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In an age before electronic signals it was important for all naval vessels and their crews to recognize
friend or foe and national flags were the paramount method. The Navy Board was charged with making sure that everyone in the US Navy was using
the standard issue flag.
The orginal letters which have neat sketches done by the Navy Board Clerk of the proper 20 star flags.
Commodore John Rodgers, President of the Board of Navy Commissioners on 15 May 1818 sent this letter to Commodore Isaac Hull
at Boston Navy Yard advising Hull on the new flag.
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Nav commissioners off
15 May 1818
Sir
In reply to your letter of the 6th ins upon the subject of the national flag
The navy commissioners have to inform you that agreeably to the Act of Congress of 4th
April 1818 instituted as "an act to establish the flag of the United States", the flag is from
& after the 4th Day of July next to be-
13 horizontal Stripes alternate red & white
The Union to be 20 stars, white in a blue field; one star to added on the
admission unto the Union of every new State-
The dimensions of the flag must be in the width and length as 14 feet to 24 feet-
The Union to be in breath 1/13ths of the breath of the flag & 1/3 of the length of the flag in
length - The manner of arranging the stars you will perceive by the following sketch
Respectfully
John Rodgers President
Capt Isaac Hull
Boston
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This 1818 circular went out from the Board of Navy Commissioners to all US Navy vessels, Navy Yards and Naval Stations. |
Circular Navy Comm Off
18 May 1818
Sir
The navy commissioners have to inform you that agreeably to the Act of
Congress of 4th April 1818 instituted as an act to establish the flag of the United States,
our National flag is from and after the 4th Day of July next to be
13 horizontal Stripes alternate red & white
The Union to be 20 stars white in a blue field; one star to added on the admission unto the
Union of every new State - such addition to be made from & after the 4th of July next
successive the date of such admission
The Size of the flag must be in the proportion of 14 feet in width and 24 feet in
length - the field of the Union must be 13 ft of the length of the flag & 1/13ths of its
depth- so that from the top to the bottom of the Union there will be 7 stripes & 6 Stripes
from the bottom of the Union to the bottom of the flag. The manner of arranging the
stars you will perceive by the subjoined sketch
To Resp
Capt Spence
Capt Evans
Capt Hull
Capt Campbell
Capt Cassin
Capt Dexton
Capt Leonard
Comm Mc Donough [signed] John Rodgers President
Comm Tingey
Comm Murray
Capt Patterson
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