impact was profound. For the first time in generations, the British public realized their coasts were vulnerable.

Whitehaven and The Clan Baird

In the tense years leading up to the American raid on Whitehaven in 1778, the British Admiralty had already stationed defensive vessels along the vulnerable western coast. Among them was the Esther Cutter, a swift and maneuverable patrol boat under the command of Lieutenant John Baird. According to records from The National Archives, Lt. Baird was provisioning the Esther as early as 1770, outfitting her with slops and bedding in preparation for coastal defense. Though John Paul Jones’s daring nighttime assault on Whitehaven would become the only American raid on British soil during the Revolutionary War, it was vessels like the Esther—and officers like Baird—that stood ready to defend the homeland. The presence of a Baird at the helm of a cutter in Whitehaven not only underscores the family’s maritime legacy but also places Clan Baird at the heart of a pivotal moment in transatlantic history

American POWs in Scotland

During the American Revolutionary War (1775–1783), the British captured thousands of American sailors and privateers. While many were imprisoned in hulks or jails in England, some were sent north to Scotland. Edinburgh Castle, with its imposing fortress and secure location, served as a prison for captured American seamen.

These prisoners were often held in harsh conditions, confined in the castle’s vaults and dungeons. Yet even in captivity, they found ways to assert their identity and hope. One of the most remarkable expressions of this is the graffiti they left behind—names, dates, and most strikingly, a carved image of the American flag.

The Stars and Stripes on a Castle Door

On a weathered wooden door inside Edinburgh Castle, visitors can still see the faint outline of an early version of the U.S. flag—thirteen stripes and a field of stars—scratched by hand. This image, believed to have been carved by an American POW during the war, is one of the earliest known depictions of the American flag outside the United States.

The carving is more than a symbol of patriotism; it’s a quiet act of rebellion and remembrance. For the prisoner who etched it, the flag was a lifeline—a reminder of the cause for which they fought and the country they longed to return to.

A Global War, A Personal Story

The American Revolution is often remembered as a domestic struggle, but it was truly a global conflict. The presence of American POWs in Scotland underscores how far the war’s reach extended. It also highlights the human cost of the conflict—young men captured, transported across oceans, and held in foreign lands.

Yet even in the shadow of defeat and imprisonment, these individuals left their mark. The graffiti flag in Edinburgh Castle is a testament to the enduring spirit of those early Americans and a poignant reminder of the interconnected histories of the U.S. and Scotland.

Visiting the Site Today

Today, visitors to Edinburgh Castle can view the door and its historic carving as part of the castle’s prisoner-of-war exhibit. It stands quietly among other artifacts, but for those who pause to look closely, it speaks volumes.